Jose Ramirez retreats to Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino to prepare for upcoming title bout

Part of being home means spending time at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino meeting the media and preparing for the upcoming fight. The friendly and talented Ramirez spent much of his day joined by other fighters on the card who participated in a special workout.

Ramirez, as he often does, is fighting for more than his belt. He’s also fighting to support the mission to “KO Cancer.” When he enters the ring Sunday, more than 10,000 fans will hold up signs sporting that message. The Avenal-born fighter will auction off his gloves and fight night attire, with all proceeds benefiting the Community Cancer Institute in Clovis.

Unbeaten featherweight prospect and Fresno native Isidro Ochoa and Stockton product Gabriel Flores Jr. will also appear on the card. Flores (11-0, 5 KOs) is one of the sport’s rising stars who in 2016 at the age of 16 became the youngest boxer ever to sign a promotional contract with Top Rank.

Ramirez also hosted a special meet-and-greet autograph session Wednesday evening, which was free to the public.

There is a press conference scheduled for Friday at 2 p.m. in Palace Hotel & Casino Main Ballroom.

The fighters will weigh in on Saturday at 2 p.m., again in the main ballroom.

The fight will be broadcast on ESPN in a special Top Ran on ESPN card begging at 4 p.m.

Ramirez-Zepeda and the 140-pound showdown between Ray Beltran and Hiroki Okada will headline a special Top Rank on ESPN card beginning at 4 p.m. PT on ESPN. Promoted by Top Rank, tickets to this world championship event priced at $150, $90, $60, $35, and $25 are on sale now and can be purchased at the Save Mart Center box office, Ticketmaster.com, or by calling 800-745-3000.