GLENDALE, Ariz. — Knockout is the first word in the second chapter to Jamie Munguia’s career.

It sums up what he hopes to do.

It defines the promotional plans Top Rank has for him.

The KO was authored and patiently executed by Munguia in his first fight, post-Canelo, against an unknown, yet skilled Eric Bazinyan Friday in front of a roaring crowd of about 6,500 at Desert Diamond Arena.

In a super-middleweight fight full of twists and turns, ebbs and flows, a bigger and quicker Munguia finally delivered the final word with a succession of punches that left an exhausted Bazinyan on all fours, looking exhausted and beaten late in the 10th. He was finished, a loser by KO at 2:36 of the round.

“It was a great experience,’’ Munguia (44-1, 35 KOs) said in a tone that suggested he anticipates even greater ones in  a career that is just entering its prime.

It was also a victory that put him one fight beyond his last one, a scorecard loss to fellow Mexican Canelo Alvarez. There were questions about how the 27-year-old Munguia would respond to the loss to boxing’s  so-called Face of the Game.

Would he be tentative?

Would he be over-anxious?

No. 

And no.

Munguia’s evident poise was very much intact against Bazinyan (32-1-1, 23 KOs), an Armenian living in Canada. Bazinyan tested Munguia repeatedly in the middle round. 

“I felt like I was winning,’’ Bazinyan said.  “I felt he was very frustrated with my jab, right hand, and counters. He was getting tired. All of a sudden, I got caught. I don’t know what happened there.”

Munguia rocked him in the sixth, seventh and eighth. Each time, it looked as if Munguia was about to take control. But the well-conditioned Bazinyan came charging back, repeatedly rocking him with a solid right hands that he threw behind a consistently accurate jab.

A tentative Munguia would not have known how to respond. An overanxious Munguia would have rushed in and perhaps walked right into knockout blow. But Munguia carefully measured his punches and perhaps his energy, all in an effort to score a KO he had to envision in a comeback from his lone loss.

What’s next? Predictably, Munguia, a quiet fighter from Tijuana, wouldn’t be specific. He was asked about about the Top Rank-promoted Christian M’billi. He was asked by Caleb Plant, who is coming off a bruising victory over Trevor McCumby.

Then, he was asked by Edgar Berlanga, who lost a one-sided decision to Canelo at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena last Saturday.

“If I had to pick, I’d pick Berlanga,’’ he said.

Sounds like that one could produce the second word in that second chapter. 

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Torrez stays unbeaten, Dawejko’s mouthpiece gets him DQed

Richard Torrez Jr. threw most of the punches in a fight dominated by his movement and Joey Dawejko’s mouthpiece.

In the end, it was the mouthpiece that proved to be decisive.

In a heavyweight fight with no knockdowns, Dawejko’s mouthpiece hit the canvas five times. The fifth time resulted in his disqualification in the fifth round of the final fight before the main event, a super-middleweight clash between Jaime Munguia and Eric Bazinyan Friday night in front of an estimated crowd of 7,000 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale Arena.

The DQ will go down as a victory for Torrez, pushing the prospect’s unbeaten record to 11-0 with 10 knockouts.

“Joey was a vet, just like I said,” Torrez said.  “He didn’t give up. That mouthpiece came out a little too much. That’s a veteran move, but at the end of the day, congratulations to him. He put up a good fight.

“I think we were able to show more boxing ability that I was telling you about.”

Torrez was clearly on his way to victory with quick hands and agile feet. On The Boxing Hour’s card, he won the first three rounds easily. He was winning the fourth, too, when Dawejko’s mouthpiece began to dominate the round. Referee Wes Melton picked it up once, twice and then a third time. That’s when he issued his first one-point penalty. A fourth time resulted in a second one-point penalty  for Dawejko (28-12-4  16 KOs), a Philadelphia roofer when not in the ring.

In the fifth, Melton had seen enough of Dawejko’s mouthpiece and the fight. He waved off the fight at 2:02 of the round.

El General marches on to another battle won

In the opening bout of the ESPN+ telecast “El General” Emiliano Vargas 11-0(9Kos) of Las Vegas, NV faces “Lethal” Larry Fryers 13-6-1(5Kos) of Clones, Ireland. Coming in the fight Larry made a bold prediction stating he was going to knock out Vargas in the 5th round. Missing majority of the year Larry is making his 2024 debut looking to mirror 2023 were he went undefeated in his 2 matches. Fans made sure to be in their seats prior to the start of this one. As most AZ fight fans are very familiar with Vargas, this will make it his fourth time fighting in front of them at the Desert Diamond Arena. It also does not hurt that he comes to fight which make him a fan friendly fighter. In a town known for fighter such as the legend Micheal Carbajal, Jose Benavidez jr, and David Benavidez AZ loves to see in all out war. The El “General” has the perfect tactics to keep them happy and on the edge of their seats.

In the opening round emiliano came out with a combo of a left and right to the head of Fryers which caught him by surprise and stunned. Vargas did not let up from the punishment landing at will knocking back Fryers to ropes with a series of jabs. More importantly Vargas was showing off his defense with great footwork and head movement, making his opponent miss many of his punches.

Focusing on the body in round 2 Vargas landed some vicious body shots to the right of fryers ribs. As the round came to an end at the sound of the 10 second mark, Vargas lands a straight left hand wobbling fryers to the ropes with a few significant punches following. Best exchange of the fight to this point

Larry has no answer for Emiliano’s left hook to the head nor to the body. Just as you think Fryers is done he comes back with a punch of his own but no damage being done. As a repeat of the previous round Vargas came with a late rally hurting Larry to the point if there was more time the referee might had to save him.

In the mid point of the fifth round Vargas landed 2 perfect body shots to set up the furious knock out punch a over hand left hook ending the night for Lethal Larry Fryers. The stoppage come at 1:38 of the fifth round.

Emiliano stated that this is his best performance to date and will enjoy crumbl cookies for his hard work. Vargas is showing that he can knockout out his opponents but now adding that he can make them miss as well. The prediction of a 5th round KO was right just the fighter who said it was not. Emiliano “El General” Vargas improves to 12-0(10KOs).

Charly Suarez scores third-round stoppage

Speed is power and Filipino junior-lightweight Charly Suarez proved it repeatedly in overwhelming Jorge Castaneda in the final bout before the ESPN telecast Friday of the card featuring Jaimie Munguia-Erik Bazinyan Friday at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale AZ.

Suarez (18-0, 10 KOs) dropped Castaneda (17-4, 13 KOs), of Laredo TX, twice in the third round, finishing him at 2:23 of the third for a fringe World Boxing Organization belt.

Not in Kansas anymore

Alan “Kid Kansas” Garcia 14-0(11KOs) from Ulysses, Kansas took on Ricardo Fernandez 15-13(1KO) from Santa Cruz de la sierra, Bolivia in a scheduled 8 round bout. Garcia is coming off a very short break just fighting a little over a month ago when he KOd his opponent in 3 rounds. Coming into this fight should not be nothing new to “Kid Kansas” this past year fighting on average every 2 months, each time taking care of business

Coming to the ring paying homage to Mexico wear the colors of the flag Green, white, and red  during Hispanic heritage month. As the action started Garcia quickly Established the jab, connecting flush on his opponent’s face.

Picking up the activity in the 2nd utilizing more of his arsenal going to the body more often. Towards the end of the round Garcia briefing stunned Fernandez with a left hook to his right temple.

Settling down for the start of the 3rd  Garcia again picked it up carrying all the action as his dance partner did not come out to tangle. Very solid round for Kid Kansas as he did a little of everything  head shots, body shots and movement in the ring

Sensing he has nothing to lose Fernandez came out his Corner swinging, throwing as many punches as all of the previous rounds combine. That was short lived as Garcia took control of the fight once again simply out boxing Fernandez

Garcias body  shots have been landing effectively throughout the fight so far. In a wild turn of event with 45 seconds left in the 5th round Garcia left his guard down and was caught with a powerful right over hand. Before even hitting the canvass Garcia was out, unfortunately his head bounced off the mat. Not being able to get up the referee stops the fight at 35 seconds left in the fifth round.

This is a huge upset for top prospect Alan Garcia, maybe all those miles he put on his body this year is what failed him tonight. There is still a very bright future for Kid Kansas. In his post fight interview Fernandez stated that he was not surprised of the knockout and he knew that he was not getting up. Fernandez improves to 16-13(2KOs) while Garcia suffered his first defeat now at 14-1(11KOs)—-By David Galaviz

DJ Zamora wins decision in tough junior-lightweight bout 

DJ Zamora calls himself The War Machine. 

He got the war. 

Got the victory, too.

Zamora (14-0, 9 KOs), a junior-lightweight from Las Vegas, won a unanimous decision, yet was forced into an intense battle during the middle to late rounds of a scheduled eight-rounder by Argentine Gerenardo Antonio Perez (12-6-1, 3 KOs) Friday on a card featuring Munguia-Bazinyan at Desert Diamond Arena Friday.

Zamora’s superior reach and hand speed controlled the early rounds. In the fourth, however, Perez adjusted, slipped under Zamora’s long  punches and landed repeated uppercuts in a bout cheered by a small, yet lively crowd. 

Unbeaten Steven Navarro scores third-round TKO

Steven Navarro, an unbeaten Super Flyweight from Los Angeles, combined power and speed for a two-fisted demolition of Oscar Arroyo in the third fight — all one-sided — Friday on the card featuring Jaime Munguia-Eric Bazinyan at Glendale’s Desert Diamond Arena.

Navarro (4-0, 3 KOs) overwhelmed Arroyo (3-3, 2 KOs), of Virginia, knocking him down twic , once in the first round and again in the second. Late in third, Navarro unleashed a succession of punches from countless angles, prompting the referee to step in and end it at 2:35 of the round.  

Jorge Perez scores first-round KO

ia Essaoudi walked into the ring, answered an opening bell and had to be helped through ropes and into his dressing forty-six seconds later.

It was quick work, all delivered by Mexican middleweight Jorge Perez (31-4, 26 KOs) in the second fight on a card featuring Munguia-Bazinyan at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, a Phoenix suburb.

Perez, of Los Mochis, landed a lethal hook to Essaoudi’s left side. Essaoudi (22-3, 15 KOs), of Germany, reacted as if he had suffered a fractured rib. In evident pain, he dropped his hands. Then, Perez landed a head-rockincombo. At :46 of the first round, it was over — Perez, winner by knockout.

First Bell: Unbeaten Sebastian Hernandez forces aging foe to quit 

It was a matinee surrender.

The ESPN show featuring Jaime Munguia-Erik Bazinyan opened Friday at Desert Diamond Arena with junior-featherweight  Sebastian Hernandez (17-0, 16 KOs), of Tijuana, landing punches at will against a retreating Yenfrez Parejo (24-7-1, 12 KOs) a middle-aged Venezuelan with a receding hair line. 

Parejo’s age was listed  at 37-years-old. By the third, he looked 50. After the fourth, he was finished, a senior citizen who couldn’t continue.

By Norm Frauenheim –

GLENDALE, Ariz — Roofs came at a lot of angles. Joey Dawejko has walked them all and never fallen off one.

“I’ve got pretty good balance,’’ said Dawejko, a roofer when he’s not a heavyweight. 

It’s the well-balanced heavyweight who will test another well-balanced prospect, Richard Torrez Jr., Saturday night in an entertaining co-main event on a Top Rank, ESPN-televised card featuring super-middleweights Jaime Munguia-Erik Bazinyan at Desert Diamond Arena.

Dawejko (28-11-4, 16 KOs) figures to be a pretty good test of Torrez’ credentials, including a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and a perfect record (10-0, 10 KOs). 

“He’s a great prospect, silver medalist and all’’ said Dawejko, who was 244.1 pounds Thursday at the official weigh-in on the Desert Diamond Arena floor.  “I think it’s the right time in our careers for this fight. Obviously, Top Rank called me to test this guy. Taking this fight was easy for me, because I’ve been in there and am used to different styles.

“I’m ready to show him how the pros work.’’

From roof to canvas, Dawejko, who appeals to the blue-collar in all boxing fans, has the kind of broad experience that is also there in Torrez. Torrez, of Tulare Calif, continues to take dancing classes.

“For my footwork,’’ he said.

Now, he’s added to the course load.

“Tennis lessons,’’ said Torrez, who was at 232.6 pounds Thursday. “Moving around to get a shot at the tennis ball forces you to do even more footwork.’’

Dawejko has learned most of his footwork on roofs. Flat roofs, pitched roofs. He’s walked them all as the owner of his own roofing company in hometown Philadelphia. He’s named it after his ring name. He’ll go back to it, Tank’s Knockout Roofing, after the fight.

“I’ve focused on training through this whole camp,’’ said Dawejko, who wears a tank logo on his T-shirts and caps.

Torrez expects a great fight.

“A really cool battle,’’ he said. “I don’t think we’re going to take back steps too much.’’ 

GLENDALE, Ariz. (Sept. 11, 2024) — Junior lightweight contender Andres “Savage” Cortes suffered a training injury and was forced to withdraw from his ESPN-televised co-feature against fellow unbeaten Charly Suarez underneath the Jaime Munguia-Erik Bazinyan main event on Friday, Sept. 20, at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

The new co-feature will be the eight-round heavyweight showdown between Olympic silver medal standout Richard Torrez Jr. (10-0, 10 KOs) and Philadelphia-born veteran Joey Dawejko (28-11-4, 16 KOs).

In the eight-round televised opener, undefeated junior welterweight Emiliano Fernando Vargas (11-0, 9 KOs) steps up in class against upset-minded Irishman Larry Fryers (13-6-1, 5 KOs).

Suarez (17-0, 9 KOs), a world-rated contender from San Isidro, Philippines, will now fight hard-charging Texan Jorge Castaneda (17-3, 13 KOs) in a 10-rounder for the vacant WBO Intercontinental junior lightweight belt on the ESPN+-streamed undercard.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Eye of the Tiger, Zanfer Promotions, and Golden Boy Promotions, Munguia-Bazinyan, Torrez-Dawejko, and Vargas-Fryers will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT. Tickets are ON SALE NOW via Ticketmaster.com.

Suarez-Castaneda headlines a loaded undercard that also features the following bouts:

Alan Garcia (14-0, 11 KOs) vs. TBA, 8 Rounds, Lightweights

DJ Zamora (13-0, 9 KOs) vs. Gerardo Antonio Perez (12-5-1, 3 KOs), 8 Rounds, Jr. Lightweights

Steven Navarro (3-0, 2 KOs) vs. Oscar Arroyo (3-2, 2 KOs), 6 Rounds, Jr. Bantamweights

Jorge Garcia Perez (30-4, 25 KOs) vs. Ilias Essaoudi (22-2, 15 KOs), 10 Rounds, Jr. Middleweights

Art Barrera Jr. (6-0, 4 KOs) vs. Frank Brown (3-6-2, 1 KO), 6 Rounds, Welterweights

Sebastian Hernandez (16-0, 15 KOs) vs. Yonfrez Parejo (24-6-1, 12 KOs), 8 Rounds, Jr. Featherweights

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About Desert Diamond Arena
Desert Diamond Arena, an ASM Global managed venue, is a state-of-the-art, multipurpose sports and entertainment facility situated on 13.5 acres in the city of Glendale, Arizona. The arena entertains over one million visitors annually through concerts, family shows and sporting events. The arena anchors the Westgate Entertainment District, Arizona’s Entertainment Destination, located on 223 acres for shopping, dining, entertainment and commercial offices.

GLENDALE, Ariz. (Aug. 14. 2024) — Undefeated junior lightweight contenders Andres “Savage” Cortes and Charly Suarez will collide in a high-stakes 10-rounder on Friday, Sept. 20, at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

Cortes-Suarez will be the co-feature to the 12-round super middleweight main event between Mexican superstar Jaime Munguia and the unbeaten Erik Bazinyan.

The eight-round televised opener sees undefeated junior welterweight Emiliano Fernando Vargas step up in class against upset-minded Irishman Larry Fryers.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Eye of the Tiger, Zanfer Promotions, and Golden Boy Promotions, Munguia-Bazinyan, Cortes-Suarez, and Vargas-Fryers will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale NOW via Ticketmaster.com.

Cortes (22-0, 12 KOs), an eight-year pro from Las Vegas, is a top 10-ranked contender by the WBC and WBO at 130 pounds. He’s had a breakout 2024, knocking out Bryan Chevalier in four rounds in February and edging former world title challenger Abraham Nova by unanimous decision in June. Suarez (17-0, 9 KOs), a 2016 Filipino Olympian, is ranked No. 6 by the WBO and IBF. He’s fought on a pair of Top Rank on ESPN bills, winning a one-sided decision over Yohan Vasquez last August and turning away the game Louie Coria over eight rounds in April. 

“Ever since the Nova fight, I’ve been working on my craft in the gym. I’m showing the world my full arsenal on September 20,” Cortes said. “I want a world title shot soon, and I need to earn it with a devastating performance over Suarez.” 

Vargas (11-0, 9 KOs), the youngest fighting son of former world champion Fernando Vargas, makes his fourth outing of 2024 as he continues to build his résumé as one of the sport’s top prospects. Since jumping to junior welterweight, “El General” has scored a pair of knockouts, including June’s first-round destruction of the normally durable Jose Zaragoza. Fryers (13-6-1, 5 KOs) has won two straight fights, turning his career around following a six-bout winless streak. He last fought in June 2023, securing a technical decision over Dimash Niyazov, who entered the contest with a 14-1-3 record.

Undercard action, streaming live and exclusively on ESPN+, includes the following bouts:

In a scheduled eight-rounder, heavyweight knockout artist Richard Torrez Jr. (10-0, 10 KOs), the Olympic silver medal star from Tulare, California, faces his most experienced foe in Philadelphia native Joey Dawejko (28-11-4, 16 KOs). Torrez has been extended past the third round only twice in his young career, while Dawejko has won seven of his past eight fights. 
 
Welterweight prospect Art Barrera Jr. (6-0, 4 KOs) looks for his fifth victory of 2024 in a six-rounder against Jose Belloso (5-4, 5 KOs).

Junior lightweight DJ Zamora (13-0, 9 KOs), a Las Vegan southpaw of Filipino heritage, will see action in an eight-round clash. Zamora earned a decision win over Mexican veteran Jose Antonio Meza in June.

Junior bantamweight phenom Steven Navarro (3-0, 2 KOs), the latest uber-talent from Los Angeles, returns in a six-rounder versus Oscar Arroyo (3-2, 2 KOs). Navarro picked up win number three last Saturday in Albuquerque, New Mexico, stopping Israel Camacho in the opening round.
 
Up-and-coming junior featherweight Sebastian Hernandez (16-0, 15 KOs) steps up against former interim world champion Yonfrez Parejo (24-6-1, 12 KOs) in an eight-rounder.
 

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About Desert Diamond Arena
Desert Diamond Arena, an ASM Global managed venue, is a state-of-the-art, multipurpose sports and entertainment facility situated on 13.5 acres in the city of Glendale, Arizona. The arena entertains over one million visitors annually through concerts, family shows and sporting events. The arena anchors the Westgate Entertainment District, Arizona’s Entertainment Destination, located on 223 acres for shopping, dining, entertainment and commercial offices.

GLENDALE, Ariz. (Aug. 7, 2024)— Tickets for the 12-round super middleweight showdown between Mexican star Jaime Munguia and unbeaten contender Erik Bazinyan — Friday, Sept. 20, at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona—are ON SALE NOW via Ticketmaster.com.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Eye of the Tiger, Zanfer Promotions, and Golden Boy Promotions, Munguia-Bazinyan and additional fight action will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT. Sky Sports will have coverage in the U.K. and Ireland.
 
Rising junior welterweight prospect Emiliano Fernando Vargas (11-0, 9 KOs) and heavyweight U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. (10-0, 10 KOs) will see action in separate eight-rounders. More information on their bouts will be announced shortly.
 
Munguia (43-1, 34 KOs) continues his active 2024 campaign, which began in January in Phoenix when he stopped British former world title challenger John Ryder in nine rounds. Less than four months later, he faced countryman Canelo Alvarez, rising from the canvas in the fourth before losing via unanimous decision in a bid for the undisputed crown. A former world champion, Munguia held the WBO junior middleweight world title for almost two years and made five defenses, including a dominant win over Liam Smith.
 
Bazinyan (32-0-1, 23 KOs), an 11-year pro from Armenia, moved to Canada as a teenager and has since developed into one of Quebec’s most popular attractions. A regional champion since 2018, he has fought his last seven bouts in Montreal, including a sixth-round stoppage of American veteran Ronald Ellis last October. In 2024, Bazinyan has also been active, knocking out Billi Facundo Godoy in three rounds in January and fighting to a 10-round draw versus Shakeel Phinn in May.
 

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About Desert Diamond Arena
Desert Diamond Arena, an ASM Global managed venue, is a state-of-the-art, multipurpose sports and entertainment facility situated on 13.5 acres in the city of Glendale, Arizona. The arena entertains over one million visitors annually through concerts, family shows and sporting events. The arena anchors the Westgate Entertainment District, Arizona’s Entertainment Destination, located on 223 acres for shopping, dining, entertainment and commercial offices.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (April 9, 2024) —Heavyweight prospect Richard Torrez Jr., the U.S. Olympic silver medalist who has knocked out every man he’s faced, hopes to extend his streak of fallen foes. Torrez steps up against fellow unbeaten Brandon Moore on Saturday, May 18 at Pechanga Arena San Diego.

The eight-round televised opener joins a loaded bill headlined by the vacant WBO lightweight world title showdown between Mexican three-weight world champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete and Ukraine’s Denys Berinchyk. The 12-round welterweight co-feature, a match of undefeated contenders, will see San Diego native Giovani Santillan fight Brian Norman Jr.

Navarrete-Berinchyk, Santillan-Norman and Torrez-Moore will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

“Richard Torrez Jr. is one of the most explosive and powerful young heavyweights I’ve seen, and he’s in for a big test against Brandon Moore,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “These are two unbeaten, skilled big men and a great addition to an already loaded card at Pechanga Arena San Diego.”

Torrez (9-0, 9 KOs), from the Central Valley town of Tulare, California, has been a whirlwind during his two-plus years as a pro. He has five first-round knockouts on his ledger, including a first-round TKO over Don Haynesworth last month in Glendale, Arizona. The high school valedictorian who can complete a Rubik’s cube in minutes hopes to solve his most difficult professional puzzle. Moore (14-0, 8 KOs), a 6-foot-6 boxer-puncher from Lakeland, Florida, signed with Top Rank last year. He has since won a pair of eight-round shutouts, turning away Robert Simms last November and overcoming a hard-charging Helaman Olguin in March.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets are on sale now via AXS.com.

GLENDALE, Ariz. –Never count out Oscar Valdez Jr.

That’s been the story of his career, one that has included broken jaws and busted eyes.

But that will is still there, still unbroken

Add another chapter to the Valdez edition, an ongoing example of resilience.

If somebody was to ever write a song about Valdez, the lyric would be Never Quit.

It was there all over again Friday night with a seventh-round stoppage of Australian Liam Wilson in a victory at Desert Diamond Arena that puts Valdez at the brink of re-claiming a junior-lightweight world title.

“People say you’re 30-something, they say this, they say that,’’ said Valdez, who won an interim 130-pound title and may be elevated to the World Boxing Organization’s real champion if Emanuel Navarrete wins a lightweight title in May and vacates the junior-lightweight version. “But I always come back. I always want to come back.

“In life you lose. It happens. But you have an obligation to come back.’’

This time, he did just months after a punishing loss to Navarrete last summer, also at Desert Diamond. That loss resurrected the familiar doubts about Valdez (32-2, 24 KOs).

The end is near they said, especially against Wilson, who knocked down Navarrete last summer. Arguably, Wilson was of robbed of a victory, a huge upset, on that controversial night,

But the Wilson we saw against Navarrete may have been a mirage. Now, you can wonder whether Navarrete took the then unknown Aussie seriously.

But Valdez did. Very much so.

Seconds after opening bell, the chants started, from a Desert Diamond Arena crowd of 7,102, which was populated by much of Nogales, a Mexican town south of Tucson where Valdez grew up.

Oscar, Oscar.

But the taller Wilson silenced them, at least for a few minutes. Wilson came out aggressively, trying to employ his advantage in height and reach with a long jab.

Initially, it worked. But Valdez quickly adjusted, almost as if he knew what was coming.

In the late seconds of the opening round, he slowed down Wilson with a couple of wicked body shots.

A more tentative Wilson came out for the second round. Valdez’ bodywork was an effective warning. Wilson’s forward progress stalled.

Valdez went on the attack, stepping inside and landing blows that appeared to bloody Wilson’s nose.

There was blood at his nostrils. In the third, however, there was also more aggression in the Aussie’s tactics.

Suddenly, he was willing to step inside and trade with Valdez. That, too left a mark, this time on Valdez. Suddenly there was swelling beneath his right eye.

But Wilson’s move inside proved to be his biggest mistake. That’s where Valdez is at his best. He brawls. He battles. The inside is his turf. By the fifth round, it was clear he had declared ownership of the bloody real estate.

In the seventh, he stunned a tiring Wilson with a big left hand. That was the beginning of the end.

“He caught me,’’ said Wilson (13-3, 7 KOs), who before opening bell vowed that he would knock out Valdez. Valdez saw Wilson stagger. Then, he capitalized, swarming him with punches. Wilson leaned on the ropes, looking defenseless.

Referee Mark Nelson had seen enough. He ended the fight at 2:48 of the with a stoppage that proved be a new beginning, another one, for Oscar Valdez Jr.

History; Made!

The build up to this fight was nothing short of fire works, as it should be. This one is for all the minimum weight belts (105llbs) and the chance to become the first ever Undisputed Women’s minimum weight champion. Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada 25-0(9KOs) out of East Los Angles, CA took on Yokasta Valle 30-2(9KOs) fighting out of San Jose, Costa Rica. Estrada having the WBC, WBA and Ring belts, and Valle with the WBO and IBF titles. 

In a surprise to most in the audience, Estrada was escorted to the ring by the phoenix and boxing legend Micheal Carbajal. Who is the fore father of boxing in Arizona with the linage of his talents some would say this is why boxing is here tonight. Another reason one would have to think is it mind games to have  the AZ fans on her side giving her one advantage.

Both fighters came in at a ready 104.2 lbs and ready to go at it. With the first round going a little less than exciting then the lead up. Valle came out of the round with a cut over her right eye from a accidental head butt. Estrada also did some work with landing some over hand rights to Valles head

Perhaps tasting blood estrada came out with more intensity looking to capitalize on the cut. Maybe a little too aggressive Estrada took some clean shots 

The third was the most exciting round of the night it is too bad that the rounds only last 2 minutes. Each fighter having their moments landing significant punches in a good ole fashion brawl. Picking up where they left off in the forth it was all action, estrada looking like the better boxer jabbing and moving and Valle the more of the power puncher. 

In the fifth round Valle once again proved to be the stronger fighter taking over as she stunned estrada with a right, left combo to the head. Valle did not let off the gas as she pressed estrada till the end of the round. After the mid way point of the fight estrada was still trying to out box her opponent but Valle had different plans landing some crowd pleasing punches. With a lot of fight in her, estrada landed a strong left hook of her own. 

The next following round were just unbelievable each fighter going back and forth with their best game plan Estrada with her boxing skill going to the body most often and Valle using her power against her. So far the crowd has been on their feet in the sold out Desert Diamond Arena. 

Round 9 seniesa came out with a little bull fighting antics, baiting Valle to come and fight. As the old saying goes mess with the bull, get the horns. Valle took her up on that and went after estrada, both going at until estrada went back to boxing. 

The 10^th and final round was nothing short of fireworks, from beginning to the end both leaving it all out in the ring. As the blood of Valle started to trickle down her face again but did not play a role in the fight, As it went to the score cards. With all 3 judges scoring it the same 97-93 in favor of “Super Bad” Seniesa Estrada becoming the first Undisputed Minimum Weight champion. 

This will be one the best women’s fights not only for the significance but the action inside the ring. They gave the fans a fight possible the fight of the night. —-DAVID GALAVIZ

Muratalla wins decision over Ndongeni in awkward fight

Skillset versus puzzle.

Raymond Muratalla, an unbeaten lightweight trained by Robert Garcia, had all the skill, enough of it to win a unanimous decision over South African Xolisani Ndongeni on the Valdez-Wilson car at Desert Diamond.

But Muratalla (20-0, 16 KOs) didn have an answer for Ndongeni’s mix of awkward athleticism and resilient energy. Muratalla just couldn’t finish him. He tried repeatedly, with head-rocking shots throughout the late rounds of a 10-rounder. 

But Ndongeni (31-5, 18 KOs)  answered each challenge with a wild hook, foot speed and — in the end — gestures that said he would not fall. Repeatedly, he shook his head at Muratalla. He lost, 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93. But, in the end, he survived.  

Delgado scores seventh-round KO

Lindolfo Delgado turned boos into cheers.

Delgado (20-0, 15 KOs), booed loudly for a dull performance in his last visit to Desert Diamond Arena about a year ago, brought the  crowd to its feet with a two-knockdown stoppage of fellow Mexican Carlos Sanchez (25-3, 19 KOs) on the Valdez-Wilson card.

In the fifth, Delgado knocked down Sanchez, his former teammate on the Mexican National Team, with a left-right combo. In the seventh, the former Mexican Olympian finished the job with a short hook to the chin that put Sanchez onto the canvas — flat on his face — for a knockout at 48 seconds of the seventh.

Richard Torrez goes to 9-0, all by KO

 Richard Torrez Jr. a fan-friendly heavyweight, says he doesn’t pursue knockouts.

Don’t tell that to his opponents.

There have been nine. Torrez (9-0, 9 KOs) stopped all of them. The latest was Don Haynesworth (18-9-1, 16 KOs), a North Carolina heavyweight who was finished within three minutes on an ESPN card featuring Oscar Valdez Jr. and Liam Wilson at Desert Diamond Arena. 

Torrez (9-0, 9 KOs), a silver medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, unleashed more than 20 successive punches at a whirlwind rate. It looked as if most of them landed. At 2:19 of the first, referee Raul Caiz had seen enough. He ended it, a TKO. 

“I go in there to box,” Torrez said. “If a punch lands, it lands, I landed a body punch and I could kind of hear the air go out of him.” 

Sergio the home town attraction earned a unanimous Decision 

In what was a tall order before the fight having been sandwich between 2 of the top prospects on Top Rank Emiliano Vargas and Olympian Richard Torres. Sergio “Checo” Rodriguez in his return to the Desert Diamond Arena as he took on Sanny Duversome 12-6-2 (1KO) of Avon Park, Florida. Sergio stated earlier in the week he wanted to give the fans that came early a show.

Looking calm as if he has done this before, as he walked to the ring greeting the fans with a smile on his face. From the opening bell the fans made it known who they came to see. In what was mostly a feel out round sergio made the most of what he could get landing some clean shot, more importantly he showcased his head movement and eluding his opponents punches. 

The next 2 rounds were much of the same, however at the end of the 3^rd round Checo landed a few combination while backing Sonny into the ropes and then throwing his combos. He landed the best of the night at that point a upper cut followed by a shot to the body that got the crowd back into the fight. 

In the fourth both fighters came out with more intensity, with Checo winning the exchanges. Landing another uppercut with the left Checo stunned sonny which led to him backing into the ropes and Checos continued punches. Once Sanny got his legs back he than gave Checo some of his one medicine. 

The fifth was Sanny’s best round in what was still not much action. He caught checo with a clean left to the face. As the fight went on the crowd started to get inpatient and started with the boos. The best action came in at the last 10 seconds of the fight with both fighters exchanging till the closing bell. It went to the judges score card with one having it 60-54, and other 2 scoring it 59-55 all for Sergio “Checo” Rodriguez improving his record to 11-0-1 (8Kos). This was a really good challenge for Sergio who proved that he can go the distance and show his ring IQ and not just knocking his opponents out. The future is bright for him and will be exciting.—DAVID GALAVIZ 

Emiliano Vargas wins shutout decision

There was no knockout, but there was a workman-like performance from lightweight prospect Emiliano Vargas, who did a little bit everything in an evolving skill set for a shutout decision over Nelson Hampton in the fourth fight on the Valdez-Wilson card at Desert Diamond.

Vargas (9-0, 7 KOs), wearing silver shoes as bright as his future, displayed agile feet, good head movement and solid combinations, especially to the body, in a thorough victory over six rounds.

Vargas, whose legendary dad — Fernando Vargas — was in his corner, appeared to hurt Hampton (10-9, 6 KOs), of McAllen TX, with a body shot in the sixth. But Hampton held on, taking the bout to the scorecards.

Kid Kansas impressive in Top Rank debut

Alan Garcia didn’t waste any time showing just why Top Rank signed him.

Garcia (12-0, 10 KOs), a lightweight nicknamed Kid Kansas, didn’t kid around, delivering a multi-punch combo that left Gonzalo Fuenzalida (12-4, 3 KOs), of Chile, exhausted and slumped along the ropes, a TKO loser at 1:58 of the second round in the third bout on the Valdez-Wilson card.

Art Barrera scores lethal, second-round KO

It was short.

And lethal

Art Barrera Jr., (4-0, 4 KOs, a Robert Garcia-trained junior-welterweight, unleashed a left hand that traveled a few inches, landed and dropped Keven Soto (5-2, 3 KOs), who was unconscious before he hit the canvas at 2:17 of the the second round in the second bout on the Valdez-Wilson card at Desert Diamond

First Bell: Knee injury forces TKO end to opener

There were empty seats and echoes. But there was nothing else ordinary about First Bell, the opening bout Friday on a card featuring Oscar Valdez versus Liam Wilson at Desert Diamond Arena.

It ended in a limp.

Avner Hernandez Molina had an iron chin, but a glass knee.

Molina (4-4), a stocky junior-welterweight from Mexico City, absorbed repeated right hands from a long, lanky Ricardo Ruvalcaba (11-0-1, 10 KOs), of Ventura, CA. But in the fifth round, he ducked a wide, looping attempt and suddenly came up lame. Immediately, he bent over and grabbed his right knee, his face twisted in  evident pain. He couldn’t continue. At 1:44 of the fifth,  the matinee bout was, Ruvalcaba a TKO winner because of a knee injury.

Rafael Espinosa wrestled the WBO Featherweight title with an action packed 12-round majority decision over Robeisy Ramirez at The Charles F. Dodge City Center in Pembroke Pines, Florida.

The taller Espinosa had a good start to the fight as he was able to get inside and land punches. Ramirez was able to get in some decent shots of his own. In round five, Ramirez landed a right hook that sent Espinosa to the deck. Espinosa got up but fell back down at the bell.

The two traded flurries of punches which thrilled the sold out crowd which favored the Cuban born Ramirez. In round 12, Espinosa’s pressure finally wilted Ramirez and dropped the now-former champion with a flurry that was capped by a left hook.

That seemed to be the difference as Espinosa won by scores of 115-111, 114-112 and 113-113.

Espinosa, 125.3 lbs of Guadalajara, MEX is now 22-0. Ramirez, 125.6 lbs of Cuba is 13-2.

Espinoza said, “I didn’t think about anything in here. I just thought about winning. I even asked what round we were in. And I knew that I had to drop him in order to win. I just put my heart into it. I always do that. And thank God it happened.

“I think I’ve had a broken foot since the second round. But what kept me on my feet was my daughter, my parents, my wife and my family. I knew that all of Mexico was watching me. And I knew that I had to become a world champion.”

Ramirez said, “We did what we always do. We followed what Ismael Salas told us to do. We scored the knockdown and tried to end the fight, but it didn’t happen.

“I thought the fight was won. But he got his second wind. I tried to catch mine. But I’ve got to give him credit. He came after me. He got the knockdown. I didn’t think it would determine the result, but that’s what the judges decided.”

Zayas Stops Fortea in 5

Promising Xander Zayas stopped Jorge Fortea in round five of their 10-round junior middleweight bout.

In round one, Zayas dropped Fortea with a left to the body. In round five, it as another left to the body that put Fortea down for the 10-count at 1:37.

Zayas, 153.6 lbs of San Juan, PR is 18-0 with 12 knockouts. Fortea, 153,7 lbs of Souce, ESP is 24-4-1.

Zayas, “We knew that he likes to keep his elbows out. And it was just a matter of time after we got him in the first round. After that, he went into survival mode and brought his elbows down. But then we got him with another body shot.”

Good looking Bruce Carrington remained undefeated with a second round stoppage over Jason Sanchez in a 10-round featherweight fight.

In round two, Carrington rocked Sanchez with a right. He followed him around the ring and dropped Sanchez with a hard right. Sanchez was not all the way back and then ate a left hook just before the bell and went to the canvas again and the fight was over at 2:59.

Carrington, 125.8 lbs of Brooklyn is 10-0 with six knockouts. Sanchez, 125.7 lbs of Albuquerque, NM is 16-5.

Carrington said, “This was a statement to the rest of the featherweight division. I want all the smoke. It doesn’t’ matter who it is.”

Richard Torrez Jr. had to almost go the distance for the first time. The key word is almost as he stopped veteran Curtis Harper in the eighth and final round of their heavyweight bout.

Torrez battered Harper throughout the fight and finished him with a hard flurry of punches on the ropes before a referee stoppage at 2:03.

Torrez, 230.8 lbs of Tulure, CA is 8-0 with eight knockouts. Harper, 273.9 lbs of Clarksville, TN is 14-11.

Torrez said, “I knew I needed the rounds, and Curtis Harper was a tough, game opponent. This is an experience that will only help me as I progress.
 
“When I saw his mouthpiece fly out, I knew the knockout was coming. I’m happy I got the rounds in and a knockout.”

Jahi Tucker and Francisco Daniel Veron fought to a eight-round majority draw in a junior middleweight contest.

Tucker won a scorecard by a 77-75 tally, that was overruled by two 76-76 cards.

Tucker, 155.2 lbs of Deer Park, NY is 10-1-1. Veron, 155.1 lbs of Buenos Aries, ARG is 13-0-1.

Rohan Polanco scored a sixth round stoppage over Keith Hunter in a eight-round junior welterweight bout.

In round six, Polanco hurt Hunter and landed a huge flurry of punches and the fight was stopped at 2:06. Hunter was visibly upset and may have struck the referee.

Polanco, 142.9 lbs of Santo Domingo, DR is now 11-0 with seven knockouts. Hunter, 139.3 lbs of Las Vegas, NV is now 15-2.

Tiger Johnson remained undefeated with an eight-round split decision over Jimmer Espinosa in a junior welterweight bout.

Johnson, 141.6 lbs of Cleveland won by scores of 79-73 and 78-74, while Espinosa took a card 77-75.

Johnson is now 11-0. Espinosa, 141.2 lbs of Tuxtl, MEX is 15-2.

Damian Knyba remained undefeated with eight-round unanimous decision over Michael Coffie in a heavyweight bout.

Knyba, 264.1 lbs of Wodzyn, POL won by scores 80-72 twice and 79-73 and is 13-0. Coffie, 290.9 lbs of Brooklyn, NY is 13-5.

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. (Nov. 13, 2023) — The heavyweight division’s fastest-rising prospect looks to close out 2023 in crushing fashion. Richard Torrez Jr., the Olympic silver medalist from Tulare, California, will test himself against the cagey Curtis Harper on Saturday, Dec. 9 at Charles F. Dodge City Center in Pembroke Pines, Florida.

This will be the first scheduled eight-rounder for Torrez, who has ended all seven of his professional outings in three rounds or less.
 
Torrez-Harper will stream LIVE & exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ before the ESPN-televised doubleheader (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) featuring Robeisy Ramirez’s WBO featherweight world title defense against Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza and undefeated junior middleweight sensation Xander Zayas versus Spain’s Jorge Fortea.

“Curtis Harper is a tough, experienced heavyweight, and I look forward to the challenge,” Torrez said. “He has been in with some of the division’s best fighters, and we felt the time was right to step up and take on someone of his caliber.”

Torrez (7-0, 7 KOs) shined at the Tokyo Olympics in the summer of 2021 and turned pro the following March with a second-round stoppage over Allen Melson in Fresno, California. He went 4-0 in 2022 and opened his second professional year with a second-round knockout over James Bryant in February. An injury kept Torrez out of the ring for six months, but he returned with a first-round stoppage over Willie Jake Jr. in August and a second-round blitzing of Tyrrell Anthony Herndon in October. Harper (14-10, 9 KOs) is a durable veteran who has gone the distance with numerous top prospects and contenders, including Chris Arreola, Brandon Moore, and Guido Vianello.

Janibek Alimkhanuly stopped Vincenzo Gualtieri in round six to retain his WBO and win the IBF Middleweight title at the Fort Bend Epicenter in Rosenberg, Texas.

Alimkhanuly hurt Gualtieri in round five with a devastating left uppercut. In round six, it was another uppercut that hurt Gualtieri that made him stumble to the corner and the fight was stopped at 1:25.

Alimkhanuly, 159.3 lbs of Kazakhstan is 15-0 with 10 knockouts. Gualtieri, 159.5 lbs of Germany is 21-1-1.

Janibek said, “This is my style of fighting. This is Qazaq style, and this is what I will continue to do.
 
“We knew from the beginning that he wasn’t going to fight back. He was waiting because he thought I was going to get tired. But I didn’t get tired.
 
“We would like to add another two belts to this collection. We hope that our promoter Top Rank can organize that.”
 
Gualtieri said, “Congratulations to Janibek. He was better tonight. But I think it was a little bit early to end the fight. But he was better today.

Keyshawn Davis won a 10-round majority decision over Nahir Albright in a lightweight bout.

Davis landed 139 of 331 punches. Albright was 92 of 425.

Davis, 135 lbs of Norfolk, VA won by scores of 97-93, 96-94 and 95-95 and is now 10-0. Albright, 134.9 lbs of Sicklerville, NJ is 16-3.

Davis said, “I had it as a win for me. That’s all that matters. He was a tough fighter. And this fight today gave me some good experience. I was feeling good. I was just boxing. I was just having fun and doing what I want to do.
 
“I just want to show that I belong at the top of the 135-pound division. I’m working my way up there. If Jose Pedraza is willing to take a fight with me, then let’s do it.”

Richard Torrez Jr. remained perfect by stopping Tyrell Anthony Herndon in a scheduled six-round heavyweight bout.

In round two, Torrez dropped Herndon with a hard 1-2 combination. Torrez jumped all over Herndon and landed an assault and the fight was stopped when Herndon turned his back at 1:26.

Torrez, 233.1 lbs of Talure, CA is 7-0 with seven knockouts. Herndon, 234.8 lbs of San Antonio is 21-5.

Torrez said, “This is a process. Top Rank has the best matchmakers, and I fight whoever they put in front of me. If they say I’m ready to fight eight-rounders next, I’ll be ready.
 
“I’m not expecting knockouts. When I don’t expect them, that’s when they happen. It’s a Catch 22. If I expect the knockouts, then they don’t happen. I just want to show my boxing ability, and I got two rounds in this time. I’m looking forward to the next one.”

Guido Vianello won an eight-round unanimous decision over Curtis Harper in a heavyweight bout.

Vianello, 241.3 lbs of Rome, ITA won by scores of 80-72 and 79-73 twice and is now 11-1-1. Harper, 275.5 lbs of Clarksville, TN is

Giovanni Marquez remained undefeated with a second-round stoppage over Donte Strayhorn in a scheduled six-round junior welterweight bout.

In round two, Marquez dropped Staryhorn with two right uppercuts. Seconds later, it was a vicious four punch combination that was punctuated by a left hook that put Strayhorn on the deck. Marquez ended things by landing seven unanswered punches that finished the fight at 2:47.

Marquez, 141.3 lbs of Houston, TX is 7-0 with five knockouts. Strayhorn, 140.2 lbs of Dallas, TX is 12-5-1.

Duke Ragan got off the deck to win a eight-round split-decision over Jose Perez in a featherweight bout.

In round five, Pere landed a big left hook that dropped Ragan. Ragan was cut on his right cheekbone. In round seven, Perez was cut over his right eye.

Ragan, 125.3 lbs of Cincinatti, OH was coming off a year layoff, and won by scores of 76-75 twice, while Perez took a card 76-75.

Ragan is now 10-0. Perez, 126.4 lbs of Oak Hill, CA is 11-2-2.

Kelvin Davis remained undefeated with an eight-round unanimous decision over Narcisco Carmona in a junior welterweight. fight.

Davis, 142 lbs. of Norfolk, VA won by scores of 80-72, 79=73 and 77-75 and is now 10-0. Carmona, 142.6 lbs of Servilla, SPA is 11-2-1.

Alan Garcia remained with a six-round unanimous decision over Nelson Hampton in a junior welterweight fight.

Garcia, 137.8 lbs of Ulysses, KN won by scores of 60-54 on all cards and is now 10-0. Hampton, 137.3 lbs of McAllen, TX is 10-8.

Oscar Bravo and Humberto Galindo fought to a eight-round majority draw in a junior lightweight fight.

In round three, Galindo was deducted a point for a low blow. In round four, Bravo was deducted a point for holding.

Scores were 76-74 for Galindo and 75-75 twice.

Bravo, 130.8 lbs of Sabtiago, CHL is 25-13-1. Gallindo, 131.7 lbs of Tijuan, MEX is 14-3-2.

Jakhungir Zokirov made a successful pro debut with a fourth-round stoppage over Guillermo Del Rio in the final scheduled round of their heavyweight bout.

In round one, Zokirov dropped Del Rio with a left hand.

In round four, Zokirov dropped Del Rio Again with another straight left and the fight was stopped at 39 seconds.

Zokirov, 263.5 lbs of Uzbekistan is 1-0 with one knockout. Del Rio, 217.1 lbs of Monterrey, MEX is 4-5-1.

GLENDALE, Ariz. (Aug. 9, 2023) — Lightweight contender Raymond Muratalla suffered a training injury and has been forced to withdraw from his ESPN-televised co-feature this Saturday, Aug. 12, against fellow unbeaten Diego Torres at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

The 10-round junior welterweight tilt between rising contender Lindolfo Delgado and Jair Valtierra is the new co-feature and will be televised directly before the WBO junior lightweight world title showdown between reigning champion Emanuel Navarrete and former two-weight world champion Oscar Valdez.

Navarrete-Valdez, Delgado-Valtierra, and the heavyweight showdown between Richard Torrez Jr. and Willie Jake Jr. will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com.

Delgado (17-0, 13, KOs) represented Mexico at the 2016 Rio Olympics and won his first 11 bouts by stoppage. He made his Top Rank debut in June 2021 and outlasted then-unbeaten puncher Omar Aguilar by decision last August in a 2022 Fight of the Year contender. Delgado fought at Desert Diamond Arena in February, knocking down veteran Clarence Booth en route to a one-sided decision victory. Valtierra (16-2, 8 KOs), from Leon, Mexico, lost an eight-round decision to Muratalla last July. He returned in February against the unbeaten Nestor Bravo, and the bout was ruled a no contest in the fourth round after a head clash opened a cut near Bravo’s right eye.

On Saturday, August 12, live from Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, three-division world champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete puts his WBO junior lightweight world title on the line against former two-division world champion Oscar Valdez.  Richard Torrez Jr. will open with a special feature, a six-round heavyweight tilt against Willie Jake Jr.

The main card airs at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and simulcast on ESPN+, with the undercard at 6:45 p.m. ET/ 3:45 p.m. PT exclusively on ESPN+ (English and Spanish).

Ahead of their upcoming bouts, ESPN will air two original programs: The Gentleman Boxer: Richard Torrez Jr. and Hecho en Mexico: Navarrete vs. Valdez 

The Gentleman Boxer: Richard Torrez Jr. is a 30-minute candid look at the rising American heavyweight Richard Torrez Jr. (5-0, 5 KO) ahead of his upcoming special feature bout in Arizona. Fight fans will get to know the charismatic 24-year-old California native who took home a silver medal for the United States at the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Hecho en Mexico: Navarrete vs. Valdez is a 30-minute cinematic presentation of the two Mexican warriors who will go “mano a mano” in the Arizona desert. The show previews the marquee main event between three-division world champion and defending WBO junior lightweight world champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete (37-1, 31 KO) and the former Mexican Olympian and two-division world champion Oscar Valdez (31-1, 23 KO).

In addition to the air times below, both programs will be available for replay on-demand in the ESPN App and on ESPN.com and ESPN+.

(All times ET)

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GLENDALE, Ariz. (July 6, 2023) – Undefeated contender Raymond “Danger” Muratalla is ascending the lightweight ladder without any delay. 

The 26-year-old Muratalla, who blasted out Jeremia Nakathila in only two rounds in May, makes his third appearance of 2023 in a 10-round clash against unbeaten Mexican standout Diego Torres on Saturday, August 12 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. 

Muratalla-Torres will serve as the co-feature to the junior lightweight title showdown between WBO world champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete and former two-division world champion Oscar Valdez. U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. opens the televised tripleheader in a six-round heavyweight tilt against Willie Jake Jr. 

Navarrete-Valdez, Muratalla-Torres, and Torrez-Jake will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets starting at $50 are on sale at Ticketmaster.com.

Muratalla (18-0, 15 KOs) is quickly becoming a major threat in his division. He made his pro debut in 2016 in Mexico, and two years later he debuted in the U.S. He has stopped 12 of his last 13 opponents, and he is on track to have his most impressive year yet. In March, he survived a first-round knockdown to stop Humberto Galindo with a body shot in round nine. In May, he opened the Devin Haney-Vasiliy Lomachenko pay-per-view broadcast with his devastating showing against Nakathila. 

Muratalla said, “I couldn’t be more excited to get back in that ring on such a great card. I can’t wait to put on another great performance for the fans. I believe this is my time now, and I will continue to show the hard work that’s being put in.”

Torres (17-0, 16 KOs) is a 25-year-old powerhouse from Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico. The oldest of four boxing brothers, he began his pro career in 2019 and unleashed a streak of 13 knockout victories. In February 2022, he took on fellow Zapopon native Jonathan Escobedo Martinez, going the 10-round distance for the first time in an all-action slugfest. Torres is 3-0 with three knockouts since the Martinez war. In his last fight, he beat Jose Segura Torres via fifth-round TKO in March. Torres is now set to celebrate his 26^th birthday by making his long-awaited U.S. debut. 

“I am very excited about this fight. I think this is a big opportunity for me,” Torres said. “Fighting against another undefeated fighter is something that I was looking for. It is my way of showing that I am made for this, and I am here to achieve great things. I am not afraid. I’m going to give it my all and come out with a great victory.”

GLENDALE, Ariz. (June 27, 2023) – Tickets go on sale TODAY for the August 12 junior lightweight title showdown between WBO world champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete and former two-division world champion Oscar Valdez at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. will open the televised tripleheader in a six-round heavyweight tilt against Willie Jake Jr. The bout was initially scheduled for March, but Torrez tore his oblique in training.

Navarrete-Valdez, a to-be-announced co-feature, and Torrez-Jake will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets starting at $50 go on sale TODAY at 12 p.m. PT via Ticketmaster.com.

Torrez (5-0, 5 KOs) made his pro debut last year with a second-round stoppage win against Allen Melson. He scored three additional knockouts in 2022 before making his triumphant 2023 debut by blasting out James Bryant in the opening round. Jake (11-3-2, 3 KOs), from Indianapolis, Indiana, is a seven-year pro who has won three straight fights.

The ESPN+-streamed undercard includes some of the sports brightest young talents.

Junior welterweight Lindolfo Delgado (17-0, 13 KOs), a 2016 Mexican Olympian, puts his unbeaten record on the line against compatriot Jair Valtierra (16-2, 8 KOs) in a 10-rounder. Last August, Delgado authored a career-best victory over then-unbeaten prospect Omar Aguilar and is coming off a decision win over Florida veteran Clarence Booth at Desert Diamond Arena in February.

Undefeated lightweight prospect Emiliano Fernando Vargas (5-0, 4 KOs) will face an opponent to be named in a four-rounder. “El General” began his 2023 campaign with a decision win over Francisco Duque in February at Desert Diamond Arena. He then stopped Edgar Uvalle in two rounds in April before beating Rafael Jasso via second-round knockout the following month on the Devin Haney-Vasiliy Lomachenko undercard.

In a six-round super middleweight dual between two of Phoenix’s crowd favorites, Sergio Rodriguez (7-0-1, 6 KOs) and Eduardo Ayala (9-3-1, 3 KOs), will meet for intra-city bragging rights.

Javier “Milwaukee Made” Martinez (8-0-1, 2 KOs), who trains out of the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy, will fight Isaiah Wise (11-2-2, 6 KOs) in an eight-round middleweight clash.

Rising junior welterweight prospect Ricardo Ruvalcaba (9-0-1, 8 KOs) will make his fourth appearance of 2023 in a scheduled six-rounder. Ruvalcaba scored first-round knockouts against Kenny Williams in January, Marco Cardenas in March and Ramon Duarte Marquez in May.

Heavyweight knockout artist Antonio “El Gigante” Mireles (7-0, 6 KOs) returns in a six-rounder against Dajuan Calloway (7-2, 7 KOs). In March, the 6-foot-9, 270-pound southpaw rose off the canvas to edge Patrick Mailata by split decision.

FRESNO, Calif. (March 14, 2023) — U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez
Jr. has been forced to withdraw from his March 25 homecoming fight due to a training injury. Torrez (5-0, 5 KOs), from Tulare, California, was scheduled to face Willie Jake Jr. in the six-round ESPN-televised opener at Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. The 23-year-old southpaw knockout artist, who has three first-round knockouts on his ledger, is expected to return this summer.

The ESPN broadcast will now be a doubleheader featuring Jose Ramirez and Richard “RC” Commey in a junior welterweight showdown and a minimumweight title unification fight between WBA champion Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada and WBC queen Tina Rupprecht.

Ramirez-Commey and Estrada-Rupprecht will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with DiBella Entertainment, tickets starting at $29 are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com.

FRESNO, Calif. (Feb 7. 2023) — Richard Torrez Jr. is not wasting any time.
 
The U.S. Olympic silver medalist, who scored a first-round stoppage victory against James Bryant last Friday at Desert Diamond Arena, will return in a six-rounder against Willie Jake Jr. on Saturday, March 25 at Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. Torres-Jake Jr. will open the televised tripleheader headlined by the junior welterweight showdown between Jose Ramirez and Richard “RC” Commey and the minimumweight title unification bout between WBA champion Seniesa Estrada and WBC queen Tina Rupprecht.
 
Ramirez-Commey, Estrada-Rupprecht, and Torrez-Jake will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Tickets starting at $29 are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com.
 
Torrez (5-0, 5 KOs), from Tulare, California, made his pro debut at Save Mart Center and thrilled the home region fans with a second-round stoppage over Allen Melson. He scored three additional knockouts in 2022 before making his triumphant 2023 debut versus Bryant. Jake (11-3-2, 3 KOs), from Indianapolis, Indiana, is a seven-year pro who has won three straight fights.
 
Torrez said, “It was a dream come true to fight at Save Mart Center, and I can’t wait to do it again. I’m improving with every fight, and I want to thank Top Rank for keeping me busy and giving me the opportunity to fight at home in the Central Valley.” 

GLENDALE, AZ – Some Mexican history was the plan. The plan survived.

So did Emanuel  Navarrete.

Navarrete was forced to come back from the edge of losing Friday night to an unlikely Australian, LIam Wilson, a determined young fighter from Brisbane who was given no chance on either side of the equator.

Wilson arrived in Arizona after a training camp that included stops in Washington DC and London. He had punched his passport, all in an attempt to punch out the favored and feared Navarette. Wilson promised to win. He wasn’t kidding, but he couldn’t hold off Navarette, who regained his focus and ferocity just in time to win a vacant junior-lightweight title.

Navarrete (37-1, 31 KOs) did it in a wild ninth round. He moved forward, threw punches as if he was motivated  by a mix of desperation and determination. For Wilson, a big right hand from Navarrete was the beginning of the end. It dropped Wilson, who collapsed onto the canvas in a thud that echoed throughout Desert Diamond Arena.

Wilson got to his feet. But his eyes were dazed and his defenses were down. Referee Chris Flores stopped it at 1:57 of the ninth. Flores ended it just as Wilson’s corner man was climbing up the steps. He was about to throw in the towel.

The crowd went wild. It was a celebration. It was also an expression of relief. Five rounds earlier, it looked as if Navarrete was about to lose. He was on the canvas in the fourth looking tired and beaten.

“But it was that Mexican spirit that never lets me down,” said Navarrete, who stormed back and fulfilled his goal of putting his name in Mexican history as the country’s 10th boxer to win a world title at a third weight.  “The satisfaction of winning like this is enormous. I think that I needed this test in order to be able to say my career is more complete. 

“Now that I know that I can hit the canvas and get back up and keep fighting, I’m more than happy because I know that I can continue forward.”

 The crowd went silent in the fourth when the long-armed Navarette fell to the canvas and tumbled, head over heels, like a bowl full of cooked spaghetti. He was clearly hurt after Wilson (11-2, 7 KOs) landed two rights and a huge left.

“I just wanted to be [patient,” said Wilson, who also thanked Arizona after his gutsy performance.

Navarrete could also thank his good fortune. He was lucky. Had Wilson’s punches landed earlier the round, he might have been finished, then and there. He also was helped by Flores, who took several seconds to pick his mouth piece off the canvas and put it back in his mouth. Navarrete’s trip to the canvas happened with about 42 seconds left in the fourth. There wasn’t enough time left for Wilson to finish the job. Thanks in part to Flores, there also was just enough time for Navarrete to escape

To survive. 

Arnold Barboza moves closer to title shot with solid decision

Arnold Barboza Jr. has been searching for a fight that would finally secure him a shot at a world title.

The search has been frustrating. Often futile.

But Barboza )28-0, 10 KOs) appeared to take a significant step toward completing the mission. The junior-welterweight from Southern California scored a solid victory over the decorated Jose Pedraza (29-5-1, 14 KOs), a former two-time champ, in the final fight before ESPN’s main event between Emanuel Navarrete and Liam Wilson Friday night at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale AZ.

The win — by unanimous decision – allowed Barboza to state his case.  He was asked  if he was closer to a world title.

“Of course,” he said, after winning 96-94, 97-93, 96-94 on the cards. 

A possibility is Regis Prograis, the WBC champion.

“We’ll see what happens,” Barboza said. “But I feel like I’ve paid my dues.”

In beating Pedraza, the unbeaten Barboza becomes a lot harder to ignore. Or duck. Barboza controlled most of the 10 rounds against the skilled Pedraza, a Puerto Rican who returned to an arena where he upset Raymundo Beltran in August 2018. Pedraza had his moments, but he never could completely elude a sharp right hand that landed again. And again. 

Punching Power: Richard Torrez Jr. delvers it for quick stoppage

He reads Plato. He punches with power.

The puncher-philosopher, Richrd Torrez Jr., delivered the power suddenly and definitively on the Navarrete-Wilson undercard Friday at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ.

Torrez (5-0 5KOs), a silver medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, flashed heavyweight credentials, driving James Bryant (6-3, 4 KOs) into the ropes with an uppercut-right hand combo in the closing seconds of the first round

“From the knuckles through the hand, it was a solid shot,” said Torrez, who reads the great philosophers when he isn’t in the gym.

Bryant, of Reading PA, never recovered. He walked to his corner on unsteady feet. His trainer took one look at him and ended it before the bell for the second round ever sounded

Unbeaten Andre Cortes wins shutout

There were boos from restless fans. They wanted more.

Las Vegas junior-lightweight Andres Cortes heard them. And delivered.

Cortes (19-0, 10 KOs) injected some energy into an otherwise dull bout with aggressiveness that woke up the crowd and stunned Luis Melendez (17-3, 13 KOs) in the last fight before the main ESPN telecast of Navarrete-Wilson featured card at Desert Diamond Arena.

The sudden intensity from Cortes was enough for him to score a runaway decision over the Puerto Rican. He won it in a shutout, 100-90 on all three scorecards

Unknown Phoenix fighter gets up from knockdown, tests Ali Walsh late in loss 

It’s one of boxing’s majestic names. It comes with crushing expectations. It can intimidate, both the man who has it and the man who faces it. But it didn’t scare or stop Eduardo Ayala, an unknown Phoenix middleweight who got up from a knockdown and went on to engage in a hard-fought battle with Nico Ali Walsh, Muhammad Ali’s grandson.

Ayala told a couple of Phoenix sportswriters before the bout Friday that he wasn’t fighting a name. He was just another guy, another fighter, Ayala said. Ali Walsh looked as if he might have been a little bit more than just that in the second round. A thundering left hook put Ayala flat on the canvas.. 

But he recovered, then endured a succession of shots from the Las Vegas middleweight who inherited the greatest expectations. Ayala would not go away. He wouldn’t win either. Ali Walsh (8-0, 5 KOs) won a unanimous decision (59-54, 60-53, 59-54), one that was all but assured with the early knockdown.

But Ayala (9-3-1, 3 KOs) won over the crowd in the third fight on the Navarrete-Wilson card at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale AZ. As both fighters hugged after the sixth and final round, fans who had chanted the familiar “Ali.Ali” were chanting “Ayala, Ayala.”  

Lindolfo Delgado stays unbeaten, dominates in decision win

Mexican junior-welterweight Lindolfo Delgado employed defense, careful footwork and power in the second bout on an an ESPN-televised card featuring Emanuel Navarrete-Liam Wilson Friday night at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Ariz.,

 It was a triple-edged attack that proved to be  too much for Clarence Booth of Saint Petersburg, Fla.

Delgado (17-0, 13 KOs), who had trainer Robert Garcia in his corner, repeatedly landed crisp counters that echoed through the arena and backed Booth (21-7, 13 KOs) into the ropes, onto the canvas for an eighth-round knockdown and – in the end — into defeat. Delgado won on all three cards, a decision, one-sided and unanimous.

Top Rank Boxing on ESPN presented by AutoZone:Navarrete vs. Wilson will be live this Friday, February 3 at 10:00 p.m. ET/ 7:00 p.m. PT on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+. The event takes place at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

The main event features Mexican star Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete and Australian contender Liam Wilson fighting for the vacant WBO junior lightweight world title. Navarrete (36-1, 30 KOs) is one of the sport’s premier offensive fighters and is looking to become a three-division world champion as he battles Wilson (11-1, 7 KOs) the No. 3 junior lightweight contender. Wilson has never fought outside his home country but is coming to the U.S. in hopes of a major upset.
 
In the 10-round junior welterweight co-feature, Arnold Barboza, Jr.  (27-0, 10 KOs) hopes to earn a career-best victory against Jose “Sniper” Pedraza (29-4-1, 14 KOs), a former two-weight world champion.

In a six-round heavyweight special feature, Richard Torrez Jr. (4-0, 4 KOs), who captured a silver medal for Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics, will battle James Bryant (6-2, 4 KOs).

The undercard action includes many of Top Rank’s burgeoning talents such as Andres “Savage” Cortes (18-0, 10 KOs) taking on Puerto Rican knockout puncher Luis Melendez (17-2, 13 KOs) in a junior lightweight tilt, and undefeated middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh (7-0, 5 KOs), grandson of Muhammad Ali, taking on Eduardo Ayala (9-2-1, 3 KOs) in a six-rounder. In a four-round lightweight attraction, Emiliano Fernando Vargas (2-0, 2 KOs), son of former junior middleweight champion Fernando Vargas, will face Francisco Duque (1-1).

ESPN’s Joe Tessitore will call the action ringside with Hall of Famers Andre Ward and Timothy Bradley, Jr. as analysts; Mark Kriegel and Bernardo Osuna will serve as reporters.

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Saturday, February 3 (All Times ET)

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GLENDALE, Ariz. (Dec. 20, 2022) — A new junior lightweight king will be crowned in the desert.

Mexican star Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete and Australian contender Liam Wilson will fight for the vacant WBO junior lightweight world title Friday, Feb. 3, at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. Navarrete, the reigning WBO featherweight world champion, hopes to become the 10th Mexican-born boxer to win world titles in three weight divisions.

Junior welterweight contenders collide in the 10-round co-feature as Arnold Barboza Jr. hopes to earn a career-best victory against Jose “Sniper” Pedraza, a former two-weight world champion from Cidra, Puerto Rico. 

Navarrete-Wilson, Pedraza-Barboza, and the return of U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. in a six-round heavyweight special feature will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets starting at $25 go on sale Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 11 a.m. PST / 12 p.m. MST and can be purchased via Ticketmaster.com.

Navarrete (36-1, 30 KOs), from San Juan Zitlaltepec, Mexico, won the WBO junior featherweight crown from Isaac Dogboe in December 2018 and made five defenses of that title in a nine-month span. He out-hustled Ruben Villa to win the vacant WBO featherweight strap in October 2020 and has since defended that title three times. Navarrete is one of the sport’s premier offensive fighters, an aggressor who wings punches from all angles. In his October 2021 title defense over Joet Gonzalez, he threw 979 punches over 12 rounds, including 104 in the 12th round. He returned to the ring in August, rebounding from a slow start to knock out countryman Eduardo Baez with a body shot in the sixth round. The Baez victory marked Navarrete’s 31st consecutive victory dating back to 2012.

“This is my opportunity to become a three-division world champion. I am going for that crown,” Navarrete said. “Liam Wilson is a good fighter, but this is my moment, and everyone will see a much more complete ‘Vaquero’ Navarrete that has a lot of thirst for victory. My ideal weight is 130 pounds, and that will be demonstrated on February 3rd when I become world champion for Mexico and San Juan Zitlaltepec. Wilson will not get in the way of my dream.”

Wilson (11-1, 7 KOs), from Caboolture, Australia, is the WBO No. 3 junior contender. He has never fought away from his home country, but he will take the nearly 8,000-mile journey hoping to spring a major upset. Wilson stepped up to fight Navarrete after Oscar Valdez suffered a training injury and enters the fight with momentum on his side. After a stunning fifth-round TKO loss to Filipino contender Joe Noynay in July 2021, Wilson gained revenge in March with a second-round knockout courtesy of his “left hook from hell.” He kept the momentum going in June with a 10-round unanimous decision over former world title challenger Matias Rueda.

Wilson said, “He’s a champion, a warrior, and a household name around the world, but now it’s my time. I’m coming to upset the parade. I’ve waited my entire life for this moment, and I won’t let it slip because it means more to me. I swore an oath to my father on his deathbed that I would one day win a world title for him. I’m looking forward to fulfilling this promise on February 3^rd.”

Barboza (27-0, 10 KOs), from South El Monte, California, is ranked in the top 10 by the WBC and WBO. The longtime contender turned pro in 2013 and has steadily climbed up the rankings with victories over Mike Alvarado, Alex Saucedo, and Antonio Moran. In July, Barboza returned from an 11-month layoff to snatch the ‘0’ from Danielito Zorrilla in a crowd-pleasing 10-round main event.

Barboza said, “It’s a big card, and there will be a lot of eyes on us. Pedraza is a formidable opponent. He’s my toughest to date and has only lost to the very best. I’m looking forward to the challenge. At this point, anyone I face is standing in the way of my goal, which is to win a world title. I am going to make a big statement on February 3rd.”

Pedraza (29-4-1, 14 KOs) ruled the junior lightweight and lightweight divisions before moving up to the junior welterweight ranks in 2019. He is 3-2-1 as a junior welterweight, having shared the ring with many of the division’s most notable names. In March, he pushed former unified champion Jose Ramirez 12 rounds before dropping a tight unanimous decision. Less than six months later, he battled former lightweight champion Richard Commey to a draw in a fight most observers believe Pedraza did enough to edge out. Pedraza had a Madison Square Garden main event against Teofimo Lopez scheduled for December 10th, but Pedraza withdrew with a non-COVID viral infection. The 33-year-old understands a victory over Barboza moves him closer to a world title opportunity.

Pedraza said, “I have recovered completely from the illness that obligated me to pull out of my fight with Teofimo Lopez. Right now, I feel 100 percent, and I know Arnold Barboza Jr. is one of the best fighters in the division. I’m sure this will be a great fight where I will reaffirm my level as an elite fighter at 140 pounds.”

Torrez (4-0, 4 KOs), from Tulare, California, captured an Olympic silver medal in Tokyo and turned pro under the Top Rank banner in March. A 6’2, 230-pound southpaw, Torrez has never been extended past the third round in his young career. In October, he shined at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, thrilling the New York City fans with a third-round stoppage over Ahmed Hefny. 

Undercard bouts — streaming live and exclusively on ESPN+ — include many of Top Rank’s burgeoning young talents.

Las Vegas product Andres “Savage” Cortes (18-0, 10 KOs) takes on Puerto Rican knockout puncher Luis Melendez (17-2, 13 KOs) in a crossroads junior lightweight tilt scheduled for 10 rounds. Cortes, a former U.S. amateur standout, notched a near-shutout over Abraham Montoya in his last outing.

Middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh (7-0, 5 KOs), grandson of “The Greatest,” looks to make it 8-0 against Phoenix-based spoiler Eduardo Ayala (9-2-1, 3 KOs) in a six-rounder. This is the 2023 debut for Ali Walsh, who went 4-0 with three knockouts in 2022.

Lightweight sensation Emiliano Fernando Vargas (2-0, 2 KOs), son of former junior middleweight world champion Fernando Vargas, returns in a four-rounder against an opponent to be named. Vargas made his Top Rank debut in November and knocked out Julio Martinez in the second round with a highlight-reel left hook.

Sacramento native Xavier Martinez (18-1, 12 KOs) seeks his second straight ‘W’ in a 10-rounder at junior lightweight against an opponent to be named.

Junior welterweight Lindolfo Delgado (16-0, 13 KOs), a 2016 Mexican Olympian, steps up against Clarence Booth (21-6, 13 KOs) in an eight-rounder. In August, Delgado authored a career-best victory over then-unbeaten prospect Omar Aguilar. The eight-round shootout ranked among the year’s best action fights.

Vasiliy Lomachenko won a 12-round unanimous decision over Jamaine Ortiz in a lightweight bout that headlined a Top Rank show at The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden.

In round six, Lomanchenko had swelling under his right eye. Ortiz had swelling over his left eye.

Lomachenko landed 125 of 571 punches. Ortiz landed 122.

Lomachenko, 134.6 lbs of Akkerman, UKR won by scores of 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113 and is now 17-2. Ortiz, 134 lbs of Worcester, MA is 16-1-1.

Robeisy Ramirez stopped Jose Matias Romero in round five of a 10-round featherweight bout.

In round one, Ramirez dropped Romero with a straight left, In round nine, Ramirez turned up that pressure and landed a vicious flurry of punches that was capped off by a hard straight left and the fight was stopped at

Ramirez, 125.4 lbs of Cindhegos, CUB is 11-1 with seven knockouts. Romero, 127.4 lbs of Cordoba, ARG is 26-3.

Richard Torrez Jr. remained undefeated with a third round stoppage over Ahmed Hefny in a scheduled six-round heavyweight bout.

In round one, Torrez landed a chopping left that sent Hefny to the canvas. In round two, Torrez dropped Hefny with a right hook to the body. In round three, Torrez continued to land power shots, and then landed a another right to the body that put Hefny down again, and the fight was stopped at 2:32,

Torrez, 229.4 lbs Tulac, CA is 4-0 with four knockouts. Hefny, 218 lbs of Egypt is 13-3.

Duke Ragan remained undefeated with a eight-round unanimous decision over Luis Lebron in a featherweight bout.

Ragan, 128 lbs of Cincinnati, OH won by scores of 79-73, 78-74 and 77-75 and is now 8-0. Lebron, 128 lbs of Manuel Aprens, PR is 18-5-1.

Nico Ali Walsh remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over Billy Wagner in a middleweight fight.

Walsh, 159 lbs of Las Vegas won by scores of 59-55 and 58-56 twice and is now 7-0. Wagner, 159 lbs of Browning, MT is 5-3.

Tiger Johnson remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over Esteban Garcia in a junior welterweigt bout.

Johnson, 141.4 lbs of Cleveland won by scores of 60-54 on all cards and is now 6-0. Garcia, 139.2 lbs of El Comino, CA is 15-2.

Troy Isley pounded out an eight-round unanimous decision over Quincy Levallais in a middleweight bout.

Isley, 159 lbs of from Alexandra, VA won by scores of 80-72 and 79-73 twice and is now 8-0. Levallais, 157,4 lbs of Panama City, FL is 14-4-1.

Good-looking prospect Abdullah Mason scored a fourth round stoppage over Angel Barrera in a scheduled six-round lightweight bout.

In round three, Mason dropped Barrera with a straight left. Seconds later, Mason landed a short left on the inside that put Barrera down again. The onslaught bloodied the left side of Barrera’s face.

In round four, Mason landed shots that had Barrera bouncing all over the ring and the out was stopped at 21 seonds.

Mason, 135.6 lbs of Cleveland is 5-0 with four knockouts. Barrera, 135 lbs of Chicago, IL is 4-1.

Haven Brady Jr. remained undefeated with an eight-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Eric Mondragon in a junior lightweight bout.

Brady, 131 lbs of Albany, GA won by scores of 79-73 twice and 78-74 and is now 8-0. Mondragon, 130.6 lbs of Maywood, CA is 7-1-1.

In a battle of former world champions, Jose Pedraza and Richard Commey battled to a 10-round split draw in a junior welterweight bout at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Th fight was entertaining with each guy landing some great flurries. Over the first half of the fight, Commey was getting through with some great power shots. He seemed to have built up a small lead as the second half of the fight commenced.

In round six, Commey was cut around his left head from an accidental headbutt. That seemed to slow him down a little bit as Pedraza was able to stage a furious rally in rounds nine and 10. It looked like Pedraza may have eked the fight out as Pedraza won a scorecard 97-93; Commey 96-94 and 95-95.

Pedraza landed 165 of 496 punches; Commey was 149 of 684.

Pedraza, 139.8 lbs of Cidra, PR is now 29-4-1. Commey, 138.8 lbs of Accra, GHA is 30-4-1.

“Even though my eye was inflamed, we understood that it was done because he has a good right hand. The entire night, the whole point was to neutralize that right hand. Despite the fact that it was inflamed, I was able to do that,” Pedraza said. “I’ve never turned down a fight, and I’m not going to start now. Whatever Top Rank wants for me. If they demand a rematch, I’m ready to give Richard Commey a rematch because he deserves it and I have the utmost respect for him. Ultimately, my goal is to win a world title once again. Whatever I have to do, that’s what I’m willing to do.”

Commey said, “It is a draw. Obviously, I have to go back home and see my people. I love my people, and I gotta go back there, do what I gotta do.”

Anderson Stops Ravcanin in 2

Heavyweight Jared Anderson remained perfect stopped Mijan Ravcanin in round two of an eight-round heavyweight bout.

In round two, Anderson landed a blistering right that sent Ravcanin down for the 10-count at 3:00.

Anderson, 241.4 lbs of Toledo, OH is 12-0 with 12 knockouts. Ravcanin, 230.6 lbs of Belgrade, SER is 24-3.

“I was very calm. I was very patient. Actually {trainer Darrie Riley} was more nervous than I was as usual, though. I felt very relaxed, pretty much the most relaxed I’ve ever been,” Anderson said. “I heard my coach tell me to switch {to southpaw}. I listened to him as always, so that was really the reason I switched.”

Torrez Destroys Canedo

Olympic Silver medal winner Richard Torrez Jr. annihilated Marco Antonio Canedo in the opening round of their six-round heavyweight bout.

In the opening seconds, Torrez dropped Candedo with a left hand.  He then landed a big left and right and sent Canedo down on his face and was motionless at 44 seconds.

Torrez, 225.4 lbs of Tulare, CA is 3-0 with three knockouts.  Canedo, 215.8 lbs of Mexico is 4-3.

“I am happy with the result, but my thoughts right now are with Canedo,” Torrez said. “He’s a tough man, and I have the utmost respect for him. It happens to the best of us.”

Tiger Johnson stopped Harry Gigliotti in round five of their six-round junior welterweight bout.

In round two, Johnson opened up a cut under the left eye of Gigliotti with a hard right hand. Johnson battered and bloodied Gigliotti, and in round five, Johnson landed a hard combination that was punctuated by a left hook that made Gigliotti turn and the fight was stopped at 2:17.

Johnson, 141.8 lbs of Cleveland, OH is 5-0 with four knockoouts. Gigliotti, 140.6 lbs of Lowell, MA is 8-4.

Efe Ajagba stopped Jozsef Darmos in round two of their eight-round heavyweight bout.

In round two, Ajagba dropped Darmos with a right to the body. Seconds later, it was a right to the temple that put Darmos to a knee and the fight was stopped at 1:15.

Ajagba, 232.2 lbs of Ugetlli, UGA is 16-1 with 13 knockouts. Darmos, 239.2 lbs of Hungary is 14-5-1.

Jeremiah Milton remained undefeated with a second round stoppage over Nick Jones in a scheduled six-round heavyweight bout.

In round two, Milton landed a huge right that dumped Jones on the canvas, and the fight was stopped at 2:49.

Milton, 245.6 lbs of Tulsa, OK is 6-0 with five knockouts. Jones, 217.2 lbs of Jackson, MS is 9-5.

Kelvin Davis remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over Sebastian Gabriel Chaves in a junior middleweight bout.

In round two, Davis landed a big left-right combination that put Chaves on the deck. Chaves began to bleed from his nose.

Davis, 141 lbs of Norfolk, VA won by scores of 60-52 on all cards and is now 6-0. Chaves, 142.6 lbs of Buenos Aries, ARG is 5-5.

Frevian Gonzalez won a six-round unanimous decision over Gerardo Esquivel in a junior welterweight bout.

In round one, Gonzalez scored a knockdown from a left hook.

In round six, Esquivel began to bleed from the nose.

Gonzalez, 135.8 lbs of Cidra, PR won by scores of 59-54 twice and 58-55 and is now 6-1. Esquivel, 135.6 lbs of Tacoma, WA is 3-3-1.

In a battle of undefeated 18 year-olds, prized prospect Abdullah Mason pounded out a four-round unanimous decision over Angel Rebollar in a lightweight contest.

In the opening seconds, Mason dropped Rebollar with a right hook to the head. In round two, Rebollar started to bleed from his nose. In round three, Mason began to bleed from his nose.

Mason, 135.2 lbs of Cleveland, OH won by scores of 40-35 twice and 39-36 and is now 4-0. Rebollar, 133.6 lbs of Los Angeles, CA is 5-1.

Dante Benjamin Jr. remained undefeated with a four-round unanimous decision over Leandro Silva in a light heavyweight bout.

Benjamin, 174.2 lbs of Cleveland, OH won by scores of 40-36 on all cards and is now 4-0. Silva, 175 lbs of Sao Paulo, BRA is 3-7.

Arnold Barboza Jr. remained undefeated with a 10-round unanimous decision over Danielito Zorrilla in a battle of undefeated junior welterweights at The Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California.

It was an exciting fight that saw Barboza box well over the balance of the fight. Zorrilla was dangerous by landing some solid power shots. With Barboza well ahead in the final round, Zorrilla was able to land several big power shots which gave Barboza a few anxious moments down the stretch. He was able to get out of the round and win by scores of 98-92 and 97-93 twice.

Barboza landed 171 of 600 punches; Zorrilla 66 of 352.

Barboza, 139.6 lbs of South El Monte, California is 27-0. Zorrilla, 139.6 lbs of Toa Baja, PR is 16-1.

Barboza said, “I was a little rusty. It’s been a while. I’m not going to be inactive like that no more, man. I’m going to be fighting constantly.
 
“I was more off balance {in the 10^th round}. I was right there. Once you saw me off balance, I was right back to my thing. Shout out to my conditioning. My conditioning was on point.
 
“My manager knows, if we can’t get a title shot, you know who it is. We want Teofimo. It’s either a title shot or him.”

Muratalla Decisions Valtierra

Raymond Muratalla remained undefeated with a eight-round unanimous decision over Jair Valtierra in a lightweight contest.

In round four, Muratalla dropped Valtierra with a left hook to the Temple.

Muratalla landed 246 of 519 punches; Valtierra was just 33 of 355.

Muratalla, 136 lbs of Fontana, CA won by scores of 80-71 on all cards, and is now 15-0. Valtierra, 137 lbs of Leon, MEX is 16-2.

“I did OK. I felt like I was a little bit sloppy. I could’ve done a lot better. There are better days to come,” Muratalla said. “I just want to stay active, keep fighting, and whatever opponents they bring to me, they bring to me. I just want to get to the top, and I’m going to keep fighting and fighting.”

Torrez stops Zavala in one

Richard Torrez Jr. stopped Roberto Zavala Jr. in the opening round of their six-round heavyweight bout.

In the first round, Torrez landed several swift combinations that snapped Zavala’s head back, and the fight was stopped at 58 seconds

Torrez Jr., 224 lbs of Tulare, CA is 2-0 with two knockouts. Zavala, 255.2 lbs of Del Rio, TX is 2-2-1.

Torrez Jr. said, “I want to thank Top Rank for keeping me active and giving me the platform to showcase my talents. Every fight is a learning experience, and I can’t wait until August 27 in Tulsa.”

Austin Brooks remained undefeated with a four-round unanimous decision over Victor Saravia in a featherweight bout.

Brooks, 125.2 lbs of San Diego won by scores of 40-36 on all cards and is now 7-0. Saravia, 125.2 lbs of Los Angeles is 1-3.

Stephan Shaw made short work of Bernardo Marquez by scoring a first round stoppage of a scheduled eight-round heavyweight bout.

In the opening minute, Shaw dropped Marquez with a wicked combination that was punctuated by a left hook. Shaw dropped Marquez in with a heavy combination. Shaw ended things with another crunching combination that saw four hard rights and a body shot that sent Marquez down and out at 2:35.

Shaw, 236.6 lbs of Saint Louis, MO is 17-0 with 13 knockouts. Marquez, 231.2 lbs of Imperial Valley, CA is 14-5-1.

Floyd Diaz remained undefeated with a third-round stoppage in a scheduled six-round junior featherweight fight.

In round three, Diaz decked Salome with a big right hand. Moments later, Diaz landed a big one-two combination and the fight was stopped at 1:17.

Diaz, 121.6 lbs of Las Vegas, NV is now 6-0 with two knockouts. Salome, 121.4 lbs of Anaheim, CA is 3-1-1.

Adrian Yung and Jorge Marron Jr. battled to a six-round majority decision in a six-round welterweight fight.

Yung, 142.6 lbs of Los Mochis, MEX won a card 59-57, but that was overruled by two scorecards at 57-57. Yung is now 28-7-3. Marron, 143.2 lbs of San Diego, CA is 20-3-2.

(ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT)

    •      Arnold Barboza Jr. 139.6 vs. Danielito Zorrilla 139.6
(Vacant WBO Intercontinental Junior Welterweight Title — 10 Rounds)

•   Raymond Muratalla 136 lbs vs. Jair Valtierra 137 lbs 
(Lightweight — 8 Rounds)

•   Richard Torrez Jr. 224 lbs vs. Roberto Zavala Jr. 255.2 lbs 
(Heavyweight — 6 Rounds)

(ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT)

   •    Austin Brooks 125.2  lbs vs. Victor Saravia 125.2 lbs
 (Featherweight— 4 Rounds)

   •    Stephan Shaw 236.6 lbs vs. Bernardo Marquez 231.2 lbs
 (Heavyweight — 8 Rounds)

   •   Floyd Diaz 121.6 lbs vs. Pedro Salome 121.4 lbs
 (Junior Featherweight — 6 Rounds)

   •    Jorge Marron Jr. 143.2 lbs vs. Adrian Yung 142.6 lbs
 (Junior Welterweight — 6 Rounds)

TEMECULA, Calif. (May 26, 2022) — Southern California 140-pound standout Arnold Barboza Jr. wanted the main event spotlight. He’ll get his opportunity to shine when he takes on Puerto Rican contender Danielito “El Zorro” Zorrilla in a 10-round junior welterweight showdown Friday, July 15, at the Pechanga Summit at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California. 
 
Tokyo 2020 U.S. Olympic silver medalists Keyshawn Davis and Richard Torrez Jr. will return on the card, with Davis battling Jair “Kaiser” Valtierra in the eight-round lightweight co-feature. Torrez will open the televised broadcast in a six-round heavyweight special attraction versus Roberto Zavala Jr.
 
Barboza-Zorrilla, Davis-Valtierra and Torrez-Zavala will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
 
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Ringside Ticket Inc., tickets starting at $29 are on sale now and can be purchased at Pechanga.com.
 
Barboza (26-0, 10 KOs), from South El Monte, California, is a nine-year pro who is closing in on a world title shot following a series of headline-grabbing victories. In April 2019, he knocked out former world champion Mike Alvarado in three rounds, a resounding Los Angeles homecoming that solidified him as a top contender. Barboza has won five bouts since, securing one-sided verdicts over Ricky Sismundo, William Silva, Tony Luis, Alex Saucedo, and Antonio Moran. He comes back following an 11-month layoff, the second-longest of his career. Ranked No. 8 by the WBO and No. 11 by the WBC, Barboza hopes a dominating win over his unbeaten foe will earn him that long-awaited title opportunity.
 
“I’ve been waiting for this for a long time. This fight will put the other fighters at 140 pounds on notice. We’re going to take full advantage of it,” Barboza said. “Zorrilla is undefeated, ranked, and coming off a great win. We’re going to make a statement on July 15. I want a world title shot soon, and I’m going to keep pushing forward and fighting whoever they put in front of me.”
 
Zorrilla (16-0, 12 KOs) is a native of a Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, who had more than 100 victories before turning pro with a second-round knockout in November 2016. The 28-year-old, ranked No. 10 by the WBO at 140 pounds, has diced through his opposition in the paid ranks with 11 knockouts in three rounds or less. He went 2-0 in 2021, edging past Ruslan Madiyev in March and knocking out former interim world champion Pablo Cesar Cano in two rounds in September. A renaissance man who has an associate degree in banking and cuts hair out of his home-based barbershop, Zorrilla can cut past the line of contenders with a victory over Barboza.
 
“I am extremely grateful for this opportunity, and I want to thank Miguel Cotto Promotions and Top Rank,” Zorrilla said. “We have been waiting for an opportunity of this magnitude. Arnold Barboza Jr. is a quality opponent, and I’ve always wanted an at-bat against a top contender. I am working very hard, and I will be at 100 percent on July 15 to continue my journey to a junior welterweight world championship.”
 
Davis (5-0, 4 KOs), the fighting prodigy from Norfolk, Virginia, has been on a whirlwind ride to stardom over the past year-plus. In February 2021, he turned pro on a Canelo Alvarez undercard in Miami, fought on another Canelo card at AT&T Stadium in Texas, earned his Olympic silver medal, signed a multi-year promotional contract with Top Rank, and made his Top Rank debut in December with a second-round knockout at Madison Square Garden. He fought April 30 on the Oscar Valdez-Shakur Stevenson card at MGM Grand Garden Arena, knocking out Mexican veteran Esteban Sanchez in six rounds. Valtierra (16-1, 8 KOs), from Leon, Mexico, is a four-year pro who previously held the WBC Latino lightweight title. Last August, he suffered an upset knockout loss to Alberto Ruiz Ibarra. Three months later, Valtierra got back on the winning track with a convincing 10-round decision over Argentina’s Javier Jose Clavero.
 
“Every time I fight, I try to give the fans something to remember, and I’m excited to make my Southern California debut. I will put on a show for everyone watching on ESPN, that much I can guarantee,” Davis said. “We know Valtierra is coming to fight, and I’ll be ready to match whatever he brings.”
 
Torrez (1-0, 1 KO), from Tulare, California, is a 22-year-old southpaw who became the first U.S. Olympic super heavyweight medalist since 1988. He made his pro debut on March 4 in Fresno, California, knocking out Allen Melson in the second round. Torrez sustained a cut along his right eyebrow in the first round, which delayed his second outing by a couple of months. Zavala (2-1-1, 2 KOs), from Del Rio, Texas, has never fought outside Texas. He has never been stopped in the paid ranks and is coming off a four-round draw against the 2-0 Rudy Silvas. The 34-year-old has never weighed under 255 pounds as a pro and should have a significant size advantage over Torrez, who tipped the scales at 228¼ pounds for his debut.
 
Torrez said, “Ever since that cut in my pro debut, I’ve been counting down the days until my next fight. I’m thankful to be fighting on ESPN and back in my home state. If you don’t know why you should watch me, you will soon.”
 
Undercard action, streaming live and exclusively on ESPN+, includes SoCal lightweight sensation Raymond “Danger” Muratalla in an eight-rounder against an opponent to be named. Muratalla (14-0, 12 KOs), a 25-year-old from Fontana, California, has knocked out nine consecutive opponents. He last fought April 30 on the Valdez-Stevenson card in Las Vegas, knocking out the usually durable Jeremy Hill in three rounds.
 
The undercard will also see heavyweight contender Stephan Shaw (16-0, 12 KOs) in an eight-rounder, and Las Vegas-born junior featherweight prospect Floyd “Cashflow” Diaz (4-0, 1 KO) in a six-rounder against Pedro Salome (3-0-1, 1 KO).

In a battle of former world champions, Jesus Ramirez won a 12-round unanimous decision over Jose Pedraza in a junior welterweight bout at The Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.

It was a tactical fight with Ramirez looking to push forward, while Pedraza was getting in good work while working off the back foot and countering. In round, nine, the right eye of Pedraza began to swell.

Ramirez landed 133 of 554 punches; Pedraza was 110 of 586.

Ramirez, 139.8 lbs of Avenal, CA won by scores of 116-112 on all cards and is now 27-1. Pedraza140 lbs of Cidra, PR is 29-4.

Ramirez said, “Jose Pedraza is a smart, experienced fighter. He was going to find a way to survive and put up a fight. He was there boxing towards the end of the fight.  My hat’s off to him and his team. He was well-prepared. It was a great fight. I got to see where I am right now.

“I’m going to go back, work and stay focused and stay active. That’s one thing that’s affected me these last couple of years. I’ve trained so many times for a little bit of fights. My inactivity, my discouragement throughout training camps, it really took a big toll on me. I’m ready to stay active and stay motivated. There’s a lot of really great fighters coming up to 140. There’s a lot of really good fighters at 140 right now.”

Torrez Jr. stops Melson in 2

2021 U.S. Olympic Silver Medal winner, Richard Torrez Jr. made a successful pro debut as he stopped Allen Melson in round two of their six-round heavyweight bout

In round one, Torrez dropped Melson in the corner with a little combination. Melson’s nose began to bleed. Torrez began to bleed badly over his left eye from a clash of heads. In round two, Torrez dropped Melson with a straight left. the fight ended when Torrez dropped Melson with a left after a furious exchange, and the fight was stopped at 1:23.

Torrez, 228.2 lbs of Tulure, CA is 1-0 with one knockout. Melson, 201.8 lbs of Alabama is 6-4.

Torrez said, “After the cut, I knew I had to get back to basics, and that’s what I did. I made sure to avoid additional head clashes, and I got the job done in the second.
 
“Sure, the cut is frustrating, but I’m not going to let it ruin the celebration. What a night. It was everything I’d hoped it would be.
 
“I didn’t know what to expect. I wanted to make a good first impression, especially in front of my home fans. They brought the energy, and I fed off the energy they gave me. The Central Valley is home, and I am proud to represent my people.”

Gonzalez stops Santisima in 9

Joet Gonzalez stopped Jeo Santisima in round nine of a scheduled 10-round featherweight bout of former world title challengers.

In round eight, Samtisima started to swell under his right eye. In round nine, Gonzalez landed a couple of right hands and the fight was stopped at 2:05.

Gonzalez, 125.8 lbs of Glendora, CA is now 25-2 with 15 knockouts. Santisima, 125.2 lbs of the Philippines is 21-4.

Gabriel Flores Jr. gutted out a 10-round majority decision over Abraham Montoya in a junior lightweight bout.

Flores looked good early, but seemed to tire in the middle rounds and started eating flush punches. Flores was better in the final frame.

Flores landed 177 of 503 punches; Montoya was 174 of 597.

Flores, 131.6 lbs of Stockton, CA won by scores of 96-94 twice and 95-95 and is now 21-1. Montoya, 131.8 lbs of Mexicali, MEX is 20-3-1.

Hector Tanajara and Miguel Contreras fought to an eight-round split draw in a lightweight bout.

Tanajara won a card 78-84, Contreras took a card 77-75 and a third card was even at 76-76.

Tanajara, 135 lbs of San Antonio, TX is 19-1-1. Contreras, 134.2 lbs of Bakersfield, CA is 11-1-1.

Karlos Balderas stopped Aelio Medquita in round two of a scheduled six-round lightweight bout.

Seconds into the bout, Balderas landed a big right hand that sent Mesquita down for a knockdown. Towards the end of the round, it was another right that sent Mesquita to the deck for a 2nd time. In round two, Balderas landed another right sent Mesquita down and the fight was over at 38 seconds.

Balderas, 134.2 lbs of Santa Maria, CA is 12-1 with 11 knockouts. Mesquita, 131.2 lbs of Guajua, BRA is 20-7-1.

Javier Martinez remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over Donte Stubbs in a middleweight bout.

In round two, Stubbs began to bleed from his nose. In round three, Stubbs dropped Martinez with a straight right.

Martinez, 161.8 lbs of Milwaukee, WI won by scores of 59-56 and 58-55 twice and is now 6-0. Stubbs, 163 lbs of Riverside, CA is 6-4.

Charlie Sheehy remained undefeated with an opening round stoppage over previously undefeated Johnny Bernal in a scheduled four-round lightweight bout.

In round one, Sheehy rocked Bernal with a hard right and followed up with another hard right that sent Bernal into the ropes for a knockdown. Sheehy hurt Bernal again with a left hook. Sheehy then landed a vicious combination that forced a referee stoppage at 2:33.

Sheehy, 134.2 lbs of Brisbane, CA is 2-0 with two knockouts. Bernal, 135 lbs of Denver, CO is 2-1.

6’9″ Antonio Mireles remained perfect as he stopped previously undefeated Brandon Hughes in round two of their scheduled four-round heavyweight bout.

In round one, Mireles landed a perfect jab-straight left that sent Hughes down on his face. Moments later it was another straight left that put Hughes down just before the end of the round. In round two, Mireles landed a big left hand that hurt Hughes and the fight was stopped just as Hughes hit the canvas at 1:04.

Mireles, 259.4 lbs of Des Moines, IA is 3-0 with three knockouts. Hughes, 282.4 lbs of Phoenix, AZ is 2-1

   •  Jose Ramirez 139.8 vs. Jose Pedraza 140
(Vacant WBO International Junior Welterweight Title— 12 Rounds)

•   Richard Torrez Jr. 228.2 lbs vs. Allen Melson 201.8 lbs 
(Heavyweight— 6 Rounds)

   •    Joet Gonzalez 125.8 lbs vs. Jeo Santisima 125.2 lbs
 (Vacant WBO International Featherweight Title— 10 Rounds)

   •    Gabriel Flores Jr. 131.6 lbs vs. Abraham Montoya 131.8 lbs
 (Junior Lightweight— 10 Rounds)

   •     Hector Tanajara 135 lbs vs. Miguel Contreras 134.2 lbs
 (Lightweight — 8 Rounds)

   •     Karlos Balderas 134.2 lbs vs. Aelio Mesquita 131.2 lbs
 (Lightweight — 6 Rounds)

   •     Javier Martinez 161.8 lbs vs. Donte Stubbs 163 lbs
 (Middleweight — 6 Rounds)

   •      Charlie Sheehy 134.2 lbs vs. Johnny Bernal 135 lbs
 (Lightweight — 4 Rounds)

   •     Antonio Mireles 259.4 lbs vs. Brandon Hughes 282.4 lbs
 (Heavyweight — 4 Rounds)

FRESNO, Calif. (Jan. 27, 2022) — Gabriel Flores Jr. is aiming for a fresh start in Fresno. The 21-year-old junior lightweight hopes to bounce back from his first career defeat in a 10-round bout against Mexican veteran Abraham Montoya on Friday, March 4 at Save Mart Center.

Flores and Montoya will do battle underneath the junior welterweight main event between former unified champion Jose Ramirez and two-weight world champion Jose “Sniper” Pedraza. The entire Ramirez-Pedraza card will stream live and exclusively in the United States on ESPN+. 

“The mission I’m on is personal, and I will be a world champion,” Flores said. “I am more motivated than ever, and I will have answers for whatever Montoya brings.”

Flores (20-1, 7 KOs), who hails from Stockton, California, will have a sizable cheering section make the roughly two-hour drive to Fresno. Last September in Tucson, Arizona, he suffered his first career defeat, a one-sided unanimous decision loss to Luis Alberto “El Venado” Lopez. Flores showed his mettle over 10 rounds, fighting back in the face of Lopez’s relentless onslaught. Signed by Top Rank as a 16-year-old, Flores was flawless throughout the first four-plus years of his pro career. In February 2020, he became only the second man to knock out Puerto Rican contender Jayson Velez.

Montoya (20-2-1, 14 KOs), from Mexicali, Mexico, is an eight-year pro with a knack for upsetting undefeated prospects. In March 2018, he bested Luis Alberto Lopez (12-0 at the time) by split decision. Last February, he upset undefeated prospect Alejandro Guerrero by majority decision. He has won two fights since a November 2019 decision defeat to top contender Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov.

Flores Jr. vs. Montoya joins a packed undercard that includes featherweight contender Joet Gonzalez (24-2, 14 KOs) against Jeo Santisima (21-3, 18 KOs) in a 10-rounder, the six-round heavyweight professional debut of U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr., rising junior lightweight Karlos Balderas (11-1, 10 KOs) in an eight-rounder, lightweight prospect Charlie Sheehy (1-0, 1 KO) in a four-rounder, 6’9 heavyweight Antonio “El Gigante” Mireles (2-0, 2 KOs) in a four-rounder, and middleweight prospect Javier “Milwaukee Made” Martinez (5-0, 2 KOs) in a six-rounder.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets starting at $36 are on sale now and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com.

About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 17.1 million subscribers.

Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $6.99 a month (or $69.99 per year)
at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). It is also available as part of The Disney Bundle that gives subscribers access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu for $13.99/month (Hulu w/ads) or $19.99/month (Hulu w/o ads).

FRESNO, Calif. (Jan. 10, 2022) — The homecoming of former unified junior welterweight world champion Jose Ramirez is happening, just 27 days later than expected. Central Valley native Ramirez will fight former two-weight world champion Jose “Sniper” Pedraza in the 12-round main event Friday, March 4 at Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.

Ramirez and Pedraza were scheduled to fight Saturday, Feb. 5, but Pedraza tested positive for COVID-19.

In the six-round heavyweight special feature immediately before the main event, Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr., from the Central Valley town of Tulare, California, will make his long-awaited professional debut. The 10-round co-feature will see the Top Rank debut of featherweight contender Joet Gonzalez, who will fight Filipino veteran Jeo Santisima. The entire Ramirez-Pedraza card will stream live and exclusively in the United States on ESPN+. 

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets starting at $36 are on sale and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets purchased for the Feb. 5 date will be honored for March 4.

About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 17.1 million subscribers.

Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $6.99 a month (or $69.99 per year)
at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). It is also available as part of The Disney Bundle that gives subscribers access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu for $13.99/month (Hulu w/ads) or $19.99/month (Hulu w/o ads).

FRESNO, Calif. (Dec. 16, 2021) — Former unified junior welterweight world champion Jose Ramirez will return in front of a raucous home crowd. Ramirez, the pride of California’s Central Valley, will face former two-weight world champion Jose “Sniper” Pedraza in a 12-round junior welterweight battle Saturday, Feb. 5 at Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.

In a six-round heavyweight special feature immediately before the main event, Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr., from the Central Valley town of Tulare, California, will make his long-awaited professional debut.

The entire Ramirez-Pedraza card will stream live and exclusively in the United States on ESPN+. Undefeated lightweight prospect Raymond “Danger” Muratalla (13-0, 11 KOs), rising junior lightweight Karlos Balderas (11-1, 10 KOs), middleweight prospect Javier “Milwaukee Made” Martinez (5-0, 2 KOs), and 6’9 heavyweight Antonio “El Gigante” Mireles (2-0, 2 KOs) are all slated to appear on the card.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets starting at $36 go on sale Monday, Dec. 20 at 10 a.m. PT and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com.

“Jose Ramirez has always demanded the biggest challenges, and he’s back in there with a tough former champion in Jose Pedraza,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “There are few more exciting atmospheres in boxing than when Jose fights in the Central Valley. The fans there love Jose, and he embodies the region’s blue-collar work ethic. I am also delighted that the Central Valley’s next superstar, Richard Torrez Jr., will make his professional debut in front of a sold-out crowd.”

Ramirez (26-1, 17 KOs) returns to the ring for the first time since May’s decision defeat to Josh Taylor for the undisputed junior welterweight title. Ramirez had made four title defenses since winning the WBC crown in 2018, and he unified the WBC and WBO world titles the following year with a knockout win over Maurice Hooker. Ramirez has drawn 65,794 fans through five headlining fight nights at Save Mart Center. When he fought Jose “Chon” Zepeda at Save Mart Center in February 2019, 14,034 fans — an attendance record for boxing in the arena — turned up. Pedraza (29-3, 14 KOs), from Cidra, Puerto Rico, is a former junior lightweight and lightweight world champion who has won three in a row since a decision defeat to Zepeda. He is coming off June’s eighth-round knockout over the previously undefeated Julian “Hammer Hands” Rodriguez.

“I am motivated to become world champion once again, and it begins with a tough fight against Pedraza,” Ramirez said. “There are no better fans than the ones who pack the Save Mart Center every time I fight. The Central Valley is my home, and it is always a great honor to perform for my people.”

“This one is personal to Ramírez,” said Rick Mirigian, Ramirez’s manager. “This is the fight that puts him back at the top of the sport and in line for the biggest fights.”

Pedraza said, “The new year will bring a big opportunity to battle against a former world champion like Jose Ramirez. This fight is very important for me because I know this will be the fight that will give me the opportunity to win a world title in a third weight division.

“There is no space for a loss. Not on my record, and much less in my mind. I know that Ramirez is a great fighter and always comes well prepared. He always comes in shape to give the fans a great fight.” 

Torrez made history as the first American Olympian to medal in the Super Heavyweight division since Riddick Bowe in 1988. Last month, he signed a long-term professional contract with Top Rank. Torrez was a U.S. National Championships gold medalist in 2017 and 2018, in addition to capturing three U.S. Youth National titles from 2014-2016. He went 154-10 as an amateur, and after a long international career in the unpaid ranks, he returns home for his pro debut.

“I can think of no better place to turn pro than in front of my Central Valley friends and family,” Torrez said. “They’ve supported me my entire amateur career, and I am thrilled that they will see the start of my professional journey. Let’s show everyone what it means to be valley grown!”

About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 17.1 million subscribers.

Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $6.99 a month (or $69.99 per year)
at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). It is also available as part of The Disney Bundle that gives subscribers access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu for $13.99/month (Hulu w/ads) or $19.99/month (Hulu w/o ads).

LAS VEGAS (Nov. 17, 2021) — From Tokyo to Top Rank, two recent U.S. Olympic silver medalists have found their professional home.

Lightweight sensation Keyshawn “The Businessman” Davis and heavyweight Richard Torrez Jr., two of Team USA’s three silver medalists in Tokyo, signed long-term promotional contracts with Top Rank. All good things come in threes, as undefeated junior welterweight prospect Kelvin Davis, Keyshawn’s older brother, also inked a deal with the promotional powerhouse.

The Davis Brothers, from Norfolk, Virginia, will make their respective Top Rank debuts Saturday, Dec. 11 on the Vasiliy Lomachenko-Richard Commey card at Madison Square Garden. Keyshawn Davis will fight in a six-rounder on ESPN & ESPN Deportes (9 p.m. ET) as part of a televised quadruple-header that features the Jared Anderson-Oleksandr Teslenko heavyweight battle and middleweight Nico Ali Walsh in a four-rounder.

Torrez will have his pro debut in early 2022, with details announced in due course.

Top Rank promotes all five male U.S. Olympians from Tokyo, including featherweight silver medalist Duke Ragan (4-0, 1 KO), middleweight Troy Isley (3-0, 2 KOs), and welterweight Tiger Johnson, who makes his pro debut Saturday on the Terence Crawford-Shawn Porter undercard.

“Top Rank is proud to promote an outstanding group of fighters who also comport themselves with dignity outside the ring,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Richard Torrez Jr. is a southpaw pressure fighter who will instantly become a heavyweight fan favorite. I can’t wait to see the Davis Brothers, both of whom have valuable experience as pros and will shine at Madison Square Garden on December 11.”

Keyshawn & Kelvin Davis: The Journey Begins

Keyshawn Davis (3-0, 2 KOs), pegged by many experts as one of the sport’s elite young talents, returned to the amateurs following three professional fights in early 2021. The 22-year-old earned silver medals at the Tokyo Olympics, 2019 World Championships and 2019 Pan American Games, falling in the gold medal match each time to Cuba’s sensational Andy Cruz.

Keyshawn and Kelvin Davis are trained by Brian McIntyre, who has a star-studded roster that includes pound-for-pound king Terence “Bud” Crawford and former junior lightweight world champion Jamel “Semper Fi” Herring. Keyshawn Davis hopes to follow in the footsteps of another Norfolk great, the late Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker, a four-division champion who won his first title as a lightweight. He also draws inspiration from a group of Olympic medalists who turned pro under the Top Rank banner and went on to win world titles: Floyd Mayweather Jr., Oscar De La Hoya, Michael Carbajal, and Shakur Stevenson.

“When I look at all the great fighters Bob Arum promoted, it’s an honor to continue that legacy,” Keyshawn Davis said. “I know it will be my time one day, so I’m going to trust the process, develop my skills, and work towards becoming a world champion. The Davis Brothers are coming to make their mark.”

Kelvin Davis (2-0, 1 KO) last fought May 8 on the Canelo Alvarez-Billy Joe Saunders card and defeated Jan Marsalek by unanimous decision. A 6’1 southpaw, the 24-year-old promises to be a stylistic challenge as a 140-pounder.

“Joining Top Rank with my younger brother is a thrill, not only for me, but for our entire family,” Kelvin Davis said. “I’ve been grinding in the gym since my last fight, and I am ready to put the junior welterweight division on notice.”

Richard Torrez Jr: California Central Valley’s Heavyweight Hopeful

Richard Torrez Jr. hails from Tulare, California, a farming community in the Central Valley located roughly 45 minutes from Fresno.

The 22-year-old comes from a proud fighting family. His father and trainer, Richard Torrez Sr., was an accomplished amateur boxer who had more than 250 fights and advanced to the semifinals of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Trials. His grandfather, Manuel Torrez, founded the Tulare Athletic Boxing Club in the early 1940s. That gym helped hone the youngest Torrez’s talents and led him to a meteoric rise through the amateur ranks.

“After the Olympics, I took my time in deciding my professional future, and I was impressed with what Top Rank had to offer,” Torrez said. “I want to build something in this sport, and Top Rank has a long history of developing young fighters into champions.

“I am also thrilled to be joined at Top Rank by my Olympic teammates. Duke, Tiger, Troy, Keyshawn, and I grew up together as amateurs. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Torrez was a U.S. National Championships gold medalist in 2017 and 2018, in addition to capturing three U.S. Youth National titles from 2014-2016. He became the first U.S. Olympic Super Heavyweight to medal since Riddick Bowe took home silver in 1988. Torrez had a 154-10 amateur record, a run that ended in Tokyo with a competitive decision loss to longtime rival Bakhodir Jalolov, who is 8-0 as a pro.

At 6’2 and roughly 230 pounds, Torrez is a volume puncher who has long thrived against taller and naturally larger fighters. Outside the ring, he is a Renaissance man. He was valedictorian of his class at Mission Oak High School, played multiple varsity sports and was president of the school’s chess club. The straight-A student who climbed to amateur boxing’s apex now sets his aim on the professional game.

New York, NY (August 7, 2021) Following a third-round referee stoppage victory against Great Britain’s Frazer Clarke in the super heavyweight Semifinals at the Tokyo Olympics, “The Big Uzbek” Bakhodir Jalolov, of Uzbekistan, vies for the gold medal in the tournament’s Final tonight. He faces the United States’ Richard Torrez Jr. at Kokugikan Arena, in what will be a rematch of their 2019 AIBA World Championships contest. The Jalolov-Torrez bout will broadcast as part of Boxing Session 25, which begins tonight at 10:00pm PT / 1:00am ET, streaming on the NBC Olympics Website. Jalolov is expected to be in the ring at 11:15pm PT / 2:15am ET.

Standing six-foot-six, the 27-year-old Jalolov, who holds a professional record of 8-0 with eight knockouts, is just one win away from his goal of winning an Olympic gold medal. He previously competed at the 2016 Olympics, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and now has the distinguished honor of being Uzbekistan’s first athlete to be a two-time flag bearer at the Opening Ceremonies.

Born in Sariosiyo, Uzbekistan, the southpaw Jalolov has garnered tremendous accolades as an amateur, winning gold medals at the Asian Amateur Boxing Championships four times, World Cup Tournament, Liventsev Memorial Tournament, Great Silk Way Tournament, and Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament in 2015, and at the World Cup of Petroleum Countries Tournament in 2014, as well as winning numerous National championships. During his amateur career, Jalolov also focused on his education, earning a Master’s Degree in Sports Science.