Over the last few years, the undefeated Nevadan has quietly been compiling a solid record. He finishes up 2025 ranked top fifteen in the world at super feather by the WBO, IBF, and WBC (as of all three org's most recent December updates) despite both of his outings this year taking place at lightweight. He is - for now - WBO #4, WBC #6, and IBF #11 at 130lbs. So far his best professional victories have all come over former prospects sporting 1-3 losses when they met him. The likes of Genesis Servania, Mark Bernáldez, Abraham Montoya, Luis Meléndez, Xavier Martínez, Bryan Chevalier, and Abraham Nova have all been cleared - but he's still missing that really convincing hurdle that a dangerous contender or fellow unbeaten prospect might represent. In the amateurs, he won a trilogy with Teófimo Andrés López, going 2-1 (but unfortunately the loss was in their most important bout) and held Devin Haney to a SD in a losing effort. He was a top American lightweight who always made big tourneys but always fell short in them - often in the final stages. Reportedly in 2026 he will officially be leaving 130lb behind and is gunning for the LW champs. He's currently in training camp now, in fact - opponent TBA.
Very much, and conclusively so... here's my scorecard, @The Professor 's and @PinoyProdigy's. It's rare when we're in 100% unanimous agreement, but... CST Round 1 Nova 10-9 Round 2 Cortes 10-9 Round 3 Nova 10-9 Round 4 Nova 10-9 Round 5 Cortes 10-9 Round 6 Nova 10-9 Round 7 Nova 10-9 Round 8 Nova 10-9 Round 9 Nova 10-9 Round 10 Nova 10-9 98-92 Nova Professor Round 1: Nova, 10-9 Round 2: Cortes, 10-9 Round 3: Nova, 10-9 Round 4: Nova, 10-9 Round 5: Cortes, 10-9 Round 6: Nova, 10-9 Round 7: Nova, 10-9 Round 8: Nova, 10-9 Round 9: Nova, 10-9 Round 10: Nova, 10-9 Nova, 98-92 Pinoy Round 1: 10-9 Nova Round 2: 10-9 Cortes Round 3: 10-9 Nova Round 4: 10-9 Cortes Round 5: 10-9 Nova Round 6: 10-9 Nova Round 7: 10-9 Nova Round 8: 10-9 Nova Round 9: 10-9 Nova Round 10: 10-9 Nova 98-92 Nova
He might make my Top 10 most unlikable fighters list, I can't stand anything about him. His face and personality are bland beyond words, as is his fighting style. There's literally nothing about him that's compelling. Top Rank could make more money of Nova, at least he has that ridiculous looking beard they can market him with. Cortes is ****ing worthless, and will accomplish nothing in the sport. He's merely waiting until he steps up and loses, then it's on to taking L's left and right like one of Top Rank's other lackluster and uninspiring prospects a few years back, Andy Vences.
I got a whole rant I've been thinking of on Top Rank and how they IMO lost their lucrative deal on ESPN with some good metaphors. It's a bit of a microcosm of what also happened with PBC and showtime.
I think I've only seen him the once, against Chevalier. At least combing through my post history that's my only time participating in a RBR of a card of he was on. I made this because he came up on my radar while looking up whatever became of Xavier Martínez, and it seemed weird to me that he began racking up these B- level victories in 2021 starting with Servania but has just...plateaued there for ten straight bouts. Guess you've answered why - another Top Rank fluff-up.
How bad was the Nova robbery? I've read that Abraham himself thinks it was close & competitive but believes he should have won it like 7-3 or 6-4.
Wow, okay...seems everybody here was about unanimous in having it 8-2 for Nova. https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/rafael-espinoza-zepeda-vs-sergio-alfredo-chirino-sánchez-andres-cortes-vs-abraham-nova-rbr.722679/page-8
