In a thrilling matchup set to ignite the boxing world, Tahmir Smalls is poised to defend his WBA Continental North America Welterweight title against the formidable Abel Ramos. The highly anticipated bout will take place at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, on Saturday, February 28, serving as the headline act for the undercard of the Navarrete-Nunez unification clash.
Smalls, hailing from Philadelphia and boasting an impressive record of 16-0 with 11 knockouts, secured his title in his last fight on home turf. He dominated Jose Roman Vazquez, dropping him twice over ten rounds to claim his first belt and achieve the most significant victory of his career to date. Now, Smalls is set to step up once again, this time entering the lion’s den to face Phoenix’s Ramos, who brings a record of 28-6-3 with 22 knockouts.
Ramos, a two-time world title challenger, is no stranger to high-stakes battles. He returns to the ring after a grueling world title bout with WBC champion Mario Barrios in Texas last November, which ended in a draw. Ramos is eager to secure a third shot at a world title, having previously faced Yordenis Ugas for the WBA strap in September 2020. For Smalls, this showdown presents a crucial opportunity to further establish his claim for more significant fights at 147 pounds, making it a must-win night for both fighters in the desert.
“2026 is my year,” declared Smalls. “I am coming for everybody that stands in my way to becoming the world champion in the division, and that starts with Abel Ramos on February 28. Devin Haney, Mario Barrios, Rolly Romero, and Lewis Crocker – I am calling out all of you. I am taking over the Welterweight division, and there is nothing stopping me. On February 28, Abel Ramos – it’s belt to ass. Statement time.”
Ramos, equally determined, expressed his excitement about returning to the ring. “It’s going to be an action-packed fight card, and I am ready to put on a show for all my people here in Phoenix,” he said.
Adding to the excitement of the stacked card in Arizona, Arturo Cardenas will defend his WBC Continental Americas Super-Bantamweight title against Jordan Martinez. Cardenas, with a record of 17-0-1 and 9 knockouts, will put his title on the line for the fourth time after a successful third defense in Stockton, California, in December. His opponent, the unbeaten Arizonan Martinez, boasts a record of 16-0 with 15 knockouts and is hungry to claim the biggest win of his career and snatch Cardenas’ title away.
“A big thank you to my team at RGBA and Matchroom for the opportunity to perform on such a great card between two Mexican warriors,” said Cardenas. “On February 28, I am looking forward to putting on an exciting fight for the fans there in Arizona and continuing my climb to a world title.”
Martinez, brimming with confidence, declared, “Quiero Gerra! (I want war) Quiero Sangre! (I want blood). Arturo is making a big mistake in taking this fight. This is the opportunity I have been waiting for, asking for, and now it’s finally here. This is my city….”
Team_TBE Boxing
🛒 Premium Recommendations
Prefab Tiny Homes for Sale – 40ft Prefabricated Foldable Portable Tiny House to Live in for Adults with 3 Bedrooms and 1 Full Luxury Bathroom & Kitchen, 20FT Mobile Small Modular Container Cabin Kit
Fully Customizable Design: Create your dream tiny home with 1–6 bedrooms, customizable facades, balconies, solar panels, and interior decor. Choose from various layout configurations and color schemes to match your style. Our expandable container homes adapt to your needs.
Skytech Legacy 4 Gaming PC Desktop, Ryzen 9 9950X3D 4.3 GHz (5.7GHz Turbo), NVIDIA RTX 5090 32GB, X870 Board, 2TB Gen5 NVMe SSD, 64GB DDR5 RAM 6000 RGB, 1200W Gold ATX 3 PSU, Wi-Fi, Win 11
NVIDIA Geforce RTX 5090 32GB GDDR7 Graphics Card (Brand may vary) | 64GB DDR5 RAM 6000 RGB Gaming Memory with Heat Spreader | Windows 11 Home 64-bit. High-spec AIO liquid coolers used, delivering unmatched cooling performance for a perfect operational experience and unparalleled cooling performance. W
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability subject to change.