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Steve KimESPN
Amateur standout Duke Ragan has signed a multiyear promotional deal with Top Rank and will make his professional boxing debut on Aug. 22 in Las Vegas.
Ragan will be co-promoted by Antonio Leonard Promotions.
“This opportunity means the world to me,” said Ragan, a featherweight. “Since I didn’t go to the Olympics, becoming a world champion is my next goal. My jab, counterpunching ability and stamina are more suited to the pro game. When I fought with headgear, I was hurting guys but not knocking them out. You’ll see more knockouts from me as a pro.”
The 22-year-old Cincinnati native captured a silver medal at the 2017 world championships in Hamburg, Germany, and finished second in the 2019 Pan American Games. While Ragan still had a path to the Olympics, with the 2020 Games in Tokyo postponed, he decided the time was right to make the leap to the pro ranks.
“It’s finally my time to shine,” he said. “I’m proud to be from Cincinnati, and I know bringing home a world championship will put me up there with the top dogs from my city.”
Top Rank’s Bob Arum is thrilled with his company’s signing, which will add depth to an already strong featherweight roster. Ragan is trained by Kay Koroma, who also works with Shakur Stevenson, Mikaela Mayer, Jarrett Hurd, Efe Ajagba and Jared Anderson.
“Cincinnati has produced countless great fighters, and we believe Duke Ragan will be the next world champion from the Queen City,” Arum said. “He is mature beyond his years, and with Kay Koroma, James Prince and Antonio Leonard on his team, he has a wonderful support system.”