ESPN BOXING ODDS July 7 – Top Rank Boxing is at the Save Mart Arena in Fresno, California this Saturday night for a tripleheader set to air on ESPN. The main event sees WBC world super lightweight champion Jose Carlos Ramirez (22-0) defending his title against the challenge of Danny O’Connor (30-3). A pair of regional titles are up for grab in the two co-features.
The 25 year old Ramirez picked up the vacant 140 pound WBC belt this past March when he defeated Amir Imam at Madison Square Garden via unanimous decision. Prior to that he stopped previously unbeaten prospect Mike Reed and he made his debut on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez 4, so he has been called a prospect since the start if his career. As is sometimes the case with first title defenses, Ramirez and company have found the WBC’s 13th ranked 140 pounder at this time, giving him a title defense where he is a major favorite. Bigger fights await the winner as the weight class is still shaking itself out after Terence Crawford united all the major titles and then left the belts behind as h moved up to welterweight. Ramirez wants to be a playe rin a post-Crawford world.
As for O’Connor, he is riding a four fight winning streak to earn this title shot. In October of 2015 he was stopped in the first round by Gabriel Bracero. The truth is that the hard working O’Connor does not have any real names on his resume as he finds himself in his first world title fight.
The WBC Continental Americas title at super featherweight is owned by undefeated Andy Vences (20-0-1) and he defends his title against tough Frank De Alba (22-3-2). Vences is coming off the first blemish on his record, as he fought Erick De Leon to a draw this past March on the undercard of Top Rank’s Oscar Valdez vs Scott Quigg offering. De Alba may have a resume of over 25 fights, but this is just his second fight scheduled for longer than eight rounds.
The NABF title at welterweight is being defended by champion Egidijus Kavaliauskas (19-0) as he faces the challenge of Juan Carlos Abreau (21-3-1). The 30 year old Kavaliauskas has been putting in the work, staying undefeated on his way up the rankings. With all due repect to Abreu, he is more of a trial horse at this point in his career. Two of Abreau’s three career losses come at the hands of Alex Martin and Jamal James, both undefeated prospects at the time.
Also on the card is once beaten Heavyweight Andy Ruiz Jr (30-1) as he faces veteran Kevin Johnson (32-9-1). This is Ruiz’ second fight since his December of 2016 loss to Jospeh Parker with th WBO world title on the line. Still just 28 years old, Ruiz needs to keep winning to remian a factor in the weight class. If odds pop up for this fight, expect Ruiz to be a major favorite.
None of the fights on Top Rank’s fights this Saturday have what can be called competitive lines, as it is clear that Top Rank has put some of their undefeated talent on showcase. The odds as they stand today appear below.
ESPN BOXING ODDS July 7
Sat 7/7 – Save Mart Arena – Fresno, California – ESPN
Super Lightweight 12 rounds –
Danny O’Connor +2200
Jose Carlos Ramirez -5500
Welterweight 10 rounds –
Juan Carlos Abreu +1400
Egidijus Kavaliauskas -3050
Super Featherweight 10 rounds –
Frank De Alba +1200
Andy Vences -2250
ESPN BOXING ODDS July 7 / Check out more boxing news and features at The Sweet Science.
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