ESPN and Top Rank bring the only real noteworthy card this weekend and even it just lost its main event. Danny O’Connor has pulled out of his title challenge against Jose Ramirez. What is left?
I’ll start by directly answering the question proposed in the title. What is this show without its original main event of Jose Ramirez defending his WBC junior welterweight title against Danny O’Connor? It is exactly the same, really. That was a garbage main event. Ramirez is a strong young titleholder that was looking to take the now normal easy first title defense, victory lap style. Danny O’Connor posed no threat and there was absolutely nothing compelling about the main event of this card. We have lost nothing of value without the fight except that Jose might look to schedule another one of these now, delaying a matchup with an actual contender. Hopefully that doesn’t happen, but it may very well.
What we are left with now is fun Lithuanian prospect Egidijus Kavaliauskas (19-0, 16 KOs) in the main event. If that name looks overwhelming to you, just call him “The Mean Machine.” Kavaliauskas is a blue collar, come forward aggressor with at least some level of world level potential. He’s a good fighter coming off a really impressive stoppage win over former secondary titleholder David Avanesyan in February. Juan Carlos Abreu (21-3-1, 19 KOs) is a minor step back from Avanesyan, but he’s still the second best foe of The Mean Machine’s career and a reasonable opponent. The Dominican has been controlled by superior technical opponents like Humberto Soto and Jamal James, but he’s fought on even terms with more aggressive styles like Pablo Cesar Cano. Abreu most notably is coming off an upset stoppage when over a well worn Jesus Soto Karass in November, another aggressive fighter. Kavaliauskas is not someone who is going to box him on the outside, so Abreu is getting the style he wants here. I fully expect The Mean Machine to outclass Abreu even in his own fight still, but I think he’s a slightly more live opponent than most would think when glancing at the matchup.
With room on the card, unbeaten junior lightweight Andy Vences (20-0-1, 12 KOs) and his opponent Frank De Alba (22-3-2, 9 KOs) get bumped up to the main broadcast too. Vences is a mid level prospect who fought to a semi-controversial but entertaining draw with fellow Top Rank prospect Erick De Leon in March. Most thought Vences should have gotten that decision, myself included. Thanks to his Top Rank status, unbeaten record, and minor titles, the Californian is likely close to a title shot and it would behoove him to look good here against a regional level guy like De Alba. The Puerto Rican can box a bit in there and almost upset Omar Douglas a few years ago now, but he is coming off a weak loss against a thought to be busted prospect and is likely fading as a fringe contender. Vences needs to handle him clean if he wants to prove he should get an opportunity to fight at true world level.
This has always been a weak card, but losing the main event doesn’t do anything to make that worse. Even if you disagree with that assessment, this is still the best we are going to get this weekend. The show beings at 9:30 PM Eastern and will be available on mainline ESPN. The prelims start at 6:30 on ESPN+. As always with Top Rank’s loaded stable, there is some interesting stuff to be found on the early show. Recent heavyweight title challenger Andy Ruiz Jr (30-1, 20 KOs) will be in action alongside major prospect 18 year old prospect Gabriel Flores Jr (8-0, 5 KOs), a fighter Top Rank was so excited about that they scooped him up at 16 years old.
