The rematch between Victor Ortiz and Andre Berto is being targeted for June 30.
Katsidis, Barrera in weekend action
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THE RING’s No. 8 contender was the aggressor the entire fight, dropping Ramirez four times (three in the fourth round) over the 10-round distance. The victory, by scores of 98-87 and 96-89 (twice), was his first since a bloody decision over Czar Amonsot in July of 2007. Next up for the 28-year-old Australian is an intriguing showdown with THE RING’s No. 6 lightweight contender, former titleholder Julio Diaz, in April. *** Marco Antonio Barrera (64-6, 43 KOs) suffered a cut during a stay-busy bout in Jalisco, Mexico, on Saturday night that could jeopardize his scheduled March 14 bout with Amir Khan. The former three-division titleholder suffered a cut over his left eye after receiving a headbutt from late-replacement Freudis Rojas (1-8-1, 1 KO) in the third round of their scheduled 10-round lightweight bout. Rojas, who replaced Johnny Nolasco when the capable Arizona-based spoiler did not show up for Friday’s weigh-in, was disqualified for the foul. However, the severity of the cut may force the 35-year-old Mexican legend’s bout with Khan to be postponed or even cancelled. In the co-featured bout, THE RING’s No. 3-ranked featherweight Jorge Solis (37-1-2, 27 KOs) stopped Monty Meza-Clay (28-2, 19 KOs) in the fifth round of an IBF 126-pound title-elimination bout. *** Julius and John Jackson won their pro debuts in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands on Friday night. Julius, a 21-year-old super middleweight, scored a unanimous four-round decision over Marvin Blair (2-4-1). John, a 20-year-old junior middleweight, stopped debuting Alphonso Alexander in the second round of their scheduled four rounder. The brothers are the sons of former junior middleweight and two-time middleweight titleholder Julian Jackson, a spectacular puncher whose career spanned the ‘80s and ‘90s. *** Former IBF cruiserweight titleholder Kelvin Davis (24-10-2, 17 KOs) lost his sixth consecutive fight when he dropped a six-round decision to journeyman Leo Bercier (6-8-1, 1 KO) in Sacramento, Calif. on Friday. Davis, who was dropped in the third round en route to losing by scores of 59-54, 58-55 and 57-56, should not be fighting. The 30-year-old former contender is lucky to be alive and shouldn’t push his luck by continuing to engage in prize fights. In June of 2007, Davis suffered a freak accident that resulted in several internal injuries -- not the least of which were broken bones in his neck and back -- while training for a fight with heavyweight prospect Shane Cameron in New Zealand. While doing his morning roadwork, the stocky cruiserweight jumped off Auckland’s narrow Greenhite Bridge to avoid an on-coming truck. He fell more than 25 feet and was fortunate that he didn’t wind up a paraplegic. However, Davis was back in the ring by November of ’07, taking on three consecutive unbeaten fighters -- losing the last two by knockout -- going into Friday’s bout with Bercier. Someone needs to do the right thing and save Davis from himself. |
