This Friday night sees boxing back on ESPN and the feature broadcast sees two WBO world titles on the line.
It is a battle of undefeated fighters as WBO world super middleweight champion Gilberto Ramirez (35-0) is defending his title against Jesse Hart (22-0). The 26 year old southpaw won the WBO belt back n April of 2016 when he defeated long time champion Arthur Abraham. That big win was followed by a year of inactivity and he returned in April of this year to win a unanimous decision victory over Max Bursak.
Hart fights out of Philadelphia and though he has been on several big cards, Ramirez will represent his toughest test to date when they meet on Saturday night. Hart packs some firepower as he has finished 18 of his pro fights before the final bell. Hart owns a pair of regional titles and he successfully defended the belts with stoppages in his last two outings.
Heading into the fight Ramirez has a few questions to answer. When he won the belt against Abraham he was lauded and on top of the world. Oh what a difference a year makes. Ramirez did not look terrific against Bursak and the odds for this fight are a lot closer than expected.
The second WBO world title bout comes in the featherweight division as champion Oscar Valdez (22-0) takes on Genesis Servania (29-0). Vargas is heading into the third defense of the belt he won back in July of 2016 and at 26 years old he would appear to be heading into his prime. He is coming off a strong performance against battle tested Miguel Marriaga this past April and he is looking to set up big money fights in 2018. In Servania, he is facing an undefeated fighter who has logged time fighting both in his home country and in Japan. Still, it is a long trip to overcome and a word title fight in his first US trip is likely to turn into a learning experience for Servania.
Tucson Convention Center Tucson, AZ Friday, Sept 22 – ESP
Super Middleweight 12 Rounds –
Jesse Hart +185
Gilberto Ramirez -265
Featherweight 12 Rounds –
Genesis Servania +505
Oscar Valdez -915
