The WBO has ordered featherweight champion Rafael Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) to start negotiations for a rematch with #1 ranked Robeisy Ramirez (14-2, 9 KOs). The 2 fighters have 15 days to place collectively a combat to avert a handbag bid.
Espinoza, 6’1″, defeated the two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist Robeisy final yr on December ninth, profitable a twelve-round majority determination in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Within the defeat, Robeisy misplaced his WBO 126-lb title.
Robeisy, 5’6″, dropped Espinoza within the fifth spherical however couldn’t end him off. It appeared that Robeisy let his foot off the accelerator, failing to indicate a way of urgency. Espinoza dominated the combat’s second half together with his excessive work price and looping pictures. Within the twelfth, Robeisy was damage on the verge of being knocked out.
Since that combat, Robeisy returned from defeat to cease Brandon Leon Benitez within the seventh spherical on June twenty ninth in Miami Seaside, Florida. Regardless of profitable, Robeisy didn’t present a lot enchancment in his recreation, which means that he’ll avenge his loss to Espinoza.
The Key to Victory for Robeisy
The most effective probability that Robeisy has to defeat Espinoza is to knock him out as a result of he’s not going to outwork him or outbox him as a result of he throws so many punches. Espinoza can solely be overwhelmed by knockout, and it’ll take one thing particular from Robeisy to perform that.
At 6’1,” Espinoza is a freak of nature for the featherweight division, making him subsequent to unimaginable to defeat. Nevertheless, it’s not simply Espinoza’s peak that makes him so formidable. He can combat on the within, his looping pictures, unpredictable angles for his punches, and his uppercuts.
Robeisy can’t afford to combat on the within or try to match Espinoza punch for punch. He doesn’t have that form of offensive means. Robeisy can solely keep on the skin and use his superior hand pace to land pinpoint pictures. In different phrases, he have to be a sniper to win.
Robeisy isn’t as quick in hand or toes as when he received his two gold medals within the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. Whenever you examine Robeisy’s performances in these Olympics to the chunky, slower fighter he’s at this time, it’s two totally different folks.
Robeisy has misplaced loads from his recreation, however he nonetheless has the ability and ring IQ that made him an excellent beginner. He outsmarted Rafael Espinoza by way of many of the combat however acquired drained within the second half. He didn’t have the engine to maintain up with Espinoza. That’s most likely not going to vary within the rematch, so Robeisy must attempt to rating a knockout early.
Espinoza defended his WBO title efficiently on June twenty first, knocking out Sergio Chirino Sanchez within the 4th spherical in Las Vegas.
