Xander Zayas will not return to the ring on April 1, 2023 in Tulsa, Oklahoma on ESPN. The 154-pound prospect reportedly suffered an injury while training for his scheduled bout with Ronald “Diablo” Cruz at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa. As a result, he is expected to be kept away from the ring until June.
“Xander Zayas sustained an injury in training and has been forced to withdraw from his April 1 bout,” Zayas’ promoter, Top Rank, tweeted on Thursday.
“The new co-feature will see Joet Gonzalez face Jose Enrique Vivas.”
Top Rank’s upcoming event in Tulsa, Oklahoma will be headlined by Isaac Dogboe and Robeisy Ramirez. With Emmanuel Navarrete moving up to the super featherweight division, Ramirez and Dogboe will compete for the men’s WBO Featherweight Championship.
Ramirez is a two-time Olympic gold medalist. Three years after winning his second gold medal, he lost his pro debut against Adan Gonzales. Since then, he’s reeled off 11 straight wins, including seven by way of knockout.
“I have been boxing for more than 20 years and have been a fighter every step of the way,” Ramirez said, per Ring Magazine.
“I never forgot where I came from, but I refuse to define myself by past accomplishments. Even after winning my second Olympic gold medal, I endured hardships. I embraced the challenges ahead of me and know that my greatest tests and most significant accomplishments in boxing are still ahead of me.”
Dogboe is a 28-year-old former champion from London by way of Accra. He held the junior WBO featherweight title before losing it to Navarrete in 2018. Since he lost back-to-back fights to Navarrete, Dogboe has won four consecutive fights.
“Nearly five years ago, I became the WBO junior featherweight champion of the world, to the shock of many people. On April 1, I will be crowned a two-time, two-division champion,” Dogboe said.
“My team and I are preparing for this life-changing opportunity. God Bless all the boxing fans and boxing enthusiasts for their continuous support.”
Update on April 1's #RamirezDogboe card ? pic.twitter.com/GlE2rgYumF
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) March 9, 2023
