The WBO has officially ordered a rematch between featherweight champion Rafael Espinoza and #1 ranked contender Robeisy Ramirez. The two fighters have 15 days to negotiate the terms of the fight to avoid a purse bid. Espinoza, standing at a towering 6’1” for a featherweight, defeated two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez in a thrilling twelve-round majority decision last December in Pembroke Pines, Florida. That victory saw Espinoza claim the WBO 126-lb title, with Ramirez dropping Espinoza in the fifth round but failing to finish the job.
Robeisy’s inability to capitalize on his knockdown cost him the fight, as Espinoza took over in the second half, using his size, work rate, and unorthodox style to dominate. The Cuban star seemed to lose steam, allowing Espinoza to land heavy shots and almost knock him out in the twelfth round. Since that loss, Robeisy has bounced back with a seventh-round stoppage of Brandon Leon Benitez in June, but many observers noted that he didn’t show much improvement in his overall performance.
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For Robeisy to have a chance of avenging his loss to Espinoza, the key will be to secure a knockout. It’s unlikely that he’ll be able to outwork or outbox the relentless Espinoza, who overwhelms opponents with his high volume of punches. At 6’1”, Espinoza is an anomaly in the featherweight division, combining height, reach, and inside fighting skills that make him a tough challenge for anyone. Robeisy will need to use his hand speed and fight at a distance, picking his shots carefully to avoid being dragged into a firefight where Espinoza excels.
One of the challenges for Robeisy is that he’s no longer the lightning-fast fighter who won gold medals in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. Age and wear have slowed him down, but he still possesses the power that made him a great amateur. In their first encounter, Robeisy’s sharp boxing was evident, but his gas tank ran empty in the later rounds. To win the rematch, Robeisy will likely need to focus on an early knockout, as he may struggle to keep pace with Espinoza’s engine over twelve rounds.
Espinoza, on the other hand, continues to look formidable. In June, he successfully defended his WBO title with a fourth-round knockout of Sergio Chirino Sanchez, showing that his power and aggressive style remain intact. With his unorthodox punches and looping shots from unpredictable angles, Espinoza will be confident going into this rematch, knowing he’s already beaten Ramirez once.
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