Shobox News: Abel Ramos Faces Maurice Hooker – “Aint Going to Be No Rematch”

“Aint going to be no rematch.” – Antonio Martin, RSR Number #1 reader

Unbeaten Arizona-based junior welterweight prospect Abel Ramos (8-0, 4 KOs) looks to make the most of his national television debut when he takes on fellow unbeaten Maurice Hooker (12-0, 9 KOs) of Dallas, Texas this Friday. The eight round welterweight bout will be the Shobox-televised opener from the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, Tennessee. Southern California-based Journeyman Management, who recently signed Ramos, showed their confidence in him by immediately securing this high profile TV fight for Ramos without hesitation. Fightnews caught up with Ramos prior to his flight departure from Arizona to Tennessee.

Being that you took this fight on short notice how is your conditioning?

I constantly stay in the gym and do my roadwork, so my conditioning is very good and making the 142 agreed upon weight limit wont be a problem at all for me.

Is it one less thing to think about knowing this fight will be fought at a neutral site and not your opponents backyard?

It makes it fair for us both since the fight location is not near either of our hometowns.

Have you seen your opponent fight?

I have seen video clips of him on YouTube. He appears to be tall for the weight class. He seems to box as well as he bangs.

With his height advantage, do you think an inside game plan is best for you in this particular fight?

It would seem that way but you never really know until you get the ring. I’ll have to see what works best to my advantage on Friday night.

You have lived over 20 years in Arizona but your bloodlines are from Cualican, Sinaloa, Mexico, where both your parents are from. The legendary Julio Cesar Chavez Sr is from there. He was well known for his body attack throughout his career. Is that something you plan to use reguarly in your career as well as this fight?

It is something that I work on constantly. Investing in body work from round one can really pay off for you as the fights goes on.

This will be your first eight round bout. Do you see this as a major step up from your accustomed four round scheduled fights?

Should we have to go the full distance I am confident in my training that my conditioning will hold up. Also with eight rounds, it also allows for more time to adapt and adjust if need be.

How excited are you about making your national television debut?

All kinds of emotions going on right now. I just signed with Journeyman Management who got me this fight right away. I definitely am appreciative to them for this opportunity. Lots of people from Arizona and other places will be tuning in. It’s natural to have a lot of emotions going on inside, but I’ll channel them so that I give my absolute best performance that I can this Friday night.