WBO featherweight champion Rafael Espinoza and Robeisy Ramirez failed to agree on a deal for their rematch. Top Rank will reportedly inform the WBO of the status of the failed negotiations. Accordingly, there will be a fund bid scheduled for October 11.
Salvador Rodriguez reports the news of the failure of the talks of Espinoza-Robeisy 2. Both will now look for a bid for the fund.
The 6’1″ Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) dethroned WBO 126-lb champion Robeisy (14-2, 9 KOs) on December 9th of last year, winning a 12-round majority decision in Pembroke Pines, Florida. The scores were 113-113, 114-112 and 115-111.
Cuba’s two-time Olympic gold medalist Robeisy will need to find a way to deal with the greater height and reach of Espinoza in the rematch. At 5’6″, Robeisy is too short and doesn’t have the strength to beat Espinoza in a close fight.
Where Robeisy had success was fighting on the outside, throwing hard single shots, then escaping before being caught by shots from a heavily armed Espinoza.
Espinoza’s height makes him unusual in the 126 lb division because none of the top fighters in the weight class have that kind of size. What makes Espinoza so dangerous is his arsenal. He has a straight uppercut that he throws close for more torque.
Robeisy’s best chance to win a rematch with Espinoza is to knock him out. Ramirez, 30, had Espinoza on the canvas in the fifth round but couldn’t put him away. Espinoza then came on late to dominate the championship rounds and dropped Robeisy in 12.
“Top Rank has informed the WBO that it has failed to reach an agreement between Rafael ‘Divino’ Espinoza and Robeisy ‘Tren’ Ramirez in a featherweight title rematch. Therefore, there will be a fund bid on October 11 for at least 150 thousand dollars. Espinoza had an agreement with TR, but not Ramirez,” said Salvador Rodriguez to X.
Someone will figure out how to beat Espinoza sooner or later. If it’s not Robeisy in the rematch, there will eventually be a fighter strong enough to knock him down. Robeisy has the IQ and pedigree to get the job done, but he has to fight smarter to win. He played to the strength of Espinoza last week and ran into him inside, then he worked.
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