Junior welterweight Jose Ramirez, a 2012 U.S. Olympian and one of boxing's top prospects, will face late replacement opponent Issouf "Volcano" Kinda in the main event of Top Rank's "Solo Boxeo" card Friday (UniMas, 11 p.m. ET/PT).
Ramirez was due to defend his regional belt against Gabriel "Tito" Bracero in the scheduled 10-round fight that would have been a major step up in competition. However, Top Rank announced Monday that Bracero (24-3, 5 KOs), 35, of Brooklyn, New York, was out and Kinda (18-3, 7 KOs), 28, of the Bronx, New York, had taken his place.
"No matter who the opponent, every fight will be important for Jose Ramirez at this stage of his career," Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said. "I know he will have a tough challenge ahead of him on Dec. 2."
The fight will take place at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California, where Ramirez, who is from nearby Avenal, California, is a big draw. Top Rank said it expects a sold-out crowd regardless of Ramirez's opponent. The last time Ramirez (18-0, 13 KOs) fought at the Save Mart Center, in an eight-round decision win over Johnny Garcia in December 2015, also in a "Solo Boxeo" main event, he sold out the 13,100-seat arena.
No specific reason was given for Bracero's withdrawal, but Top Rank said it had been told he had not been in the gym training in recent weeks.
Ramirez, 24, said he was a bit surprised that his opponent would change the week of the fight.
"I didn't know things like this happened in the pros," Ramirez said. "I saw it in the amateurs but not in the pros. But I have been working really hard, and I'm ready for whoever it's in the opposite side of the ring."
Said Rick Mirigian, Ramirez's adviser: "Bracero obviously had second thoughts about fighting Ramirez, but the show must go on."
In March 2015, Kinda stepped up in class and was stopped in the sixth round by former lightweight world title challenger Ismael Barroso. Kinda returned after a 14-month layoff and won a six-round majority decision over then-unbeaten Zack Ramsey in May and has not fought since.
"There's no task too tall for Issouf Kinda. He is survivor," said Jimmy Burchfield Sr., Kinda's promoter. "He moved to the United States nearly a decade ago [from Burkina Faso] without a penny to his name and has since developed into one of the toughest, hardest-working, most-avoided 140-pounders in boxing. Traveling to Fresno to face a former U.S. Olympian in his own backyard would unnerve most fighters, but not Issouf Kinda.
"He's had to adapt and adjust his whole life. He's the perpetual underdog, and he will shock the world on Dec. 2. He's been yearning for this opportunity, and he won't disappoint. Gabriel Bracero's loss will be Kinda's gain on Dec. 2."