Jose Ramirez & Vergil Ortiz Jr. Headline April 27 GBP Event

Golden Boy Promotions and DAZN are heading to Fresno, CA, for another homecoming featuring the Promotions’ newly signed fighter, Jose Ramirez (28-1, 18 KOs). He will face Rances Barthelemy (30-2-1, 15 KOs) as part of a doubleheader event. The other fight will see Vergil Ortiz Jr (20-0, 20 KOs) face Thomas Dulorme (26-6-1, 17 KOs) in a junior middleweight bout. While fans would prefer to see Ramirez and Ortiz Jr. facing much better opposition, this event will keep them busy as they both look to earn a title shot at some point this year.

Here is the rest of the press release sent by Golden Boy earlier today, with quotes from the fighters and those involved with the event.

“I’m excited and honored to be working with Golden Boy Promotions,” said Jose Ramirez. “I know this next chapter of my career will be full of excitement as I chase to be the best and fight the best.”

“I’m very excited and fully focused on April 27th; I’m ready to bring the heat against Ramirez,” said Rances Barthelemy. “This fight isn’t just about victory…it’s about earning another world title shot so I can accomplish my goal of becoming a three-division world champion. Get ready for fireworks, Fresno!”

In a very special co-main event, the undefeated knockout monster Vergil Ortiz Jr. (20-0, 20 KOs) of Grand Prairie, Texas, will measure up against Thomas Dulorme (26-6-1, 17 KOs) of Carolina, Puerto Rico in a 10-round super welterweight fight. Ortiz Jr. is a fight away from an opportunity for a world championship and is returning to the ring after a colossal, first-round knockout this past January 6 in Las Vegas.

“I have spent a few weeks in Fresno in 2023 and I grew to love the city,” said Vergil Ortiz Jr. “I’m looking forward to putting on a great show for the fans out there, and I am content that we are staying active. 2024 is looking to be a great year for me.”

“I’ve been waiting for another big fight and this is exactly what I have wanted,” said Thomas Dulorme. “Vergil is a good fighter. I know him very well from years of training alongside him. One thing I can say is that the fans are going to get an all-out war!”

“I am thrilled to announce this doubleheader coming to Fresno’s Save Mart Center on Saturday, April 27,” said Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya. “Both Jose and Vergil are knocking on the door of world championships, but to get to that next level, they will need to get past two guys who have faced the best of the best during their careers. With these two stars appearing atop the kind of stacked card the Golden Boy delivers on each and every show, April 27 is going to be a night to remember.”

“Another huge night of boxing for our subscribers at DAZN,” said Alfie Sharman, VP of DAZN. “From April 20 through June 1, we have an unmatched run of shows around the world from Haney vs. Garcia, to this Ramirez and Ortiz doubleheader to the return of Canelo to the platform in an all-Mexican affair for the ages. All live on DAZN.”

“Rances Barthelemy is already one of Cuba’s most accomplished fighters and he has a great opportunity for a signature victory that will put him in a position to be his country’s first three-division world champion,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “I expect him to put on a great performance and leave with his hand raised on April 27.”

“This is the biggest fight card to hit the #559; this is the Golden Boy Debut of Jose Ramirez and Vergil Ortiz Jr.’s first appearance in the Central Valley,” said Rick Mirigian, manager to Ramirez and Ortiz Jr. “It’s truly an honor to help promote this event.”

Abraham Gonzalez

Abraham Gonzalez is the founder of FightsATW. His journalistic work has been published and used across several platforms to include online, network TV and promotional companies. He is an American Public University alumnus and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA). Abraham was the Managing Editor for NYFights, Big Fight Weekend, contributed to FanSidedMMA and ProBoxTV.

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