By Steve Kim
The scheduled bout between newly crowned WBC super lightweight titlist, Jose Ramirez, and Danny O'Connor has been called off as sources say that O'Connor became dehydrated in an attempt to make weight and was hospitalized.
A source at Top Rank has confirmed to BoxingScene.com that the new main event from the Save Mart Center in Fresno is now Egis Kavaliauskas against Juan Carlos Abreu and the co-main event will now feature Andy Vences versus Frank DeAlba. This card will be televised on ESPN.
This was supposed to be a triumphant homecoming for Ramirez who just recently won his title on March 17th by out-pointing Amir Imam at the Theater of Madison Square Garden.
Ramirez (22-0, 16 KOs) earned the title shot with Imam with a stunning second-round knockout over the previously undefeated Mike Reed on Nov. 11, 2017 in front of 13,838 fans at the Save Mart Center, which broke the venue’s previous record for a boxing match.
When Ramirez fought Issouf Kinda at the Save Mart Center on Dec. 2, 2016, 13,700 fans turned out for the event dubbed “Fight For Water 6.” A 2012 U.S. Olympian, Ramirez turned pro later that year. On Oct. 25, 2014, Ramirez knocked out David Rodela in 50 seconds to win the vacant NABF super lightweight title in front of 10,000 fans at the Selland Arena in Fresno.
O’Connor (30-3, 11 KOs), from Framingham, Mass., was scheduled to get his first crack at a world title after nearly a decade as a professional. O’Connor had an illustrious amateur career, winning four New England Golden Gloves titles, a 2008 national Golden Gloves title at 141 pounds, and earning an alternate berth on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team. O’Connor won the first 14 bouts of his professional career before dropping a unanimous decision to Gabriel Bracero on April 8, 2011 in Laredo, Texas. He won nine in a row before a split decision loss to former world champion Vivian Harris in 2013.
Following a shocking, one-punch knockout loss to Bracero in their 2015 rematch, O’Connor won four consecutive fights. In his last bout, on a special St. Patrick’s Day card in Boston, O’Connor rebounded from seventh-round knockdown to win a unanimous decision over Steve Claggett and retain the WBC International Silver super lightweight belt.
2023-10-21 09:27:49
