Jose Luis Ramirez vs Cornelius Boza Edwards

Cornelius Boza Edwards entered the Zenith Palais in Paris on 10 October 1987, attempting to regain a world championship more than six years after he had first held one. The Ugandan-born British fighter, a former WBC super-featherweight champion, had moved into the lightweight division and weighed the full 135lb. José Luis Ramírez, the 134lb champion from Mexico, was making the first defence of the vacant WBC title he had won by outpointing Terrence Alli in Saint-Tropez three months earlier.

Both men were southpaws, but there was little uncertainty in their approach. Boza Edwards advanced willingly and tried to engage at close quarters, as he had throughout a career marked by demanding contests against Rafael Limón, Bobby Chacon, Rolando Navarrete and Rocky Lockridge. Ramírez was the shorter, more economical puncher. He remained compact, blocked or slipped the challenger’s leads and replied with straighter, heavier blows. His right jab provided the openings, while his left hand carried the greater authority.

Ramírez controlled the opening round sufficiently for two judges to score it 10-8, although no official knockdown was recorded. Boza Edwards continued to press, but he was having difficulty breaking the champion’s guard and was being caught as he moved in. Ramírez did not waste punches. He waited for the challenger to commit himself, then drove the left through the centre or worked with short hooks at close range.

The second and third rounds followed the same course. Boza Edwards remained active and willing, but his attacks were producing little reward. Ramírez held his position and landed the cleaner blows, gradually taking the strength from the challenger’s advances. There were no reported fouls, and the contest was being decided by the champion’s superior accuracy and physical force. After three rounds, each judge had Ramírez in front.

Boza Edwards was still coming forward in the fourth, though his work had become less organised. Ramírez continued to meet him with direct punches and was increasingly able to finish his combinations without receiving an effective answer. Judge Carol Castellano had the champion ahead 40-35 after four rounds. Miguel Donate and Giuseppe Ferrari each scored it 40-36. Boza Edwards had therefore failed to win a round on any official card.

The end came midway through the fifth. Ramírez again caught the challenger during an exchange and followed with the punches that completed the knockdown. Boza Edwards, worn down by the accumulated punishment, could not recover, and referee Arthur Mercante ended the contest at 1 minute 45 seconds. The official result was a fifth-round knockout, leaving Ramírez with his WBC lightweight championship and a record of 99 victories against six defeats.

For Boza Edwards, then 31, it was the final appearance of a 52-fight professional career. He retired with 45 wins, seven defeats and one draw, having met many of the leading fighters of the super-featherweight and lightweight divisions. Ramírez went on to make further defences, including his disputed decision over Pernell Whitaker, before losing the championship to Julio César Chávez in 1988. Against Boza Edwards, however, there was no dispute. He won every completed round and ended the matter conclusively in the fifth.

Boza Edwards was always a bit of a favourite of mine. I watched him from ringside in London on quite a few occasions, and he was never in a dull fight. He had been a terrific super-featherweight, beating Rafael Limón and going through those punishing contests with Bobby Chacon. By the time he challenged José Luis Ramírez at lightweight, though, much of his best work had already been done.

This was two southpaws, but Ramírez was the more compact and economical fighter. He kept his shape, used the right jab to occupy Boza and drove the left hand straight through the middle. Boza still had the courage and engine to come forward, but his attacks were wider, and he was taking clean punches on the way in. The judges gave him nothing through four rounds, and rightly so.

Ramírez finished matters at 1:45 of the fifth. There was no controversy and no bad stoppage to complain about. Boza had simply met a strong, seasoned lightweight who was fresher and better suited to the division. It was a hard ending, but the right time to retire. He had given enough to boxing by then.