22-year-old Mexican light heavyweight Yair Gallardo has officially signed with Golden Boy, just days ahead of his return to action on a Golden Boy card in Chicago.
Gallardo (9-0, 8 KO) will be co-promoted by Golden Boy and Miguel Cotto Promotions.
“Yair is yet another investment Golden Boy is making in the future of the light heavyweight division. He is an exciting young talent who proudly represents his Mexican roots,” said Golden Boy’s Oscar De La Hoya.
“He truly lives up to his nickname, ‘Manotas,’
which means ‘heavy hands,’ and has been stopping his opponents with knockout power. We believe we may be witnessing the rise of another Mexican superstar.”
“I’m very happy and grateful to Miguel Cotto Promotions and Golden Boy for having their eye and trust in me,” said Gallardo. “It’s a dream coming true. Since I was a child, I’ve visualized myself with a big boxing company. Thank God, that dream is coming true, and it’s a big step for my career. I’m very grateful to God for this opportunity, and we’ll never let this opportunity go from us.”
Gallardo turned pro in October 2022 on a Miguel Cotto-promoted card in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and had six of his first seven fights in Puerto Rico, with one in the Dominican Republic in 2023. His last two fights have been in the United States, including his most recent on a February 15 Golden Boy card, where he stopped Carlos Miranda in the first round.
Veteran Quinton Rankin will oppose Gallardo on Saturday’s show. The 38-year-old Rankin (21-9-2, 16 KO) is a southpaw who hasn’t fought in about 16 months, and hasn’t won a fight since 2023, dropping his last two outings to Deon Nicholson and Juan Carrillo.
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