Jesus Cuellar vs. Rico Ramos: Fight Time, Date, Live Stream, TV Info and More

On Friday night, we'll find out if interim WBA featherweight champion Jesus Cuellar (23-1, 18 KO) or Rico "Suavecito" Ramos (23-3, 12 KO) are ready to take the next step in their careers.

The two will face off at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cuellar out-pointed Claudio Marrero in Aug. 2013 to win the title. This will be his first defense.

The fight is part of a card that will also feature former IBF light middleweight champion Ishe "Sugar Shay" Smith. 

Here's how you can catch the action:

When: Friday, May 2 at 9 p.m. ET

Where: Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada

TV: Fox Sports 1

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

The Book on Cuellar

The slugging Argentine established quite a reputation for himself in his homeland as a power-punching prospect.

His win over Marrero was just his second fight outside of his country and his first in the United States. With that experience under his belt, he's looking to continue to improve his standing in the featherweight division.

Cuellar is now being trained by Robert Garcia in Oxnard, California. He's hoping that will aid in advancing his career. Cuellar told Francisco Salazar of The Ring Magazine:

"

I came here (to Oxnard) to demonstrate that I’m a champion. I’ve been working well with Robert Garcia. I’ve great sparring and Robert’s improved my style. I’m going to keep my title and win at all costs.

"

A win over Ramos would put him on a path to remove the interim tag from his title. 

The current WBA super world champion is Simpiwe Vetyeka. He handed Indonesian legend Chris John the first official loss of his career in December.

Vetyeka will face Nonito Donaire in May. The winner of the Cuellar-Ramos bout might be a logical opponent for the winner of Vetyeka-Donaire.

The Book on Ramos

Rich Schultz/Associated Press

Back in 2010, Doug Fischer of The Ring Magazine described Ramos as a "flashy speed demon" who "looked like the real deal in dropping fellow prospect Alejandro Perez en route to a ShoBox-televised eight-round decision."

Back then, Ramos was one of the top young prospects in the sport. He won his next six fights, all convincingly. He captured the WBA super bantamweight title by stopping Akifumi Shimoda on a spectacular one-punch KO.

Ramos didn't look good in this fight before the definitive blow. In fact, per BoxRec, Ramos was behind on all three scorecards.

Still, he won and was a world champion.

But in Jan. 2012, he ran into Guillermo Rigondeaux and everything changed.

The Cuban boxing genius gave Ramos a pugilistic lesson and stopped him in the sixth round with a body shot.

As Jay-Z once said in an aptly titled track, "It was all good just a week ago." At that time, Ramos could certainly relate.

With his confidence seemingly shaken, Ramos lost two of his next three bouts. He's now on a two-fight winning streak and beating Cuellar would represent a landmark accomplishment in his recovery from the Rigondeaux setback.

Can he beat Cuellar?

Prediction

Ramos is the more skilled boxer, and he does have some pop, but his defense has been an issue for a while. Against a proven puncher like Cuellar, that's a concern.

Because Ramos has shown a vulnerability to body punches, Cuellar will almost certainly try to attack his opponent's midsection.

Ramos' best strategy is to box and counter the wide power punches from Cuellar. If he does that, he could win a decision.

Unfortunately, it's hard to trust that Ramos will be able to execute that plan. He seems to have lapses in concentration and has fallen in love with his power. Cuellar was stopped in his lone defeat, but he appears to have at least a decent chin. 

His pressure and work rate will wear Ramos down. Look for Cuellar to win a split decision or to stop Ramos in the late rounds.

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