Tag: Josec Ruiz

Top Rank-ESPN show Thursday averages 305,000 viewers

The Top Rank Boxing on ESPN show Thursday had the lowest TV ratings of the four shows since the return of boxing in the U.S.

The Top Rank Boxing on ESPN card Thursday evening lost its main event. And then it lost in the ratings.

The June 18 five-fight show, which lost the Jose Pedraza-Mikkel LesPierre fight after LesPierre’s manager tested positive for COVID-19, averaged 305,000 viewers and peaked at 382,000, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Those figures are the lowest of four shows since the return of boxing in the U.S.

Lightweight prospect Gabriel Flores Jr. outpointed Josec Diaz in the new main event Thursday in a tightly controlled MGM Grand ballroom in Las Vegas.

Here are the ratings for the first three cards:

  • June 9 – Shakur Stevenson vs. Felix Caraballo, 397,000 average and 609,000 peak.
  • June 11 – Jessie Magdeleno vs. Yenifel Vicente, 311,000 average and 392,000 peak.
  • June 16 – Mike Plania vs. Joshua Greer Jr., 350,000 average and 503,000 peak.

Top Rank has a special show this Saturday featuring junior featherweight titleholder Emanuel Navarrete in Mexico City on ESPN+, the network’s streaming service.

Navarrete (31-1, 27 KOs) is scheduled to face Uriel Lopez (13-13-1, 6 KOs) in a 10-round featherweight bout.

The weekday series on ESPN and ESPN Deportes picks up again next week. On Tuesday, in the main event, Australian junior bantamweight contender Andrew Moloney (21-0, 14 KOs) will face Joshua Franco (16-1-2, 8 KOs) in a scheduled 12-rounder. On Thursday, twin brother Jason Moloney (20-1, 17 KOs) faces Leonard Baez (18-2, 9 KOs) in a 10-round bantamweight fight.

Top Rank trying to reschedule Jose Pedraza-Mikkel LesPierre bout on July 14

Top Rank is trying to reschedule the canceled Jose Pedraza-Mikkel LesPierre fight for July 14.

The featured fights pulled from Top Rank cards because of the coronavirus could take place on July 14.

The main event between Jose Pedraza and Mikkel LesPierre scheduled for tonight (Thursday) in a ball room at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas was canceled after LesPierre’s manager – with whom the fighter had come in contact within a controlled bubble — tested positive for COVID-19 after Wednesday’s weigh-in.

Top Rank is targeting July 14 as the new date for that fight, BoxingScene.com is reporting. Mikaela Mayer, whose June 9 fight with Helen Joseph was canceled after Mayer tested positive, would face Joseph on the new card.

“We’re looking to reschedule the fight for July 14th,” Carl Moretti, Top Rank’s vice president of operations, told BoxingScene.com. “If both camps agree to that date, that’s when we’ll do the fight.”

The positive test of Josie Tavares, LesPierre’s manager, was returned Thursday morning. That’s when the fighter learned he was off the card.

“I am devastated,” LesPierre said in a statement released by Top Rank. “This was my opportunity to showcase my talent to the world, but everything happens for a reason. This is just another roadblock in my story. I apologize to Jose and his team for any inconvenience this caused. He is a great boxer, and I hope we can reschedule the fight as soon as possible.”

Tavares was apologetic.

“I apologize for the inconvenience this caused,” he said. “I am not exhibiting any symptoms. I am looking forward to hopefully rescheduling this fight as soon as possible. I am devastated for Mikkel.”

The co-feature between Gabriel Flores Jr. (17-0, 6 KOs) and Josec Ruiz (21-2-3, 14 KOs) will be  elevated to the main event tonight. The card will be televised on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.