Two high-stakes showdowns top the bill on a special Top Rank on ESPN card Saturday, Dec. 9 at Charles F. Dodge City Center in Pembroke Pines, Florida.
In the main event, Cuban WBO featherweight king Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez (13-1, 8 KOs) puts his belt on the line against unbeaten Mexican contender Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza (21-0, 18 KOs).
In the 10-round junior middleweight co-feature, Puerto Rican sensation Xander Zayas (17-0, 11 KOs) squares off against Spain’s Jorge Fortea (24-3-1, 9 KOs).
Ramirez-Espinoza and Zayas-Fortea will be broadcast live on ESPN.
The ESPN+ undercard will showcase some of Top Rank’s usual cast of characters.
Rising featherweight Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (9-0, 5 KOs), the fighting pride of Brownsville, Brooklyn, will take on former world title challenger Jason Sanchez (16-4, 9 KOs). Carrington will attempt to go 5-0 this year in his first scheduled 10-rounder. Sanchez lost a unanimous decision to then-WBO featherweight world champion Oscar Valdez in June 2019.
Junior middleweight Jahi Tucker (10-1, 5 KOs) looks to bounce back from his first defeat in an eight-rounder against unbeaten Argentinian Francisco Daniel Veron (13-0, 10 KOs). Tucker overcame a tough Nikoloz Sekhniashvili in April, but dropped a decision to Nicklaus Flaz in July.
Dominican Olympian Rohan Polanco (10-0, 6 KOs) will lock horns against Keith Hunter (15-1, 9 KOs) in an eight-round junior welterweight tilt. Polanco returns following his most impressive win to date, a fifth-round destruction of Panamanian contender Cesar Francis in July.
U.S. Olympian Tiger Johnson (10-0, 5 KOs) makes his fourth appearance of 2023 in an eight-round junior welterweight fight against Mexico’s Jimmer Espinosa (15-1, 14 KOs). Johnson is coming off a hard-earned majority decision over Ricardo Quiroz in September.
Undefeated heavyweight prospect Damian “Polish Hussar” Knyba (12-0, 7 KOs), a 6-foot-7 behemoth with an 86-inch reach, takes on Scott Alexander (17-6-2, 9 KOs) in an eight-rounder.
Ramirez speed will make the difference to beat Espinoza easily
Zayas looked real good his last time out.
Where is Davis? Heard he was suspended? They have not said what for yet though. Also heard his win was turned into a no decision. Hmmm.
Davis tested positive for marijuana. It was on here a while back.