Lightweight prospect Luis Ramos Jr will headline ShoBox: The New Generation on January 6 from a venue to be named in California, facing tough veteran Raymundo Beltran in a 10-round bout. The event will be part of Showtime's free preview weekend.
Ramos (20-0, 9 KO) is an interesting prospect in that he's got some real ability, but feels like one of those prospects for whom any fight could be the bubble-burster. He struggled in March against Jose Hernandez, a tough Texas club fighter, and was lucky to escape with a split decision win. But after that he largely shut down Francisco Lorenzo (UD-8) in June, and in September he knocked out David Rodela (KO-5).
Beltran (25-5, 17 KO) is a really good next step. The 30-year-old, Freddie Roach-trained Mexican is a tough customer, and gave Sharif Bogere a hard, bloody fight on ShoBox in May. If you missed that fight, we do have full video of it available on site, so click here and go watch it. It's a good fight, one of those under-the-radar TV sleepers from 2011.
January 6 also marks the return of ESPN's Friday Night Fights, with Dyah Davis facing Alfonso Lopez in the main event, so it'll be a good, busy night for boxing fans, as the two shows always line up back-to-back (so long as FNF still starts at 9 p.m. EST anyway).