Ramirez’s recent decline

Jose comes in with a better record but fewer answers of late. A former unified titleholder at 140, his decline began with a unanimous decision loss to Josh Taylor in May 2021. His record since then is 3-2, with his last two losses putting him further away from contention.

Loss to Haney and Barboza Jr. kept Ramirez out of the title picture rather than returning him to it.

The Haney fight provides the clearest indication of where Ramirez stands now. Ramirez failed to put pressure or restraint on Haney’s movements during a boxing match in Times Square last May. He follows instead of cutting off the ring and lets long stretches pass without adjusting. The pace was slow, the crowd remained silent, and the battle slipped away without resistance. Ramirez, 33, has been inactive since that night and no longer looks capable of imposing control when his opponent refuses to engage.

Cattrall’s Reconstruction

Cattrall’s position is different, but not stronger. His unanimous decision loss to Barboza Jr. last May hampered his progress at a time when he needed traction. Wins over Eko Essuman and Harlem Eubank kept him active, but it didn’t change the perception of him. Those games showed ability and discipline, but not to the level he continues to speak of publicly.

This reality determines the game. Cattrall wants to reach out to elites, but his latest job doesn’t require that. Ramirez still has recognition and a foothold, but his recent performances have shown his limitations that have yet to be addressed. Fresno provides Ramirez with familiarity and support. Travel provided an opportunity for Cattrall. Both came in with open-ended questions.

For Ramirez, the test will be whether he can still perform in front of his own audience. The question for Cattrall is whether there is any point in beating the slower, inactive former champion. If neither question is answered clearly, the battle will fill up the dates, leaving both sides with less places to go