Rashidi Ellis loses opponent for Saturday return, replacement sought

The hits keep coming for top welterweight prospect Rashidi Ellis. Julius Julianis revealed earlier today that Alberto Palmetta, who was slated to welcome “Speedy” back to the ring this Saturday after nearly two years away, aggravated a back injury he suffered during training and has been forced to withdraw.

Francisco Salazar says a replacement is in the works and will be submitted to the Texas commission.

The fight was set to headline the undercard for Showtime’s Mark Magsayo vs. Rey Vargas tripleheader, which already saw a late substitution this week when Jackson Marinez stepped in for Ricardo Nunez. Showtime almost certainly had Marinez waiting in the wings, though, so it’s anyone’s guess whether Ellis (23-0, 14 KO) will get a decent replacement foe.

It’s a shame, because Ellis remains a standout in the division even with the recent influx of younger talent. He hasn’t fought since beating Alexis Rocha in October 2020, having been caught up in contract disputes with Golden Boy, and I’d hate to see his prodigious talent go to waste.