Robeisy Ramirez and Rafael Espinoza headlined a Top Rank-promoted card on December 9th at the Charles F. Dodge Center in Pembroke Pines, Florida. The main event delivered an unexpected outcome as Espinoza was declared the winner by majority decision, despite Ramirez knocking him down in the fifth round. Unfortunately for Ramirez, he failed to capitalize on this advantage and suffered a disappointing loss to Espinoza, who is now the WBO super featherweight champion.
Cuban boxer Robeisy Ramirez (13-2, 8 KO’s) faced a majority decision defeat against the undefeated Mexican fighter Rafael Espinoza (24-0, 20 KO’s). Despite Ramirez’s background in amateur and professional boxing, he struggled to overcome Espinoza’s reach and height advantage. Prior to this fight, Espinoza was considered the underdog with no notable fights on his record to make him anything but an apparent layover for Ramirez.
Espinoza’s height of 6’1 posed challenges for Ramirez from the start, as the latter stood at 5’6. Espinoza claimed the earlier rounds with a slight edge, making it difficult for Ramirez to close or maintain the distance against the taller opponent.
Ramirez’s performance revealed a lack of preparation, particularly in bridging the gap between him and Espinoza. Although Ramirez managed to knock Espinoza down in the fifth round with a powerful right hook, he couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity. Espinoza quickly recovered, utilizing both long-range and close-quarter fighting to secure a hard-earned victory.
As the fight progressed, Ramirez, despite his experience, appeared to struggle with conditioning and the pace of the match. Espinoza took advantage in the later rounds, pressuring Ramirez and winning several rounds by demonstrating effort in the ring. In the twelfth and final round, Espinoza’s relentless combinations led to another knockdown, further solidifying his victory.
Despite an initially evenly-matched bout, Espinoza’s knockdown in the final round shifted the momentum in his favor. He was declared the new WBO super featherweight champion with majority decision scores of 113-113, 114-112, and 115-111.
This upset win by Espinoza surprised oddsmakers who had favored Ramirez. While Espinoza now holds a world title, it’s anticipated that a rematch clause in the contract will oblige him to face Ramirez again. Given the competitiveness of the fight, a rematch is a logical step for both fighters to conclusively settle this emerging rivalry.
The undercard of the Top Rank event showcased notable performances, including American prospect Bruce Carrington’s (10-0, 6 KO’s) second-round stoppage of fellow American Jason Sanchez (16-5, 9 KO’s) in their ten-round featherweight bout. Puerto Rican super welterweight prospect/contender Xander Zayas (18-0, 12 KO’s) maintained his unbeaten record with a fifth-round stoppage win over Spanish fighter Jorge Fortea, and American heavyweight prospect Richard Torrez (8-0, 8 KO’s) secured a last-round stoppage victory against countryman Curtis Harper (14-11, 9 KO’s).
The entire event was broadcasted by ESPN.
