Two-time Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez says he’s ready to win again his WBO featherweight title in opposition to champion Rafael Espinoza of their rematch this Saturday, December seventh, on the Footprint Heart in Phoenix, Arizona.
(Credit score: High Rank)
Robeisy (14-2, 9 KOs) says there have been numerous issues occurring in his life on the time he took the combat in opposition to the 6’1″ Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) that prevented him from being at his finest.
His father was sick in Cuba, and he couldn’t return to go to him within the hospital. Nevertheless, even with Ramirez, 30, not being at his finest, he got here near knocking out Espinoza within the fifth however misplaced a slender 12-round majority resolution.
Espinoza vs. Robeisy 2 rematch might be proven this Saturday, December seventh, on ESPN and ESPN+ at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.
When Ramirez is at his finest, he’s excellent, displaying the technical capability that few within the sport. He defeated Shakur Stevenson within the finals of the 2016 Olympics, leaving him in tears, questioning what went unsuitable.
“That Wasn’t Me”
“There have been numerous bodily issues that occurred within the combat. Lots of issues had been taking place in my life, however the good factor is every thing is ok now. I’m going to be targeted for this combat,” mentioned Robeisy Ramirez to the Sean Zittel channel, speaking about his rematch with WBO featherweight champion Rafael Espinoza this Saturday.
“That wasn’t me. I used to be searching for a means out of exchanges, and I wasn’t feeling good at that time. I used to be making an attempt to do one thing completely different, and the issues that I wished to do weren’t taking place,” mentioned Robeisy about his earlier combat in opposition to Rafael Espinoza on December 9, 2023.
“Despite the fact that I used to be like that, it was nonetheless Combat of the 12 months for High Rank and ESPN. You noticed 12 robust rounds. This time, it’s going to be completely different. Within the first combat, I dropped him, and when he obtained up, it regarded ugly. I believe that the belt saved him.
Ramirez didn’t combat nicely in opposition to Espinoza on December ninth final yr, failing to comply with the nook directions from his coach, Ismael Salas, who wished him to remain on the within of the lanky, stork-like Espinoza as a result of he was having his finest success in shut.
Espinoza has regarded spectacular within the final couple of fights. In his final contest, he stopped Sergio Chirino Sanchez within the fourth spherical on June twenty first. What was attention-grabbing about that combat was how nicely Espinoza fought on the within. He landed numerous uppercuts that proved to be an excessive amount of for Sanchez, who was knocked down 3 times.
A Father’s Affect
“[Coach Ismael] Salas may have informed me something, however I wasn’t myself. I wasn’t ready to concentrate. There have been different issues in my thoughts that influenced me,” mentioned Robeisy when requested about his coach, Ismael Salas, telling him to remain on the within in opposition to Rafael Esponzoa of their first combat final December.
“Within the camp, my father obtained sick and nearly handed away. That affected me lots as a result of my father is in Cuba. I can’t return. I can’t even see him within the hospital. So, that affected me actually onerous. I didn’t have the will to coach or something,” mentioned Robeisy.
