Rafael Espinoza says he is open to fighting WBO super featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete following his sixth-round TKO victory over Robeisy Ramirez in their rematch last Saturday night at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
Navarrete may be too big to take on the skinny Rafael Espinoza if he were to move up to super featherweight to challenge him for the WBO title. The money would potentially be better for Espinoza than staying at 126, but it would be a risky fight.
Navarrete destroyed a completely overmatched Oscar Valdez (32-3, 24 KOs) in the sixth round in last night’s main event. He dropped Valdez three times in the fight and scored a knockout with a body shot in the sixth round. It was one 100% unnecessary rematchas Navarrete already easily defeated Valdez last year, winning a 12-round unanimous decision on Aug. 12, 2023, in Glendale, Arizona. The race was NOT competitive.
The Decline of Robeisy
WBO featherweight champion Espinoza (26-0, 22 KOs) forced two-time gold medalist Robeisy (14-3, 9 KOs) to quit in the sixth round when he caught him with a sharp right hand straight down the pipe . Robesey immediately turned and gave up. Espinoza showed his class by not belting him at the moment, as he was defenseless he would be at the mercy of a 6’1″ Mexican champion.
Ramirez, 30, claimed he had double vision in his right eye from the elbows Espinoza caught him starting in the fourth round. However, there was no swelling in that eye in that round or the fifth. It wasn’t until the sixth round that Robeisy’s right eye was swollen shut and that came after a right hand landed by Espinoza that forced him to retire. Ramirez’s eye was obviously fine right after the fight and it didn’t look good.
Former WBO 126-lb champion Ramirez lost his title to Espinoza in their first fight on December 9 last year, losing a 12-round majority decision in a competitive fight. Ramirez fell from the fast pace Espinoza put on him in the second half and was knocked out in the 12th round of that bout.
With the loss, Ramirez’s short time at the top level fighter may be over. Cuban Robeisy is one old looking 30, and nowhere near the same fighter he was when he captured two gold medals at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Those medals were won at flyweight and bantamweight for Robeisy. Ramirez doesn’t look featherweight, but it’s unlikely he’ll be able to fight at 118 or 112 at his age. Is it time for Robeisy to retire? It might be. Either way, Top Rank must consider re-signing him when his contract expires.
Espinoza’s statement
“I think he was frustrated by the pressure. I know it was connecting and noticed it wasn’t causing me any damage. So mentally I was strong and I think I could do better than him mentally as well. He was tired and he was barely landing on me,” Rafael Espinoza said during the post-match press conference, talking about Robeyzi Ramirez. “He lost in that mind game.
“I could have fought someone else, but I wanted this fight,” Espinoza said of his rematch with Cuban Ramirez. “He could be a champion. This could happen.
“I want the best matches. I want to join and move up.”
