Ramirez comes home

WBC super lightweight champion Jose Ramirez will defend his title for the first time and it what better setting than the place he virtually built in terms of a boxing market at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, Ca, against Danny O’Connor. The bout might not be the sexiest marquee match-up on paper, but is well deserved for one of Top Rank Inc.’s biggest draws.

Ramirez, who has been called out by Regis Prograis and Alex Saucedo, who also both share the same management team behind them, will have a platform to show why he is one of the top 140 pounders in the world. Ramirez is an aggressive action-packed fighter, one who who throws caution to the wind in order to exchange and land his famed left hook.

Ramirez last March won his first world title defeating Amir Imam in a competitive affair that saw Ramirez take over the second half of the fight to claim the belt. Ramirez, who was a 2012 Olympian as well as an advocate for social issues in the Central Valley, now is coming home with a title to the region and people he means a lot to. This ought to be a memorable crowd as the fight serves as almost a thank you to his fans in the local area for their support before he has to challenge top-level fighters, which may not always happen in Fresno, Ca.

Ramirez’s foe, O’Connor has a questionable at best chin and should be in trouble from the onset as Gabriel “Tito” Bracero knocked out O’Connor in a single round. O’Connor is if anything, tough and willing to accept a tough fight under tough circumstances, which some have not.

Jose Ramirez could potentially fight Mike Alvarado in the fall if this fight works out well for him.

Mean Machine, Ruiz Jr top undercard

Egidijus Kavaliauskas also known as “The Mean Machine” is bordering on entering the title contention conversation, but will face the surging Juan Carlos Abreu who stopped Jesus Soto Karass last year. Kavaliauskas has had trouble as he has stepped up in competition as his reckless pressure has gotten him in trouble especially against Cameron Kreal. Kavaliauskas has to show proper adjustments in this bout to show that he is fully capable of making such changes to compete with the top 10 fighters in the world as opposed to just come forward.

Heavyweight Andy Ruiz Jr. will return to face veteran tough guy Kevin Johnson. Ruiz Jr. has been a holding pattern awaiting a big fight since losing a narrow decision to Joseph Parker, which cost him a world title. Ruiz Jr. now is waiting potentially for a fight with Bryant Jennings or the rematch with Joseph Parker down the line. A great performance on Saturday will expedite the process.

Andy Vences returns

Super featherweight Andy Vences will return on the undercard against deceptively good Frank De Alba. The bout will more than likely serve as a test to see how Vences can handle a southpaw at a lower level than his last foe, Erick De Leon. 

This is a fight that a lot of people are looking to see a statement from Vences as he nears a world title shot.

Gabe Flores Jr., Joseph Adorno

Blue-chip lightweight prospect Gabe Flores Jr. will make his California debut fighting his first eight bouts prior out of state mostly because of the fact he was 17-years-old and not allowed to fight in California, because of his age.

Massive power-puncher Joseph Adorno will fight on the undercard as well. Adorno is a special fighter who has won all seven of his fights by knockout.

Oscar Negrete in tough

Oscar Negrete is in a very tough bout against Diuhl Olguin in a eight-round LA Fight Club main event. Olguin is a very tough opponent, who despite his record is a very tough foe who will see where Negrete is at after his loss to Rey Vargas. This could be a sneaky good bout that could steal the weekend as Negrete is the favorite, but Olguin is a very live dog.

This is a very competitive and tough bout between Negrete and Olguin.

Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada was on the card, but has been moved to July 20th, but will be at this event to support her peers.

Selina Barrios

The sister of Mario Barrios, women’s lightweight Selina Barrios will face her toughest foe of her career so far albeit every opponent she has faced has been tough, when she faces Aida Satybaldinova in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Barrios is the silent women’s lightweight making noise on the regional scene as she moves closer and closer to a title. This is a worthy-watch as Barrios is a future world champion who has fought the best opposition available.

Harold Calderon in Florida

Welterweight prospect Harold Calderon will return in Florida on Friday against undefeated John Martinez. Calderon who is at a heightened age of 31-years-old has to speed up his path to a title at 16 wins and no losses just because of sustainability. This is his first test though Martinez has felt relatively weak opposition.

Beibut Shumenov fights 

Former world champion Beibut Shumenov fights this weekend as well, but the bout is not really noteworthy beyond the fact that he is fighting.