Golden Boy’s ESPN series has been predictably and consistently average, but Friday night they are bringing us a real good fight by the standards of the series the night before their major PPV. Top fifteen featherweights Claudio Marrero and Jesus M Rojas will meet in the main event for Marrero’s secondary strap. Rashidi “Speedy” Ellis has the co-main event slot.
Claudio Marrero (22-1, 16 KOs) first emerged onto the major boxing scene in a failed secondary title bid against Jesus Cuellar in 2013. Though he lost that night, the Dominican put on a respectable showing against a good opponent and earned his place in the division. Marrero is 8-0 since that fight with his best showing coming in 2015 via a third round highlight reel knockout of former titleholder Rico Ramos. Last time out Marrero won his secondary WBA belt by blowing out previously unbeaten Peruvian Carlos Zambrano in the first round.
Jesus M Rojas (25-1-2, 18 KOs) is a rough opponent to defend against. The Puerto Rican mauler has had two fights stopped early on his record due to the damage of fouls on his opponents. They were maybe his best foes too as his bout with Jorge Arce was tossed out by being named a no contest and his fight with top prospect and still unbeaten Jorge Lara was a technical draw after six. In his most recent fight, Rojas was supposed to function as a stepping stone for unbeaten prospect Abraham Lopez, but instead he chose to batter him around the ring. After dropping Lopez three times along the way, Rojas stopped him in the eighth round.
The WBA belt on the line is illegitimate as a world title, but it is important as eventually its holder will likely be ordered to face the Santa Cruz/Mares rematch winner as the WBA slowly cleans up its disaster of a title picture.
Rashidi Ellis (18-0, 12 KOs) meets Juan Carlos Abreu (19-3-1, 18 KOs) in a decent co-main event. Ellis is a top Golden Boy prospect, but he really struggled in his most recent fight against John Karl Sosa while Abreu narrowly upset another unbeaten prospect in Alex Martin in his last fight. Ellis should be heavily favored here, but it is certainly not out of the question that Abreu could give him some trouble.
On paper this card is headlined by a matchup between two good fighters ready to really burst into top contention in a very competitive featherweight division. It also is likely to be an entertaining fight stylistically. Plus, the co-main event is at least somewhat interesting. You can’t really ask for more from this sort of secondary promoter exclusive fight series.
