After what it seemed like there would need to be a change to the main event of the September 28 Top Rank on ESPN+ card, a new development occurred which now has the original headlining fight back on track.
The original main event, which saw IBF super middleweight champion Jose Uzcategui fight Ezequiel Maderna in a 10-round non-title fight, was briefly in jeopardy after it was revealed that Maderna was having issues acquiring a visa to fight in the United States. Top Rank had moved forward to finding a new opponent for Uzcategui because the company did not want to risk Uzcategui not having an opponent with weeks before the fight would take place. According to an ESPN report, that no longer is a problem.
Now that Maderna’s visa issues has been resolved, Maderna has been re-inserted into the main event, set to take place at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. This will be Maderna’s first fight in the United States.
The fight will be Uzcaegui's first since being upgraded from interim champion to full world champion in the wake of James DeGale electing to vacate the title that he won a second time in May.
The co-main event of the September 28 card features IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas defending his title against Alejandro Santiago. This will be Ancajas’ sixth world title defense and third in 2018 thus far. Ancajas will be making a return to ESPN+ with his last fight taking place this summer when Ancajas defeated Jonas Sultan.
