By Joseph Herron: This Saturday night at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ, Paul “The Punisher” Williams makes his long awaited return to the ring when he faces the undefeated junior middleweight fighter Erislandy Lara in a “Boxing After Dark” special event on HBO.
While most fight fans are curious to see how the punisher will look in his first fight back since losing to current middleweight champion Sergio Martinez in November of last year, this Saturday’s WBA Super Bantamweight Championship bout is going largely unnoticed.
Competing as part one of the HBO double header, 24 year old Rico Ramos challenges the 122 pound WBA champ Akifumi Shimoda of Japan in what should prove to be a tremendous step up in competition for the California based fighter.
Since going pro in 2008, Ramos has gone largely untested and has cruised to an impressive 19-0 record with 10 knock-outs.
Is the Puerto Rican-American fighter ready for the bright lights of the big stage?
“I’ve been training 16 years for this,” proclaims the 24 year old title contender. “This is something really, really, big for me.”
Although Rico has only been a professional since 2008, he started fighting when he was just eight years old at the Broadway Boxing Gym in Los Angeles, CA.
As an amateur standout, Ramos accumulated 99 wins and 17 defeats while gathering Golden Gloves and National PAL titles along the way.
Even though Ramos is receiving his first title fight at such an early point in his professional career, the young fighter hasn’t forgotten what it’s taken to get to this point.
“It’s been 16 years and I never gave up,” asserts Rico Ramos. “This is my life. This is what I’ve been dreaming of…this is my chance and I’m going to get that belt.”
While the young American fighter has had his eyes on the prize for the majority of his life, taking the WBA title away from the current champ will be no easy task.
“I plan to put on a heated and exciting fight, and I also plan on taking the belt back home with me on Saturday,” stated Akifumi Shimoda. “I hope to bring back some bright news for Japan.”
This Saturday night, Shimoda will bring a record of 23-2-1 with him into the ring, as well as an unbeaten streak which goes back to 2008.
Is Rico hungry enough to take the title away from the proud Japanese fighter?
“I’m hungry and I’m starving for it,” exclaims the current NABO title holder. “I want it and I’m going to get it. Eight weeks of hard training in Las Vegas…this is what I’ve prepared for, so I’m going to take it.”
After one of the hardest training camps of his entire pro career, Rico Ramos feels that he is completely prepared for his toughest test to date.
“I’ve never worked this hard, but this is what I have to do to get these titles,” stated the undefeated fighter. “Hard work always pays off.”
Although most spectators are greatly anticipating the return of the Punisher, Ramos will attempt to steal the spotlight and earn his right to be considered a true star in the boxing universe.
“The biggest thing for me is to get that belt,” proclaims Ramos. “Take it home to LA…take it to all my fans…my family…just take it!!”
Support WBA Super Bantamweight title challenger Rico Ramos in his quest to achieve boxing stardom this Saturday night, live at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ, and on HBO: Boxing After Dark.
Quotes courtesy of Goossen Tutor Promotions