Former featherweight titleholder and two-time Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez has his eyes set on the fighter who dethroned him, Rafael Espinoza.
Ramirez returned to the ring and stopped Brandon Benitez on Saturday in the seventh round of their bout at the James L. Knight Center in Miami Beach.
Ramirez (14-2, 9 KOs), 30, from Cuba, famously lost his professional debut but had won 13 straight fights since. However, last December Ramirez was upset by Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs), also 30, from Mexico. The bout was a contender for Fight of the Year and saw both hit the canvas, but Espinoza won by majority decision.
“My goal is to unify the belts, but first I got to get a belt,” Ramirez said, having defeated Benitez. “If I get that rematch with Rafael Espinoza, that is job one, and then have the opportunity to look forward to unifying.”
Ramirez recorded a highlight-reel knockout over Mexican Benitez (21-3, 9 KOs), 26, exciting the Miami audience who had seen him lose last December. The stoppage could end up as a Knockout of the Year contender as Ramirez now angles for a return with Espinoza. Last week, Espinoza knocked out Sergio Chirino via a four-round technical knockout in Las Vegas and afterward discussed fighting Ramirez again.
“I know there is a man out there who wants the rematch,” Espinoza said. “Look, I am going to take some rest, then I am going to have my people talk to the promoters and we will do what is best for me.”
Notable featherweight prospect Bruce Carrington (12-0, 8 KOs), 27, known as “Shu Shu,” was also mentioned to Ramirez, who replied: “‘Shu Shu’ is a great friend of mine. If he is on the list of opponents for me, I would gladly take that fight.”
Read the full article here
