Jose Ramirez, Maurice Hooker “finalizing a deal” for July 27th unification on DAZN

According to Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix, Maurice Hooker’s July 27th WBO title defense on DAZN will likely come against WBC champion Jose Ramirez, as their respective sides are “finalizing a deal” for a unification match in Arlington, Texas. Mannix also suggests that the matchup taking place on DAZN is part of a trade between Top Rank and Matchroom that would put the planned Vasiliy Lomacheko-Luke Campbell lightweight title match on ESPN.

The card is expected to feature Murat Gassiev’s (26-1, 19 KO) heavyweight debut and Tevin Farmer’s (29-4-1, 6 KO) mandated super featherweight title defense against Guillaume Frenois (46-1-1, 12 KO). If all goes as planned, it will absolutely outclass Showtime’s competitor, which sees Gervonta Davis face Ricardo Nunez.

Beyond unifying two of the four major belts, the other two of which will have a single owner after Josh Taylor and Regis Prograis duke it out in the Super Series semifinal later this year, it’s a terrific matchup. Ramirez (24-0, 16 KO) is a bulldozer of a super lightweight, while Hooker (26-0-3, 17 KO) has made enormous strides since his controversial draw with Darleys Perez in 2016.

I have no personal stake in this and wish both men the best, but I’m pulling for Hooker, just because all four belts belonging to DAZN fighters would make the full unification easy to put together.