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Morning Boxing Notes: Velez returns June 4, weights for FNKO and FNF, Lundy, more

Updates this morning on tonight's pair of TV cards, Jayson Velez, Hank Lundy, and more.

Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment
Scott Christ is the managing editor of Bad Left Hook and has been covering boxing for SB Nation since 2006.

Weights for tonight's truTV Friday Night Knockout (10 pm EST): Jose Benavidez 139 vs Jorge Paez Jr 140; Antonio Orozco 141 vs Emanuel Taylor 141.

Weights for tonight's ESPN Friday Night Fights (9 pm EST): Reynaldo Ojeda 135 vs Monty Meza-Clay 134; Luis Rosa 123½ vs Jonathan Perez 123.

BLH will have live coverage of both cards tonight.

* * * *

Featherweight contender Jayson Velez will be back on the June 4 edition of Golden Boy's LA Fight Club on FOX Sports 1, headlining against Mexico's Daniel Ramirez. The fight will replace a scheduled main event featuring Ronny Rios, who withdrew due to injury.

Velez (22-0-1, 16 KO) last fought in November, going to a draw against IBF titleholder Evgeny Gradovich. Ramirez (11-2, 5 KO) has lost two of his last three, including a sixth round stoppage against Eric Hunter in his last bout on November 8. He's a novice pro, and the fight doesn't figure to be particularly competitive.

19-year-old super featherweight Christian Gonzalez (9-0, 9 KO) will also be in action.

* * * *

Tony Ayala Jr, the one-time boxing prospect and convicted rapist who died earlier this week at 52, may have died from a drug overdose, according to San Antonio police:

Ayala Jr., 52, was found slumped over early Tuesday morning at Zarzamora Street Gym, located at 1402 N. Zarzamora. A syringe filled with apparent narcotics and a ball of heroin wrapped in tape were found on a desk inside the gym, along with a cooker cap and spoon, the police report said.

Ayala had serious drug problems for most of his life.

* * * *

Apparently Charlotte Church and Katie Hopkins are going to box for charity.

* * * *

Hank Lundy, who faces Mauricio Herrera on HBO Latino on July 11, has gone back to his original trainer, Charles Ramey.

"I had to dig down deep and go back to where it all started. Most fighters, they like to go around and work with different trainers. When I had Charles, he brought out the best in me. He was hard on me, but he knows what I'm capable of and that's what I like. He's one hell of a boxing coach. I'm just ready to get in the ring and show the world the real ‘Hammerin'' Hank.

"When you're coming up in the boxing game and you get a little fame, everyone in is in your ear. You get a little arrogant. I got big-headed. I'm not going to lie, Charles and I are both stubborn. Neither one of us wanted to come to the table and talk, so I put my little bundle on the stick and left.

"But I'll say it like this: At the end of the day, the person who started you off knows what makes you tick. They know how hard to drive you, what buttons to push. Sometimes another coach might change things and you think it's for the better, but they never learn you."

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