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Next week’s Shakur Stevenson-Toka Kahn Clary card features some familiar faces on the ESPN+ prelims. Fan-favorite Clay Collard takes on Quincy LaVallais in a delayed rematch, while two-time gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez looks for his fifth win of the year against Brandon Valdes.
JUST ANNOUNCED: Only fitting some of the Bubble’s emerging stars cap off the 2020 schedule.
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) December 4, 2020
@CCCcollard
@RobeisyR #StevensonClary | DEC 12 | Undercard on ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/09W9VgW9GF
Collard (9-2-3, 4 KO), the UFC veteran turned Hero of the People after putting some unbeaten prospects through the wringer, fought LaVallais (9-0-1, 5 KO) to a split draw last year on a local show in LaVallais’ native Louisiana. The pair were set to meet again in October on the Lomachenko-Lopez card, but both fell victim to COVID.
LaVallais has the sort of fluffed-up prospect record that Collard has overpowered this year, so this figures to be another competitive slugfest.
“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 KO), who infamously lost his pro debut to Adan Gonzalez, has looked strong since that setback, avenging the defeat this past July. He was last seen dominating recent Stevenson victim Felix Caraballo in September, and figures to have another easy assignment in unheralded Colombian Valdes (13-1, 7 KO).
The undercard also features San Antonio light flyweight Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (12-0, 8 KO) against durable former title challenger Saul Juarez (25-12-2, 13 KO) and amateur standouts Haven Brady Jr. (1-0, 1 KO) and Kasir Goldston (1-0, 0 KO) against Michael Land (1-1, 1 KO) and Llewelyn McClamy (2-0, 1 KO).
Beside the main event, the main card will see Felix Verdejo face Masayoshi Nakatani and Edgar Berlanga take on Ulises Sierra.