What’s left of Taylor vs. Ramirez? The possibility of a rematch and a potential Taylor-Terence Crawford fight.

In a week when a four-belt unification fight hit the canvas amidst an interminable negotiation period, Josh Taylor vs. Jose Ramirez clashed in thrilling fashion to produce that rare and sacred thing in boxing: an undisputed world champion.

When Taylor was announced as the undisputed world junior welterweight champion, it was a moment to savor. The fact that it was an impressive back-and-forth bout made it even more special, as Taylor, who knocked Ramirez down in the sixth and seventh rounds, won 114-112 on all three judges’ scorecards.

It was just what boxing needed to improve its credibility after the disappointment and frustration of the collapse earlier this week of the Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua bout for the four world heavyweight titles.

Taylor wrote his name in the history books by becoming the first British boxer to win all four major world titles in a high-quality showdown that swung both ways at the Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas.

The sixth round was important and ultimately decided the fight, as Taylor sent Ramirez face-first into a corner when the Scot slipped a jab and landed an impressive left hand to Ramirez’s chin. Taylor (18-0, 13 KOs), 30, of Edinburgh, Scotland, entered the ring as a World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) champion, and made further progress in the seventh when he uncorked an impressive left uppercut to knock Ramirez down and prompt the referee’s second count of protection.

Ramirez (26-1, 17 KOs), 28, of Avenal, California, a former World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) champion, came roaring back in the eighth and finished strong to take the rounds at the end of the fight.

At a time when YouTubers, rookie boxers and retired legends in their 50s have become the top stories of the past year in boxing, at least from a conventional perspective, occasions like Taylor-Ramirez are just the boost the sport needs. Two of the best boxers, undefeated and competing for the top, and living up to pre-fight expectations. Boxing needs more fights like this. — Nick Parkinson

What does this win mean for Taylor?

Taylor’s win is one of the best performances by a British boxer on U.S. soil, and will set him up for bigger, more profitable fights. Taylor does not enjoy the same fame or wealth as the UK’s biggest boxing stars, the two rival heavyweight world champions, Fury and Joshua, but it should not be disputed that, by becoming undisputed champion, Taylor is also the best pound-for-pound boxer in the UK ahead of Fury and Joshua. Fury was in the ring, cheering Taylor on in a ringside seat to enjoy his precision and aggression.

This was only the seventh four-belt title bout since 1988, and Taylor becomes the fifth man to hold four belts, following the achievements of Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk [cruiserweight, 2018] and Americans Terence Crawford [junior welterweight, 2017], Jermain Taylor [middleweight, 2005] and Bernard Hopkins [middleweight, 2004-5] who unified four versions of the world title in the ring. Some would also consider Teofimo Lopez to fall into this category with his lightweight title unification win over Vasiliy Lomachenko last October, although the semantics of the WBC “franchise” tag complicate matters.

Taylor also became the first undisputed world champion from Scotland since Ken Buchanan accomplished the feat at lightweight in 1971, and the first Brit to hold all four world titles. According to reports, Buchanan, 75, is currently living in a nursing home, and Taylor told ESPN before the fight with Ramirez that, if he won, he would try to visit Buchanan and show him the belts.

Taylor could remain the only Brit to accomplish the feat for a while, with the nearest contenders setting their sights elsewhere. Fury is already set to fight Deontay Wilder for a third time, while Joshua is apparently on track to fight Usyk.

Everything went according to Taylor’s planThere was a moment of sportsmanship in the post-fight press conference with Ramirez that showed just how good Taylor’s plan was. When Ramirez was asked about his choke in the clinch when he got too close to Taylor, he looked over the small group of reporters and recognized Ben Davison, Taylor’s trainer.

Taylor did a superb job of balancing distance and aggressiveness and knowing when to push the envelope, during fight week and especially on fight night. It was a masterful approach across the board and the results speak for themselves. — Ben Baby

What’s next for Taylor?

After unifying all four belts, if Taylor intends to hold all four belts in the near future, he must first deal with a mandatory defense against WBO No. 1 contender Jack Catterall of England before he can contemplate a rematch with Ramirez, which will be in demand after both fighters put on such a brilliant fight.

Catterall agreed to step aside for Taylor vs. Ramirez to happen, and an undisputed championship defense against Catterall in Scotland will appeal to Taylor, but it will not be of the same magnitude as the Ramirez fight.

Taylor will have greater options for an upcoming fight than the English fighter, and may decide to give up one or more of the belts for a bigger fight, which could possibly include a rematch with Ramirez. But the bigger fights are likely to be above 140 pounds.

Aside from a rematch with Ramirez, there’s nothing left for Taylor at junior welterweight, and he may decide to leave the division altogether in search of greener pastures.

There are more names and more money at welterweight than at junior welterweight, and now that WBC and IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. and Manny Pacquiao will square off in August, WBO champion Terence Crawford is still looking for a career-defining fight. Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has already floated the idea of a fight between the current (Taylor) and former (Crawford) undisputed 140-pound champion in the fall.

Facing an undisputed champion is the kind of name Crawford (37-0, 28 KOs), of Omaha, Nebraska, has been craving on his record, and moving up a division has always been on Taylor’s agenda. — Parkinson

What’s next for Ramirez?

Ramirez was on the verge of winning the undisputed junior welterweight championship he always dreamed of getting. But a late flurry wasn’t enough to overcome a pair of falls.

Despite suffering the first loss of his professional career, Ramirez should still be in contention to regain at least one of the 140-pound belts by the end of the year. If Taylor vacates his belts and moves up to welterweight to face Crawford, there is still a chance Ramirez could get a title shot.

At the post-fight press conference, Ramirez’s manager Rick Mirigian hinted at the possibility of a championship in the near future, as well as a possible rematch at welterweight between Taylor and Ramirez. Considering how good Saturday’s bout was, there should be an appetite for a second fight between them.