Rafael Espinoza says he’s improved since his earlier battle in opposition to the previous WBO featherweight champion Robeisy Ramirez final yr on December ninth, and he’s going to be able to defeat him a second time this Saturday, December seventh on the Footprint Heart in Phoenix, Arizona.
(Credit score: High Rank)
Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) might be defending his WBO 126-lb title that he received in opposition to the two-time Olympic gold medalist Robeisy (14-2, 9 KOs). The occasion might be proven stay on ESPN and ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT.
The battle was very aggressive till the twelfth when Espinoza flurried on a drained Robeisy to drop him to win a 12-round majority determination.
No Excuses
“Once I’m within the battle, I prefer to resolve what I’m going to do and modify to that. I do issues in order that they don’t damage me as a lot. I attempt to field and never get hit and go away every part within the ring,” stated Rafael Espinoza to the Sean Zittel channel, reacting to being instructed that Robeisy Ramirez stated he needs to land his photographs between his combos on Saturday.
“Generally I prefer to go forward to get the outcomes that I need to push on the gasoline. I’m going to attempt to do every part intelligently within the ring,” Espinoza continued. “I don’t know what occurred to him, however I do count on the perfect model of Robeisy. I would like the perfect model, and I don’t need any excuses. I’m additionally going to attempt to give the perfect model of myself as nicely.”
Espinoza goes to get hit so much on this battle, and he’s bought to hope that he can take the ability of Robeisy as a result of he was near being knocked out within the fifth spherical after being dropped. It was lucky for Espinoza that the knockdown got here within the last seconds of the spherical.
“I improved so much because the first battle [with Ramirez] in all areas, bodily with my power. I labored on the errors that I made so I can do issues impeccably. There are not any distractions as nicely, and my mentality is on the high. So, within the first battle, I didn’t surrender, and on this second battle, that phrase doesn’t even cross my thoughts,” stated Espinoza.
We don’t know if the 6’1″ Espinoza has improved since his win over Robeisy as a result of he solely fought as soon as in opposition to a really beatable Sergio Chirino Sanchez, stopping him within the fourth spherical on June twenty first. Sadly, we received’t know if Espinoza has improved till he faces Robeisy this Saturday night time.
Robeisy says he wasn’t at his finest for the earlier battle in opposition to Espinoza as a result of his father was within the hospital, and he wasn’t ready. This time, he believes he might be prepared and may have the fitting recreation plan to defeat Espinoza.
“I don’t prefer to say if I’m going to knockout as a result of these phrases blow within the wind. So, what I’m going to do is give my finest battle so there’s little question what occurs. I’ve been on this division for a very long time [featherweight]. I’ve maintained myself nicely. All of it is determined by my physique. I wish to unify. If I can keep on this division, it’ll be no drawback. I plan on staying on this division a very long time, no issues,” stated Espinoza.
If Espinoza stays at 126, he’s going to finish up outgrowing this weight class and begin struggling losses. It could be higher for him to maneuver as much as 130 whereas he’s nonetheless preventing at a excessive stage as a result of he can benefit from the cash that will be out there preventing WBO tremendous featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete. There’s a winnable battle in opposition to WBC champion O’Shaquie Foster.
