Before Joshua Franco and Andrew Moloney’s August 14th trilogy match on ESPN, ESPN+ viewers will get to see a returning featherweight veteran and a number of strong young prospects.
The lead bout sees former title challenger Genesis Servania (34-2, 16 KO) move up to 130 for his first fight since 2019 against unbeaten Andres Cortes (14-0, 7 KO), who was last seen notching a unanimous decision win on May’s Taylor-Ramirez card. Servania gave Oscar Valdez everything he could handle in 2017 and his only other loss came against the very capable Carlos Castro, making him Cortes’ toughest opponent to date.
Also at 130, Albert Bell (18-0, 5 KO) faces Ecuador’s Julio Cortez (15-2, 11 KO). Bell has been treading water a bit since his upset of Andy Vences and Cortez, who got dominated by Hiroshige Osawa in his only fight of note, doesn’t figure to change that.
Four pounds south, Abraham Nova (19-0, 14 KO) ends a 14-month layoff against TBA. His last bout saw him overcome a slow start to beat Avery Sparrow on points. TBA has also been pulled from his tussle with Karlos Balderas (9-1, 8 KO), who instead takes on Kansas City, Kansas’ Fidel Cervantes (9-1-1, 4 KO). Cervantes dropped a decision to Jose Zaragoza in April, so don’t expect him to spoil Balderas’ Top Rank debut.
In addition to the main event, main card will also see Adrnold Barboza Jr. face Antonio Moran and Nico Ali Walsh make his pro debut.