Junior featherweight prospect Katsuma Akitsugi has thrived on Thompson Boxing exhibits. Picture by Carlos Baeza – Thompson Boxing Promotions
Katsuma Akitsugi and Jesus Ramirez Rubio know so much is on the road, which may make their conflict that rather more compelling.
Akitsugi and Ramirez will sq. off tonight on the Whitesands (also called the ProBox TV) Occasions Middle in Plant Metropolis, Florida. The ten-round bout will headline a four-bout card that can stream dwell on the ProBox TV YouTube web page (8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT).
At Tuesday’s weigh-in, Akitsugi weighed in at 118.6 kilos. Ramirez got here in at 118.8 kilos.
Within the co-feature, welterweight Nicklaus Flaz will sq. off towards late-sub Alfredo Escarcega in a 10-round bout.
ProBox TV’s Chris Glover reiterated struggle playing cards like that is what struggle followers need: Even fights which might be aggressive and have motion.
“(Tonight) is one other good present,” Glover advised The Ring on Tuesday afternoon. “Katsuma Akitsugi has overwhelmed undefeated after undefeated (fighters). He’s a high child as effectively. Clearly, Ramirez seemed wonderful and was very unfortunate in his final struggle towards (contender Ramon) Cardenas. It’s a extremely robust struggle. It’s a well-leveled struggle.
“Nicklaus Flaz is on the best way up. He was type of a misplaced soul at one level, when he took two losses. Now he’s actually rebuilding. Peter Dobson was imagined to struggle him. He didn’t fancy the job, so he pulled out (of the struggle). Escarcega is a last-minute substitute. He’s sport. He’s a Mexican-American combating out of Arizona. He’s coming to struggle. I’ve nothing however respect for him. He has the balls to step within the ring and didn’t mess us round.
“All in all, one other thrilling, unpredictable 50-50 present on ProBox TV.”
Akitsugi (10-0, 1 KO), who’s initially from Wakayama, Japan and now resides in Los Angeles, has not fought since Could 2022, defeating Jose Santos Gonzalez by technical choice. 5 weeks previous to the win over Gonzalez, Akitsugi defeated Gregory Morales by unanimous choice.
Inside a 14-month span, between February 2021 and April 2022, Akitsugi defeated 4 unbeaten fighters, together with Morales, Rasheen Brown, Eros Correa, and Arnold Dinong.
Since making his professional debut in December 2018, Akitsugi fought beneath promotional banners, together with Golden Boy Promotions, Premier Boxing Champions (PBC), and Thompson Boxing Promotions.
Ramirez (22-3-3, 16 KOs), who resides in Guaymas, Mexico, final fought on April 24, shedding by knockout in spherical 9 to Ramon Cardenas, who’s rated No. 10 by The Ring at 122 kilos. On the time of the stoppage, every fighter was up 77-75, whereas the third choose had the struggle even, 76-76.
In his earlier struggle on Could 26 of final yr, Ramirez knocked out journeyman Felipe Carlon Lopez in spherical seven. The win over Lopez befell six and a half months after Ramirez was stopped in spherical one by Nick Ball.
Flaz has loved success in current fights, and hopes to place himself in contender standing with a win over Escarcega.
The 28-year-old Flaz (12-2, 8 KOs), who resides in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico, stopped Luke Santamaria within the sixth spherical of his final bout on March 13.
Previous to the Santamaria struggle, Flaz fought and defeated two unbeaten prospects in Brian Ceballo and Jahi Tucker. Flaz has gained his final three fights since shedding to Janelson Figueroa in October 2020.
Escarcega (15-1-1, 7 KOs) has not fought since Could 26 of final yr, defeating Brian Mora Munoz by unanimous choice. The victory over Mora Munoz befell nearly a yr after shedding a one-sided choice to Julian Smith.
The 26-year-old who has fought his current fights in Phoenix, not removed from his residence Goodyear.
Earlier within the card, in a conflict of unbeaten gentle heavyweights, Najee Lopez (10-0, 8 KOs) of Atlanta will face Steven Sumpter (9-0-1, 7 KOs) of Lawrence, Massachusetts in an eight-round bout.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has lined boxing in Southern California and overseas since 2000. Francisco additionally covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He might be reached at [email protected]
Observe @FSalazarBoxing
