Ramirez vs. Espinoza

At the Charles F. Dodge City Center in Pembroke Pines, Florida, Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza claimed the WBO featherweight title from Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez in a majority decision, despite being dropped in round five. Xander Zayas continued his unbeaten streak in the junior middleweight division, stopping Jorge Fortea with a body shot. Featherweight Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington impressively knocked out Jason Sanchez in the second round. U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. dominated Curtis Harper, winning by stoppage in the eighth round despite a cut over his eye. In the junior middleweight, Jahi Tucker and Francisco Daniel Veron fought to a draw. Rohan Polanco achieved a sixth-round stoppage over Keith Hunter in the junior welterweight, while Tiger Johnson secured a split decision against Jimmer Espinosa. In the heavyweight category, Damian Knyba earned a unanimous decision over Michael Coffie, showcasing his prowess in the ring.

The boxing world turns its attention to the Charles F. Dodge City Center in Pembroke Pines, Florida, where WBO featherweight champion Robeisy Ramirez (13-1, 8 KOs) is slated to defend his title against Rafael Espinoza (21-0, 18 KOs), a contender whose record belies his experience against top-tier opponents.

While Espinoza’s imposing stature presents a novel challenge for Ramirez, the bout is largely viewed within the boxing community as a lopsided affair, questioning the intent behind such matchmaking.

Watch the official trailer on YouTube: Watch

Robeisy Ramirez, a seasoned fighter with two Olympic gold medals, has yet to prove himself against the division’s best, a fact that has not gone unnoticed. Espinoza, on the other hand, despite a decade in the sport, has a résumé that lacks the names to suggest readiness for a world title shot, which could reflect a cautious approach by his management or a lack of opportunities presented to him.

Top 5 Robeisy Ramirez Knockouts: Watch

In the co-main event, Xander Zayas (17-0, 11 KOs), a budding junior middleweight, steps into the ring with Jorge Fortea (24-3-1, 9 KOs), in a fight that many see as a stepping stone for the young Puerto Rican. Since his close calls against Ronald Cruz and Alexis Salazar, Zayas has adapted his approach in the ring, leaning towards a more strategic, less confrontational style that prioritizes his safety and points accumulation over the crowd-pleasing brawls reminiscent of fighters like Miguel Cotto.

Watch Xander Zayas best knockdowns and knockouts: Watch

The event also shines a spotlight on the undercard, featuring talents like featherweight Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (9-0, 5 KOs) against Jason Sanchez (16-4, 9 KOs), junior middleweight Jahi Tucker (10-1, 5 KOs) facing Francisco Daniel Veron (13-0, 10 KOs), and Dominican Olympian Rohan Polanco (10-0, 6 KOs) against Keith Hunter (15-1, 9 KOs). Adding to the roster, U.S. Olympian Tiger Johnson (10-0, 5 KOs) will confront Jimmer Espinosa (15-1, 14 KOs), and heavyweight Damian “Polish Hussar” Knyba (12-0, 7 KOs) will square off with Scott Alexander (17-6-2, 9 KOs).

Main card:

▪️Robeisy Ramirez vs. Rafael Espinoza, 12 rounds, for Ramirez’s WBO featherweight title ▪️Xander Zayas vs. Jorge Fortea, 10 rounds, junior middleweight

Preliminary card: (Begins at 5:40 pm ET)

▪️Richard Torrez Jr vs. Curtis Harper, 8 rounds, heavyweight ▪️Bruce Carrington vs. Jason Sanchez, 10 rounds, featherweight ▪️Jahi Tucker vs. Francisco Daniel Veron, 8 rounds, junior middleweight ▪️Rohan Polanco vs. Keith Hunter, 8 rounds, junior welterweight ▪️Tiger Johnson vs. Jimerr Espinosa, 8 rounds, junior welterweight ▪️Damian Knyba vs. Michael Polite Coffie, 8 rounds, heavyweight

Watch the official weigh-in highlights on YouTube: Watch