Top Rank working to finalize August date for Jose Ramirez vs Viktor Postol

It had been previously announced that unified 140lb champion Jose Ramirez will be making a mandatory title defense against Viktor Postol in August, and although a firm date has yet to be set, Top Rank continues to iron out the details to finalize the bout. Top Rank president Todd duBoef continues to say the fight will be held next month and air on ESPN.

“We’re being as flexible as possible with ESPN,” duBoef said. “They’re going to see how the NBA schedule comes out, the MLB schedule, all the other sports that are supposed to be back in August. They’re formulating their schedule.

“We’re basically telling [fighters], ‘Hey, you’ll be this week in August. You’ll be this week in August.’ Then we’re honing in on a date.”

Ramirez-Postol was originally slated for Feb. 1, but was twice postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Ramirez, 27, made his last appearance this time last year when he took a world title off the hands of Maurice Hooker. The ultimate endgame for Ramirez is to set up an undisputed title unification with fellow junior welterweight champion Josh Taylor.

Postol, 36, has been out of action for over a year now, last outpointing Mohamed Mimoune in April of last year. Postol was a former junior welterweight titleholder but lost his belt via unanimous decision loss to Terence Crawford in July 2016. This could prove to be his last legitimate shot at regaining a world title.