Lem's latest: Ramos tries to rebound against Esquivias

Former junior featherweight titleholder Rico Ramos will return to the ring against Efrain Esquivias on June 23 in the main event of a five-bout card at the Sportsmans Lodge in Studio City, Calif., his promoter, Dan Goossen, announced on Thursday.

"The series is called Live At The Lodge, and it's the start of our series at The Sportsmen's Lodge," said Goossen. "That's been the heart of the San Fernando Valley since the late 1800s."

Ramos (20-1, 11 knockouts) is trying to rebound from being dethroned as WBA beltholder in January by sixth-round knockout against two-time Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux.

He had earned the crown himself in July of last year against Akifumi Shimoda. Trailing on the cards and bleeding badly from a cut, with referee Benjy Esteves Jr. close to stopping the fight, Ramos rallied to score a seventh-round stoppage.

Esquivias, a California native, is 16-0 with nine knockouts.

Also on the card are lightweight John Molina (23-1, 19 KOs), light heavyweight Shawn Estrada (14-0, 12 KOs) and bantamweight Jessie Villanueva (2-0, 2 KOs) -- all of whom will face opppnents to be determined.

Junior bantamweight Matthew Villanueva (7-0-1, 7 KOs) will take on Austeberto Juarez (10-1, 2 KOs).

GOLDEN BOY SIGNS JOHAN PEREZ, JULIAN RAMIREZ

Golden Boy Promotions announced the signings of WBA interim junior welterweight beltholder Johan Perez (15-0-1, 12 KOs) and former amateur standout Julian Ramirez (2-0, 2 KOs), who will be in the ring on July 28 and June 2, respectively.

Perez will face an opponent to be determined at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., and Ramirez will meet Christian Navarro, who will make his professional debut at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, Calif.

"This is a big day for us, and I'm proud to have these two boxers fighting for us now," said Oscar De La Hoya, president of Golden Boy.

"Boxing will never grow if we don't keep cultivating new talent, and in Johan and Julian, we've signed two fighters that you're going to be hearing a lot about in the months and years to come."

A 28-year-old native of Caracas, Venezuela, Perez turned pro in 2005 and won his first five bouts by knockout, earning his current crown with a fourth-round stoppage of Fernando Castaneda.

Ramirez, of Alhambra, Calif., is the 19-year-old nephew of the late, great Genaro "Chicanito" Hernandez who compiled an amateur record of 73-5 that included his winning 10 tournament titles.

BEIBUT SHUMENOV DEFENDS AGAINST ENRIQUE ORNELAS

Unbeaten WBA light heavyweight titleholder Beibut Shumenov (12-1, 8 KOs) will make the fourth defense of his belt against Enrique Ornelas (33-7, 21 KOs) at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on June 2 in a bout that will be televised on FOX Sports Net and FOX Deportes as well as on a delayed basis on Fuel TV.

Promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and KZ Events Promotions, the matchup will be aired at 10 p.m. ET and 7 p.m. PT, and be rebroadcast on Fuel TV July 1 at 12 p.m. ET and 9 a.m. PT.

"I'm looking forward to defending my world title belt, especially on a nationally televised show once again. My goal has always been and remains to fight the best and unify the world light heavyweight title," said Shumenov, a 28-year-old 2008 Kazakhstan Olympian, as well as an attorney and boxing promoter with his brother, Chingis Shumenov.

"To do that I need to keep practicing and improving with each and every fight. Someday, I hope one of the other world champions will put his belt on the line against mine. Until then, though, I am only focused on defending my world title belt against the toughest possible challengers like Ornelas."

Photo by Fightwireimages.com

Lem Satterfield can be reached at lemuel.satterfield@gmail.com