At the Virgin Hotels, Las Vegas, Nevada, Saturday over ESPN+ and ESPN Top Rank – Bob Arum featured in the Main Event the unification bout between WBA and IBF Super World Super Lightweight champion Josh “Tartan Tornado” Taylor and WBC and WBO champion Jose Carlos “Jaguar” Ramirez with Taylor’s scoring of two knockdowns pulled out the fight 114-112 on all scorecards.

In the Main Event WBA and IBF Super World Super Lightweight champ and 2012 Olympian southpaw Josh “Tartan Tornado” Taylor, 17-0 (13), #139.6, of Prestonpans, Scotland, UK, and WBC and WBO World Super Lightweight champ and 2012 Olympian Jose Carlos “Jaguar” Ramirez, 26-0 (17), #139.6, of Avenal, CA, 12 rounds.

In the first round Taylor outworked Ramirez. In the second round Ramirez finished the stronger of the two and won the third with good body work. In the fourth Taylor suffered a cut over the left eye though winning the round along with the fifth round. In the sixth near the start a counter left from Taylor on the chin dropped Ramirez for an 8-count from referee Kenny Bayless. Ramirez came back strong upon rising.

In the seventh rounds closing minute a left uppercut from Taylor on the chin dropped Ramirez for an 8-count. Referee Bayless gave Ramirez too much time before allowing fight to go on. In the eighth Ramirez made it close though Taylor’s uppercuts won the round. In the ninth Ramirez came back well to take the round. In the tenth round Ramirez won the first half with Taylor ending stronger in a close round. In the eleventh and twelfth rounds Ramirez may have pulled out close rounds.

Scores were Cheatam, Moretti and Weisfeld 114-112 as did this writer.        

In the co-feature WBC Silver Super Lightweight champ southpaw Jose “Chon” Zepeda, 34-2 (26), #140, of Long Beach, CA, defeated Henry “Hank” Lundy, 31-9-1 (13), #139, of Philadelphia, PA, over 10 close rounds.

In the first round orthodox boxer Lundy came out southpaw against southpaw Zepeda with the latter taking a close first round. In the second round Zepeda hurt Lundy with a body shot halfway through the round. In the next three rounds Lundy had a slight edge at the halfway point.

In the sixth round Zepeda suffered a small cut under his right eye. In the next three rounds Zepeda had a slight edge. In the tenth and final round Lundy fought like he had the fight won while Zepeda seemed to do enough to take the round and the fight.

Scores were surprising at 98-92 by all three with this writer 96-94. Referee was Celestino Ruiz.

Super Feather Jose “El Ejecutor” Enrique Durantes Vivas, 21-1 (11), #127.4, of MEX and Montebello, CA, won a disputed decision over Louie Coria, 12-5 (7), #127.5, of Morano Valley, CA, coming off the canvas twice and losing a point on a foul over 8 rounds.

In the third round Coria landed a left hook to the chin dropping Vivas. Shortly later a pair of rights on the chin from Coria dropped Vivas a second time with referee Hoyle giving 8-counts. In the fourth referee Hoyle took a point from Vivas after several warning for low blows. In the seventh round Vivas had Coria hurt on several occasions with head shots. In the eighth and final round of an all-action fight Coria was moving and jabbing for the first time with Vivas pressing and taking the round.

Scores were 75-74 by all including this writer but for Cori not Vivas as the three judges.      

Super Light southpaw Elvis “The Dominican Kid” Rodriguez, 11-1 (10), #139.8, of Santo Domingo, DR, lost a majority decision to Kenneth “Bossman” Sims, Jr., 16-2-1 (5), #139.8, of Chicago, IL, over 8 rounds, for the USNBC title.

In the first four rounds Sims used an effective jab while Rodriguez landed the harder punches with each taking two rounds. In the fifth once again Sims switched to southpaw for some reason. In the seventh round Sims bled from the nose while Rodriguez had a small cut over the right eye. In the eighth and final round from southpaw Sims rocked Rodriguez in the final ten seconds.

Scores were 76-76, 78-74 twice while this writer had it 77-75. The referee was Mike Ortega.   

Lightweight Andres “Savage” Cortes, 14-0 (7), #132 ¼, of Las Vegas, NV, defeated Eduardo “Thunder” Garza, 15-4-1 (8), #132 ¼, of Mission, TX, over 8 rounds.
In the first five rounds it was all Cortes outworking and out landing Garza until the sixth and seventh rounds with Garza taking them. In the final round it was close with Cortes taking the round.

Scores were 77-75, 78-74 and 79-73 with this writer 78-74. Referee was Kenny Bayliss.

Feather 2-time Olympic Gold Medalists southpaw Robeisy Ramirez, 7-1 (4), #126.6, of Cuba and Gulfport, FL, defeated late sub Ryan “Stone” Allen, 10-5-1 (5), #125 ¼, of Las Vegas, NV, scored a knockdown over 6 rounds.

In the first round a double left from southpaw Ramirez on the chin rocked Allen. In the second round over a lazy jab from Allen, Ramirez countered with a left on the chin and down went Allen for an 8-count by referee Celestino Ruiz. In the fourth round Allen came back well possibly taking the round. In the sixth and final round Ramirez wrapped up the win.

Scores were 59-54, 60-53 twice with this writer 59-54.

Lightweight Raymond “Danger” Muratalla, 12-0 (10), #137, of Fontana, CA, impressed in halting game Jose “Relampago” Gallegos, 20-11 (15), #139.6, of Chicago, IL, at 1:40 of the fifth round of a scheduled 8 rounds.

In the first four rounds Muratalla impressed off a good jab landing left hooks to body then the head, along with landing numerous combinations. In the fifth round Muratalla landed a four-punch combination when referee Mike Ortega had seen enough. It was a one sided fight from the start. 

Middleweight southpaw Javier “Milwaukee Made” Martinez 4-0 (2), #162.5, of Milwaukee, WI, knocked out Calvin Metcalf, 10-6-1 (3), #160.4, of Kansas City, MO, at 1:33 of the fourth round of a scheduled 6 rounds.

In the two rounds Martinez countered the oncoming Metcalf bloodying his mouth in the second round. Halfway into the fourth round southpaw Martinez landed a combination to the body followed by a right hook on the side of the head of Metcalf and down he went on his back. Referee Robert Hoyle immediately waved off the fight with Metcalf trying to get up.           

Heavyweight “Gypsy King” Tyson Fury was being featured at ringside keeping everything light with commentators between fights.