It was announced on Monday, April 3rd, that one of the best U.S. amateurs of the past twenty years, featherweight Ruben Villa, has signed a promotional agreement with Top Rank Inc. Villa had previously been co-promoted by Thompson Boxing and Banner Boxing to start his career, as it appears California power broker, Rick Mirigian, will be guiding Villa who will continue to train in Salinas, California with his head trainer Max Garcia, and second-assist, Sam Garcia, Max’s son.
It appears that Villa will make his debut with Top Rank Inc., on May 13th as part of a world title double-header set to take place in Stockton, California, which will feature Janibek Alimkhanuly looking to make his second defense of his WBO middleweight world title against Steven Butler, and Australia’s Jason Moloney facing Vincent Astrolabio for vacant WBO bantamweight world title.
Villa, one of the best amateurs of the past twenty years holds two wins over Shakur Stevenson, as their amateur record was 2-2, before it was all said and done. Stevenson defeated Villa twice at the Olympic Trials when it mattered, and voided Villa’s dreams of becoming an Olympian. Now Villa seems motivated to face all the top names of the division, as his lone world title shot came in October of 2020 in which he lost a unanimous decision to former WBO featherweight world champion, Emanuel Navarrete
“It’s been awhile, but I’m ready to be active and consistent working with Top Rank,” furthered Villa.”There’s a bunch of great fights to make at Top Rank in the featherweight division and I plan on being a big part of that during our multi fight deal.”
Ruben Villa holds a win over current IBF featherweight world champion, Luis Alberto Lopez, who he defeated on ShoBox: The Next Generation, in May of 2019. It is clear that Villa is looking to contend against all the big names in the featherweight division, as soon as possible.
"Villa is coming for these titles and immediately at that, he now has the platform, the promoter and the ability to make the fights with the opponents at the highest level,” said Rick Mirigian, who will be managing Ruben Villa. “Most important, [Villa has] the talent and skill to beat them all"
