Danny O'Connor: record, next fight and profile →
2012 US Olympian Jose Ramirez (22-0) captured his first world championship in March when he defeated Amir Imam via unanimous decision in a bout for the vacant WBC super lightweight title.
Jose Ramirez, the pride of California’s Central Valley, is ready for his world championship homecoming. Ramirez, from Avenal, Calif., will make the first defense of his World Boxing Council (WBC) super lightweight title against former amateur standout and longtime contender Danny O’Connor on Saturday, July 7 at the Save Mart Center. Ramirez vs. O’Connor will be televised live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes beginning at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Jose Ramirez’s first title defense shouldn’t be nearly as difficult as expected. When Ramirez beat Amir Imam to win the then-vacant WBC super lightweight title, he was supposed to defend it against the WBC’s interim champion, Regis Prograis, in his following fight. Prograis instead has agreed to participate in the World Boxing Super Series’ 140-pound tournament, which will leave Ramirez to face a less imposing opponent.
Boston, Massachusets - After coming off a of a great KO win, earning the vacant WBC Silver Intercontinental Title against rising Queens prospect and previously undefeated, DANNY GONZALEZ, (then, 14-0 5KO's) at STAR BOXING'S Slugfest at the Sun, at Mohegan Sun Arena, in November, DANNY O'CONNOR (now, 30-3, 11KO's) put his title on the line at the against an extremely tough Canadian in STEVE CLAGGETT (now, 26-5-1, 17 KO's).
Junior welterweight contenders Danny O'Connor and Steve Claggett will square off tonight. The 10 round bout will take place at the House of Blues in Boston, Massachusetts and will air live on pay-per-view ($24.95) and on Super Channel in Canada (10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT). O'Connor (29-3, 11 knockouts), who resides in nearby Framingham, stopped previously-unbeaten Daniel Gonzalez in the third round of his last bout on Nov. 25.
Last night, Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing presented another rendition of the "Slugfest at The Sun" series at the Mohegan Sun arena in Uncasville, CT. The card was headlined by Crusierweights Constantin Bejenaru and Thabiso Mchunu who fought for Bejenaru's WBC International Cruiserweight title in a 10 round bout. Bejenaru came away with a unanimous decision victory over Mchunu, the mandatory challenger, defending his WBC International title sucessfully. The bout often times saw each fighter playing the game if cat and mouse with one another. There was a brief explosion by Bejenaru in round 7 as he dropped Mchunu with a picture perfect left cross but Bejenaru couldn't capitalize on his opportunity to knockout Mchunu. In the end the scores were 98-91 and 97-92 twice, all in favor of Bejenaru who improves to 13-0 3KO'S while Mchunu drops to 18-4 11KO'S. The undercard certainly thrilled the crowd of some 3500 people at the Mohegan Sun arena, who were on their feet often throughout this exciting night of action. The semi-final saw a shocking result as previously undefeated Queens, NY native Daniel Gonzalez suffered his first defeat as a pro at the hands of Framingham, MA native, Danny O'Connor in a bout scheduled for 10 rounds with the vacant WBC Interntional Silver Super Lightweight title at stake. The fight was a barn burner from the opening bell as both fighters traded freely much to the delight of the crowd. O'Connor had the edge in the 1st round but Gonzalez opened a nasty cut over O'Connor's left eye in round 2 as both fighters continued the torrid pace. Round 3 saw Gonzalez picking up where he left off in round 2 until a perfectly placed left hand by O'Connor found its mark on Gonzalez dropping the Queens native who gamely arose but was in no shape to continue forcing referee Steve Willis to call a halt to the action at 0:39 seconds of the 3rd round. O'Connor ups his record to 29-3 11KO'S and in the process wins the WBC International Silver Super Lightweight title while Gonzalez drops to 14-1-1 5KO's. Hometown favorite Anthony Laureano won a hard fought majority 6 round decision over Johnny Hernandez by scores of 58-56 twice, and 57-57 in a Jr. Welterweight fight. Laureano, who hails from nearby East Hartford, CT and Hernandez who calls Bayshore, NY his home, fought a fast pace, highly skilled fight that had the fans on their feet cheering throughout. There was little to separate the 2 fighters as they engaged each other freely over the course of the fight. Laureano improves to 6-0 3KO'S while Hernandez drops to 8-3 1KO. A special attraction 6 round female Middleweight fight between Kali Reis and Tiffany Woodard brought the house down. Reis, who had a huge following in attendance, started fast, throwing bombs with both hands landing flush on the chin of Woodard who showed an incredibly strong chin as well as a huge heart as she tried to fend off the assault of Reis. The action was non- stop throughout the fight and by the time the 6th and final was coming to an end the crowd was in an absolute frenzy. The 2 fighters received a well deserved standing ovation as Reis came away with the unanimous victory by scores of 60-54, 60-53, and 59-55. Reis improves to 13-6-1 4KO'S while the tough Woodard drops to 4-9-3 3KO'S. New Haven Light Heavyweight Charles Foster improved to 14-0 8KO'S scoring a 5th round TKO over Quentin Rankin, 12-4-2 9KO'S, in a bout scheduled for 8 rounds in the Light Heavyweight division. In another war on the card, Dan Murray bested previously unbeaten Valerio Nocera, who was making his U.S. debut by scores of 38-37 twice for Murray while Nocera won on the other judges card by the same score of 38-37, in a 4 round Jr. Welterweight matchup. A debatable 3rd round knockdown scored by Murray was the difference in the fight. Murray improves to 3-1 while Nocera falls to 3-1-1. Sequan Felton, 2-2, upset debuting Bridgeport fighter Carlos Marrero in a 4 round Jr. Lightweight contest by scores of 40-35 twice, and 39-35. Marrero drops to 0-1. Promoter Joe DeGuardia had these comments on the night's action "While the main event may not have been all fireworks and bombs, the rest of the card was. From start to finish the undercard and co-feature had everything you could ask for, knockouts, close matchups with razor thin decisions and upsets. This show exemplifies why we have loyal fans in the New England area and at Mohegan Sun as they appreciate he unpredictability, and great matchups that has become customary with a Star Boxing card."
Star Boxing has added a second WBC Championship bout to its already stacked "Slugfest at the Sun" on November 25th at Mohegan Sun. Undefeated DANNY "EL GALLO" GONZALEZ (Woodhaven NY, 14-0 5KOs) will put his perfect record on the line against highly regarded DANNY "DANNY O" O'CONNOR (Framingham MA, 28-3 10KOs) in a 10-round bout for the vacant WBC International Silver Super Lightweight Title.
By Thomas Gerbasi - As far as knockouts go, they’re never good, but this one was particularly bad. In the ring with Gabriel Bracero on October 10, 2015, Danny O’Connor was right where he wanted to be, at home in Massachusetts and on the verge of bigger and better things in the ring should he pick up the win. Sure, New...
By Jake Donovan - At some point, a fight has to carry that 'Oh s***' moment in order to make a Knockout of the Year list. Not just any knockout will do, but the kind of highlight reel ending that leaves an impression on fans the moment they bear witness to it and again when reading about it at the end of the year. Every once in a while, there comes ....
LOWELL, Mass. - Brooklyn welterweight Gabriel "Tito" Bracero (24-2, 5 KOs) came into hostile territory and knocked out hometown favorite Danny "Bhoy" O'Connor (26-3, 10 KOs) only 41 seconds into the first round, headlining tonight's loaded Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBCSN card at historic Lowell Memorial Auditorium in Lowell, Massachusetts. Bracero, who handed O'Connor his first pro loss four years ago, used an overhand right that O'Connor, fighting out of nearby Framingham (MA) did not see coming. O'Connor was out cold before he hit the mat.