Friday notebook: Light heavyweight contenders Ramirez, Browne interested in showdown

Sergey Kovalev flunks VADA test; Gabriel Flores gets new foe for Feb. 20

Light heavyweight contenders Marcus Browne and Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez are interested in fighting each other now that the WBC ordered the bout for its interim 175-pound title this week.

“Upon hearing that the WBC ordered the fight for the interim title I spoke to Marcus and there is interest in the fight,” Keith Connolly, Browne’s manager, told Fight Freaks Unite. “I’ll be talking to (Browne adviser) Al Haymon over the next few weeks and we’ll see what materializes.”

Ramirez is also interested.

“This is an interesting opportunity and I’m ready to fight anyone in the light heavyweight division to leave my mark on the sport,” Ramirez said. “I know Marcus has been out of the ring for a while, but he’s a (2012) U.S. Olympian and still one of the best in the game. I know he’s wanted this fight for a while and hopefully we can make something happen.

“In addition, it’s always been my dream to get the green (WBC) belt and bring it back to Mexico. I have a lot of respect for the WBC and (president) Mauricio Sulaiman and I am grateful for all their love and support throughout my career.”

The WBC made the interim title available because champion Artur Beterbiev (15-0, 15 KOs) has not fought since winning the belt in a unification fight against Oleksandr Gvozdyk on Oct. 18, 2019 and has had a defense postponed several times due to the coronavirus pandemic, then an injury and then coming down with Covid-19. He is out until the spring.

“I’m not sure how much time Marcus will need to be ready, but both time and location can be determined when the other preliminary items are agreed upon,” Ramirez said. “If it goes to a purse bid, I’m ready for the process and, hopefully, this fight can happen for both of us.” 

Mexico’s Ramirez (41-0, 27 KOs), a 29-year-old southpaw, vacated a super middleweight world title and moved up to light heavyweight in 2019. He is 2-0 in the division, most recently knocking out Alfonso Lopez in the 10th round on Dec. 18 in his first fight since parting ways with longtime promoter Top Rank and going out on his own with Zurdo Promotions. The fight was Ramirez’s first in 20 months.

Staten Island, New York’s Browne (23-1, 16 KOs), 30, also a southpaw, scored his biggest win in January 2019 when he outpointed former two-division titlist Badou Jack to win an interim light heavyweight title but then lost it to former light heavyweight world champion Jean Pascal by eighth-round technical decision in August 2019. Browne has not boxed since.

Kovalev tests positive for banned substance

On Thursday morning I broke the news on BoxingScene.com that former three-time light heavyweight world titleholder Sergey Kovalev tested positive for synthetic testosterone, meaning his fight with up-and-comer Bektemir “Bek Bully” Melikuzievm scheduled for Jan. 30 in a DAZN main event at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California, likely will be canceled. I obtained the letter in which the Voluntary Anti-DopingAssociation outlined the issue, which you can see in the photo below. Also, you can read my story on it here: https://www.boxingscene.com/sergey-kovalev-tests-positive-synthetic-testosterone-putting-jan-30-bout-jeopardy--154717

Velez new foe for Flores on ESPN card

Junior lightweight prospect Gabriel Flores Jr. will now take on former featherweight world title challenger Jayson Velez in the 10-round co-feature of the Top Rank Boxing on ESPN card on Feb. 20 (ESPN/ESPN Deportes, 10 p.m. ET) inside the bubble of the conference center of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Top Rank on Thursday announced Velez as the replacement for former junior lightweight world titlist Andrew Cancio (21-5-2, 16 KOs), who dropped out a few days ago because of a back injury. Junior lightweight world titlist Miguel Berchelt will meet mandatory challenger and former featherweight world titlist Oscar Valdez in the much-anticipated main event.

Flores (19-0, 6 KOs), 20, of Stockton, California, was supposed to take a big step up in competition against Cancio. Velez, however, will still be the most notable opponent of his career despite having lost his previous two bouts. Velez (29-7-1, 21 KOs), 32, of Puerto Rico, is coming off a 10th-round stoppage loss to Valdez on July 21.

Inoue’s brother wins regional title

Japanese bantamweight contender Takuma Inoue (14-1, 3 KOs), the younger brother of unified bantamweight world champion and pound-for-pound entrant Naoya Inoue, claimed the OPBF title -- an important regional belt in Asia -- by ninth-round technical decision over countryman Keita Kurihara (15-6, 13 KOs) on Thursday in Tokyo. Inoue won 90-81, 89-82 and 89-82. The fight was halted at 2 minutes, 25 seconds of the ninth round Kurihara suffered a bad cut on an accidental head butt and was unable to continue.

Show and tell

If you know me or follow me on social media you know I am an avid collector of boxing posters, programs and cards. Allow me to show off a recently acquired piece, one that I have been looking for in top-notch condition for many years that finally has a home in my collection. It is a rare Spanish-language closed circuit poster (which originally came folded, hence the fold marks) from the legendary WBC featherweight championship fight on Aug. 21, 1981 in which Salvador Sanchez knocked out fellow all-time great Hall of Famer Wilfredo Gomez in the eighth round to retain the title.