Jose Ramirez lost his super lightweight belts as Josh Taylor became undisputed division champion, and the American claimed he was never hurt despite suffering two knockdowns.
The 28-year-old fighter started well and inflicted a cut above Taylor’s left eye in the fourth round that threatened to give him an advantage, but he was sent to the canvas in the sixth and then seventh rounds by the 30-year-old Scot.
Judges awarded Taylor the win with each giving him the fight by a margin of 114-112, giving Taylor satisfaction.
While Taylor had appeared the better fighter on the night - something Ramirez did not dispute - the losing participant did not feel he was too physically troubled.
Fight News reported Ramirez saying after the fight: “He took advantage of some of those clinches but, hey, I got back up and tried to give it my best and stay smart.
“I was never hurt. I was aware. I was just disappointed every time it happened. I tried to shake it off and get back to my rhythm. But it was overall a good fight. Hopefully, I get back and I learn from my mistakes. You win some and you lose some.
“I felt like I landed some clean shots. It came down to the clinches. He would let his hands go as soon as he got his chance and I think I left it to the referee to do his part and it was a lack of experience on my part.”