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Clay Collard & Robeisy Ramirez Return
On Stevenson vs. Clary Undercard Dec. 12
Boxing’s breakout cult sensation of 2020, “Cassius” Clay
Collard, hopes to close out the year with a little slice of
revenge. Collard will fight Quincy “Chico” LaVallais in an
eight-round middleweight rematch of their June 2019 draw
Saturday, Dec. 12 at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Collard, who is also signed to PFL as an MMA fighter, is 5-0
with three wins over previously undefeated boxers in 2020.
The card will also see the return of two-time Cuban Olympic
gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez, who is set to fight Brandon
Valdes in a featherweight bout scheduled for eight or six
rounds.
Collard-LaVallais 2, Ramirez-Valdes and additional undercard
bouts will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ at 7 p.m.
ET/4 p.m. PT, preceding the ESPN-televised tripleheader (10
p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) headlined by the junior lightweight
battle between Shakur Stevenson and Toka Kahn Clary.
“Clay and Robeisy have emerged as Bubble fan favorites, so
it is only fitting that they are part of our final show of
2020,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.
Collard (9-2-3, 4 KOs) entered 2020 with a 4-2-3 record and
coming off a TKO loss to light heavyweight phenom Bektemir
Melikuziev. Following victories over unbeaten prospects
Quashawn Toler (9-0) and Raymond Guajardo (5-0) to start the
year, Collard made his Bubble debut June 18 with a decision
victory over the 6-0 David Kaminsky. He scored second-round
stoppages in his next two Bubble outings and now looks
toward Louisiana native LaVallais (9-0-1, 5 KOs), the man
who held him to a controversial six-round draw in his fifth
pro fight. LaVallais has fought twice since then, notching a
pair of first-round knockouts in New Orleans.
Collard and LaVallais were supposed to fight Oct. 17 on the
Vasiliy Lomachenko-Teofimo Lopez undercard, but they each
tested positive for COVID-19. After that hiccup, the rematch
is finally on.
“I’m going to show up with a smile on my face, shake his
hand and win this rematch,” Collard said. “I will prove the
first fight wasn’t a draw. I’m the ‘0 collector,’ and I’m
taking his undefeated record. Simple as that.”
Said LaVallais, “Unfortunately, we both caught COVID in
October, but in God's eyes, everything happens for a reason.
I pray that he and his team are healthy, but I hope he’s
ready because my ‘0’ is not going anywhere. This is Chico's
world, and he's just living in it.”
Ramirez (5-1, 3 KOs) seeks his fourth Bubble victory, and
sixth overall, since a split decision defeat in his
professional debut. Ramirez, 26, has blossomed under the
tutelage of noted trainer and countryman Ismael Salas.
Valdes (13-1, 7 KOs), from Barranquilla, Colombia, last
fought Aug. 14 and lost via unanimous decision to veteran
contender Ricardo Espinoza Franco.
In other undercard action:
Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (12-0, 8 KOs) vs. Saul Juarez
(25-12-2, 13 KOs)
8/6 Rounds, Light Flyweight
Rodriguez, the 20-year-old southpaw phenom from San Antonio,
Texas, had a breakout performance Sept. 5 in The Bubble,
knocking out the normally durable Janiel Rivera in the first
round. Promoted by Teiken Promotions, Rodriguez has knocked
out his last four opponents. Juarez is a two-time world
title challenger who has only been knocked out once,
courtesy of a left eye injury in his sixth pro fight in
2011.
Haven Brady Jr. (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Michael Land (1-1, 1 KO)
4 Rounds, Featherweight
Former U.S. amateur star Brady, 18, returns following a
punishing professional debut that saw him knock out Gorwar
Karyah in four rounds. “The Hitman” won gold medals at the
Junior Olympics, Eastern Qualifiers and National PAL
tournaments prior to signing a professional contract with
Top Rank earlier this year. Land, from Dallas, Texas, is
coming off a four-round decision loss in July 2019 to the
undefeated Francisco Javier Martinez.
Kasir Goldston (1-0) vs. Llewelyn McClamy (2-0, 1 KO)
4 Rounds, Welterweight
The 17-year-old Goldston, a native of Albany, N.Y. made his
pro debut Sept. 19 and won a competitive four-round decision
over Isaiah Varnell. Goldston won three consecutive National
Junior Olympic titles before turning pro under the Top Rank
banner. McClamy has only fought twice since turning pro in
November 2017.
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