Cerrone Cites Experience Edge on Ratcliff
Brian Knapp Dec 17, 2009
Donald
Cerrone believes he will have one not-so-subtle advantage --
big-fight experience -- over Ed Ratcliff
when the two lightweight contenders meet in the WEC 45 main event
this Saturday at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
In his last four appearances, Cerrone has engaged in a 2008 “Fight of the Year” contender with “Razor” Rob McCullough, fought on the main card against James Krause and gone to battle in two five-round title fights against Jamie Varner and Benson Henderson. At 26, he has become seasoned on center stage.
“I think this will be my fourth big show,” Cerrone said during a
Tuesday teleconference. “I’ve been there already. It’s been good. I
love it.”
Ratcliff, whose only main card appearance in the WEC ended in a submission loss to Marcus Hicks in 2008, sees the move up on the marquee as an added incentive.
A black belt in karate and tae kwon do, the 26-year-old Ratcliff turned in a unanimous decision victory over Phil Cardella at WEC 42 in August. With wins in seven of his first eight professional bouts, the Chicagoan has emerged as one of the sport’s most successful karatekas. His mother, a karate instructor, introduced him to the discipline at a young age.
“It was kind of something that was in my DNA,” Ratcliff said.
Cerrone, meanwhile, has not competed since his memorable five-round scrap with Henderson at WEC 43 in August. He thinks a decisive win over Ratcliff will set up a rematch with the winner of the Henderson-Varner showdown in January.
“I get through Ed and I get a shot at Ben or Varner,” Cerrone said. “This fight is very important.”
Other notes from the teleconference included:
• The WEC has designs on promoting a show in Mexico, though no concrete plans have been fromalized. “We’re working on it. Hopefully, we’ll be down there in the future,” WEC Vice President Peter Dropick said;
• Though Cerrone has talked openly of a move down to 145 pounds, WEC General Manager Reed Harris wants him to remain at lightweight. “He hasn’t talked to me about it. I think Donald has his hands full at 155,” Harris said;
• Harris indicated the promotion would look at matching the Henderson-Varner, Cerrone-Ratcliff winners for the lightweight championship but left the door open to other possibilities;
• Harris claimed he tried to sign Chris Horodecki -- the former International Fight League cornerstone who will make his promotional debut against Anthony Njokuani at WEC 45 -- after the IFL collapsed. “Chris was always on our radar. I love watching that guy fight. Chris has got his hands full, and Chris knows that. Chris hasn’t fought in a while. Ring rust is a problem,” Harris said. The 22-year-old Canadian has only competed twice since his technical knockout loss to Ryan Schultz in December 2007.
In his last four appearances, Cerrone has engaged in a 2008 “Fight of the Year” contender with “Razor” Rob McCullough, fought on the main card against James Krause and gone to battle in two five-round title fights against Jamie Varner and Benson Henderson. At 26, he has become seasoned on center stage.
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Ratcliff, whose only main card appearance in the WEC ended in a submission loss to Marcus Hicks in 2008, sees the move up on the marquee as an added incentive.
“Is there extra motivation? Of course,” Ratcliff said. “I’m always
motivated. I’ve got a person in front of me who’s trying to take my
head off. That’s all the motivation I need.”
A black belt in karate and tae kwon do, the 26-year-old Ratcliff turned in a unanimous decision victory over Phil Cardella at WEC 42 in August. With wins in seven of his first eight professional bouts, the Chicagoan has emerged as one of the sport’s most successful karatekas. His mother, a karate instructor, introduced him to the discipline at a young age.
“It was kind of something that was in my DNA,” Ratcliff said.
Cerrone, meanwhile, has not competed since his memorable five-round scrap with Henderson at WEC 43 in August. He thinks a decisive win over Ratcliff will set up a rematch with the winner of the Henderson-Varner showdown in January.
“I get through Ed and I get a shot at Ben or Varner,” Cerrone said. “This fight is very important.”
Other notes from the teleconference included:
• The WEC has designs on promoting a show in Mexico, though no concrete plans have been fromalized. “We’re working on it. Hopefully, we’ll be down there in the future,” WEC Vice President Peter Dropick said;
• Though Cerrone has talked openly of a move down to 145 pounds, WEC General Manager Reed Harris wants him to remain at lightweight. “He hasn’t talked to me about it. I think Donald has his hands full at 155,” Harris said;
• Harris indicated the promotion would look at matching the Henderson-Varner, Cerrone-Ratcliff winners for the lightweight championship but left the door open to other possibilities;
• Harris claimed he tried to sign Chris Horodecki -- the former International Fight League cornerstone who will make his promotional debut against Anthony Njokuani at WEC 45 -- after the IFL collapsed. “Chris was always on our radar. I love watching that guy fight. Chris has got his hands full, and Chris knows that. Chris hasn’t fought in a while. Ring rust is a problem,” Harris said. The 22-year-old Canadian has only competed twice since his technical knockout loss to Ryan Schultz in December 2007.
