Rafael Espinoza (proper) lands a proper hand on Robeisy Ramirez throughout their Dec. 9 thriller in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Picture credit score: Mikey Williams, Prime Rank
Rafael Espinoza and Robeisy Ramirez are lastly again in one another’s crosshairs.
A featherweight title combat rematch was ordered by the WBO on Wednesday. The 2 sides have till Sept. 19 to achieve a deal for what can be a sequel to their thriller final December
“The camps are granted 15 days to barter and attain an settlement as ordered,” WBO Championship Committee chairman Luis Batista-Salas said in a ruling obtained by The Ring. “Failure to achieve an accord inside the interval outlined herein, will outcome within the Committee ordering purse bid proceedings.
“Any of the events concerned could request purse bid proceedings at any time in the course of the negotiation course of. The minimal bid for the WBO Flyweight Division is $150,000.”
Espinoza is represented in talks by Zanfer Boxing. Ramirez is promoted by Prime Rank, Espinoza’s co-promoter.
Espinoza (25-0, 21 knockouts) ended Ramirez’ WBO featherweight title combat with a majority determination on Dec. 9 in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Each fighters had been dropped however a twelfth spherical knockdown scored by Espinoza sealed the win.
The bout was hailed by many retailers as among the many finest fights of 2023. With the victory, the 6’1″ Espinoza grew to become the tallest featherweight titlist in historical past. The unbeaten 30-year-old is at the moment The Ring’s No. 6-rated featherweight. He retained his title in a fourth-round knockout of Sergio Chirino (22-2, 13 KOs) on June 21 in Las Vegas.
Ramirez (14-2, 9 KOs) held the WBO title for simply eight months earlier than he bumped into Espinoza.
The 2-time Olympic Gold medalist for Cuba gained the title in a twelve-round determination over Isaac Dogboe final April. He made one profitable protection, a fifth-round knockout of Satoshi Shimizu final July 25 in Tokyo.
Ramirez’s defeat to Espinoza snapped a 13-fight win streak after he misplaced his Aug. 2019 professional debut.
The Ring’s No. 9-rated featherweight returned to the win column with a June 29 seventh-round knockout of Brandon Leon Benitez in Miami Seashore.
Espinoza has till Dec. 9 to make his first obligatory title protection. It was beforehand rumored that the combat may land on the undercard of one other rematch. As reported by The Ring, WBO 130-pound titlist Emanuel Navarrete (38-2-1, 31 KOs) and former two-division beltholder Oscar Valdez (32-2, 24 KOs) are as a consequence of meet once more on Dec. 7 in Phoenix. Navarrere gained their first combat through unanimous determination final Aug. 12 in close by Glendale, Arizona.
