Lessons learned for Ramirez

For most the holidays represented a time to enjoy the company of friends,family and good food. In the world of featherweight prospect Julian”El Camarón” Ramirez, the season was spent working on his craft as the young Golden Boy Promotions fighter prepared for his return to the ring against Sergio Najera on January 11 at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, CA.

Former world champion Ricky Hatton(left) welcomes Julian Ramirez(right) to England.

The undefeated 5-0 (4 ko) southpaw, got some work even before he started training for this fight. Following his last victory, a fight which took place in October of 2012, Ramirez went overseas where he would spend about a month helping Super Bantamweight contender Scott Quigg who was training for a world title fight.

The experience was invaluable for Ramirez who got to see first hand what it takes to get ready for a world title bout. Ramirez first met Quigg at the Wildcard Gym in Hollywood. While there, Quigg was looking for southpaws to help get him ready for his fight. That meeting led to Ramirez being invited to the camp.

“It had been a while since I went to the Wildcard and it was just a coincidence that he needed to spar a lefty.He liked the way I fought and he told me I want to fly you out to England so you can help me get ready for my title shot,”said Ramirez.

At only 19 years of age, Ramirez jumped at the opportunity to go overseas and work with a world class fighter like Quigg. The chance to travel to England was also something that he could enjoy while working. “I loved it, I love the fans. The food was like whatever,it was different. I really liked the fish and chips,” said Ramirez.

The highlight of the trip was the actual fight he attended as Quigg won the interim world title.”Everyone was friendly and nice. I liked the experience at the fights too.Everyone was yelling, I liked that. I got to meet Joe Calzaghe and Ricky Hatton, everything was good, said an excited Ramirez as he recalled the trip.

The groundwork he started with Quigg was something he brought back with him as he returned to the states. “It was a learning experience because he’s one of the best fighters at 122lbs.So I was learning some of his tricks and styles. I got to see different styles over there like the European style.Just different styles, I learned different techniques over there,” said Ramirez.

Working out of Los Angeles, Ramirez has been exposed to the Mexican style of boxing that is pressure based mixed with brawling. His time in the east coast exposed him to that style of fighting, which is more based on speed.

“What I really liked the most was that he was training for a world title shot and I got to see how hard he works and what he sacrifices. I got to see all of that and this is what it takes to be a champion. I came back home and it made me train more. It was different, it made me work harder and work on different things,” said Ramirez.

That type of mindset is just what Ramirez needs as he plans on a busy year that may include a shot at a youth title as he was told by his manager Joel De La Hoya. It all starts Friday night with a win and now with this experience behind him the world may see and even better Ramirez in 2013.