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Jose Ramirez's first defense against Danny O'Connor was canceled on Friday before the weigh-in, as O & # 39; Connor was admitted to a hospital in Fresno, California, suffering from severe dehydration while on the run. he was trying to cut the last two. On March 17, Ramirez fired Amir Imam to win a vacant 140-pound world title and was to defend him on Saturday night at Fresno's Save Mart Center in the Top Rank Main Event. Boxing on ESPN card (ESPN and ESPN Deportes, 9:30 pm ET).
The show will continue but without the show star in Ramirez.
The co-feature of 10 rounds between the welterweight suitor Egidijus Kavaliauskas and Juan Carlos Abreu was elevated to the main event status and the 10-rounder between Andy Vences and Frank De Alba lightweight junior lightweight was raised from ESPN + coverage of the undercard (6:30 pm ET) on television television slot co-feature.
Ramirez came t o weighing and was 139.4 pounds for what was supposed to be his first fight since parting from longtime coach Freddie Roach to work with Robert Garcia.
However, O 'Connor was already on his way to Fresno Community Regional Medical Center, where his promoter, Joe DeGuardia of Star Boxing, told ESPN that he would spend the night and undergo tests.
"They have already given him four bags of liquids and that has not yet had any effect, so they have O Connor (30-3, 11 KOs), 33, a Left-handed from Framingham, Mass., was preparing for his first world title fight and looked healthy and spoke well at the final press conference on Thursday, but DeGuardia said it was a different story Friday morning.
"He was shaking the last two pounds and he was in the sauna and he could not shake them," he said. "His body just gave way, he was offside. At that time, he had an ESPN interview scheduled for 11:30 and his directors asked not to do the interview and go to the weigh-in. I thought it was just a regular weight loss, but I went to his room and I saw him and I said to him, "You can not do that, you need to get it right. an intravenous, you need liquids. " He did not speak, he was incoherent, he was in bad shape. "
DeGuardia said that the O & # 39; Connor team then took him to the hospital at the time he was supposed to go to the weigh-in
" . When I saw him in the room, I told his manager: "You have to bring him liquids, there is more weight to be done," DeGuardia said. "He was not in a position to fight, after two bags of intravenous infusion, he was still not consistent, the doctor said, 'You can not leave the hospital, we will monitor. He was great on Thursday, but the last two books were not coming. "
Ramirez (22-0, 16 KOs), 25 years old, from Avenal, California, just off Fresno, was disappointed to see the fight canceled." 19659002] "That's the first time I'm in this situation, I'm very shocked, "he said." I weighed it because I wanted to show everyone that I did my job and that I I cut the weight that I had to cut, I sacrificed 10 weeks away from home and I prepared for this fight. I hope the fans will come out [Saturday] and support the movement, fighting for immigration.
Bob Arum, high-ranking president, saw everything in his 52 years as a boxing promoter and took charge of the situation. "It's a terrible shame when something like that happens," Arum said. "We will organize a new fight for Jose as soon as possible.We in boxing have the obligation to put the health and safety of the fighters first.Kavaliauskas against Abreu and Vences against De Alba are two very fights competitive. "
Kavaliauskas, 30 (19-0, 16 KO), a two-time Lithuanian Olympian known as "Mean Machine", is on Top Rank's short list to challenge welterweight world champion Terence Crawford in October. He can boost his chances of getting the opportunity by facing Abreu (21-3-1, 19 KOs), 31, of the Dominican Republic, who has not been stopped in any of his losses .
I'm happy to fight in Fresno, near Oxnard, "he said. "Fans can look forward to a great fight on Saturday, and every time I get on the ring, I try to give them an entertaining fight, I want to show them what I can do, even if I I'm still very mean in the ring, that's why I'm called "Mean Machine".
Vences (20-0-1, 12 KOs), 27 years old, from San Jose, California, who fought for a draw His teammate Erick De Leon, unbeaten on March 10 in Carson, California, at Oscar Valdez-Scott Quigg, now has a chance to shine during a second televised ESPN fight against De Alba (22-3-2,9 KOs), 30, of Reading, Pennsylvania
"[The De Leon fight] was a technical fight that took place is ending in a draw, I do what I always do, I watched the fight, I saw what adjustments I could do. I did, and go to the top. before, these are adjustments that I will show for this fight ", ad enlightened Vences. "Fans are at stake. They are going to get their money's worth"
"I know that I am fighting against a very tough opponent at Frank De Alba.It's somebody that I do not have. certainly will not forget. "
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