Boxing fans have been waiting a year for this: the long-anticipated rematch between Rafael Espinoza and Robeisy Ramirez is finally here. The two will face off this Saturday at the Footprint Center in Phoenix as part of the event organized by Bob Arum’s Top Rank. On the line is the WBO Featherweight World Title, currently held by Espinoza. Their spectacular first match, which took place on December 9 of last year, ended in a thrilling points victory for the Mexican fighter.
Rafael Espinoza: The Heir to Diego Corrales?
A giant among the children: this is the impression one gets watching Rafael Espinoza in the ring. At 185 centimeters tall, the Mexican towers over the other world-class featherweights. Yet, despite his lanky frame, his boxing style doesn’t revolve around keeping his opponents at bay with long-distance shots. On the contrary, Espinoza loves to fight on the inside, relentlessly attacking the body and head like a true destroyer. In this regard, he brings to mind the late Diego Corrales, who also possessed above-average height and an unrelenting warrior spirit. While “Chico” may have had sharper, more explosive punches, Espinoza focuses more on overwhelming his opponents with a continuous barrage of punches. The results speak for themselves: of “El Divino’s” 25 victories, 21 have come before the final bell—a testament to his remarkable power.
Robeisy Ramirez: Oscillating Between Glory and Struggle
The Cuban two-time Olympic gold medalist’s career has seen its share of highs and lows. After claiming his second gold medal in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 by defeating American Shakur Stevenson in the final, many regarded Ramirez as an absolute prodigy destined for professional greatness. However, his pro debut was disastrous: Ramirez was knocked down in the first round by the modest Adan Gonzales and lost on points in a four-round bout, leaving spectators in shock. Rumors circulated that the Cuban had neglected his training, paying a steep price for his overconfidence. That lesson, however, proved invaluable: Ramirez bounced back with 13 consecutive wins and claimed a world championship. Just as everything seemed to be falling into place and fans were anticipating an epic showdown between him and Naoya Inoue, Rafael Espinoza arrived to upset the apple cart.
Rafael Espinoza vs. Robeisy Ramirez 2: What Will Happen? Boxe Punch’s Prediction!
Predicting this Saturday’s showdown at the Footprint Center inevitably requires revisiting the dynamics of their first encounter a year ago. That fight was breathtaking, packed with drama and plot twists, yet left some lingering questions.
Espinoza started strong, clearly dominating the first four rounds thanks to his aggression, high work rate, and the weight of his punches. Ramirez attempted to leverage his technical skill, but his offensive output was too low. While he managed to avoid and deflect some of Espinoza’s strikes, the Cuban appeared uncomfortable handling the Mexican’s relentless pressure.
Then, in the fifth round, a thunderous right hook from Ramirez turned the tide. Espinoza dropped like a rock, and as he struggled to rise, he collapsed into the ropes—a scenario where many referees would have called a technical knockout. Astonishingly, the Mexican soldiered on, enduring further punishment in the next three rounds before mounting a thrilling comeback that earned him the victory.
The key question heading into this rematch concerns the segment of the fight between rounds six and eight. During those nine minutes, Ramirez showcased his best attributes, bombarding Espinoza from all angles and mesmerizing the crowd with his precision and clean combinations. Two interpretations of that phase are plausible.
The first suggests that Ramirez’s dominant spell was largely due to Espinoza’s disoriented state after the knockdown. The Mexican may have needed several rounds to regain his composure and reassert control.
The second posits that Ramirez, whose work ethic has been questioned in the past, entered the ring in suboptimal condition. In this scenario, the Cuban’s slow start would have been a way to conserve his limited energy. The “real” Ramirez, who shone brightly between the fifth and eighth rounds, might have faded once his gas tank emptied, allowing Espinoza to regain the upper hand.
If the first theory holds true, Espinoza seems well-positioned to secure another victory. While Ramirez might land another big shot over 12 rounds, if the Mexican survived the Cuban’s best punch and dominated two-thirds of the bout, the odds lean in his favor.
Conversely, if Ramirez underestimated his opponent and came in underprepared last year, the world title could easily return to him. If the Cuban can replicate over a longer stretch what he delivered in just a few rounds, unleashing his full power throughout, Espinoza’s relentless aggression might become a liability.
Personally, I’m inclined to give the two-time Olympic champion the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps it’s my admiration for his stylistic brilliance, which I’ve cherished since his amateur days, but I have a hunch that Ramirez will arrive in peak condition and, despite enduring periods of difficulty against Espinoza’s relentless pressure, will regain the world title with a high-caliber performance.
My prediction is a narrow points victory for Robeisy Ramirez.