The Save Mart Arena in Fresno hosts a Golden Boy-promoted card this Saturday evening, and in the headliner, Vergil Ortiz Jr hopes to keep on track for a huge August date with victory against Thomas Dulorme over a scheduled twelve rounds at super welterweight.
DAZN televise Ortiz Jr vs Dulorme live worldwide.
Ortiz Jr (20-0, 20 KOs) has an unblemished record, but in recent times has had been hampered by injury and illness. After an eye-catching seventh round knockout of Maurice Hooker in March 2021, and an eighth round stoppage of Egidijus Kavaliauskas five months later, it looked like the 26-year-old was firmly on the rise.
A postponement to his clash with Michael McKinson followed before the two locked horns in August 2022, and the Texan prevailed with a dominant ninth round stoppage win.
That prompted a move up from welterweight, and on his super welterweight debut, he hammered Fredrick Lawson to a one round defeat in January.
A huge contest with former WBO world champion Tim Tszyu has been agreed for a bumper bill in Los Angeles this August, so Ortiz can ill afford a slip up here.
Dulorme (26-6-1, 17 KOs) is a wise choice for a tune-up opponent for Tszyu, with the Puerto Rican only holding one win in his last four outings.
A former world title challenger, halted in six by Terence Crawford in April 2015, Dulorme has struggled ever since, and a run of three straight defeats started with a points loss to Jamal James in 2020.
2021 saw the 34-year-old drop a decision against Eimantas Stanionis, and he ended the year being wiped out inside a round by Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.
He did return in July 2022 to stop Abrahan Peralta in three, but hasn’t been seen since.
Prediction: Ortiz will want to shake off any remaining ring-rust, and can win early here to move on to a tantalising meeting with Tszyu. Ortiz before halfway is the pick.
Ramirez returns against Barthelemy
Former unified world champion, Jose Carlos Ramirez makes a first appearance of 2024, and he clashes with former two-weight world champion, Rances Barthelemy over a scheduled twelve at super lightweight.
Previously a WBC and WBO belt holder, Ramirez (28-1, 18 KOs) was decked twice by Josh Taylor in 2021 in a bid for the WBA ‘super’ and IBF crowns, before losing by just two points on all three cards in Las Vegas.
The 31-year-old has won twice since, outpointing Jose Pedraza and then knocking Richard Commey out in 11 rounds in a WBC title eliminator last March.
Barthelemy (30-2-1, 15 KOs) is rebuilding after being stopped in six by Gary Antuanne Russell in July 2022, and he was last out in May 2023, taking a majority nod over Omar Juarez.
Prediction: Ramirez should be too good for Barthelemy in this one, and can remain a step ahead to take a clear points win.
Esparza defends belts in rematch
Marlen Esparza defends her WBC, WBA and WBO flyweight titles on the card, and she should be able to retain with a points win against Gabriela Celeste Alaniz (14-1, 6 KOs).
This is a rematch of their meeting last July, that Esparza (14-1, 1 KO) won via majority decision.
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Remaining Undercard
Mexico’s Oscar Duarte (26-2-1, 21 KOs) was knocked out by Ryan Garcia in his last bout, but a move up to super lightweight should see him bank a win on the cards against former two-weight world champion, Joseph ‘Jo-Jo’ Diaz (33-5-1, 15 KOs).
Welterweight hope Raul Curiel (14-0, 12 KOs) can take another early win this time against Jorge Marron Jr (20-4-2, 7 KOs).
