Part of the joy of the holiday season is revisiting things you’ve seen before. Sitting down to watch It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story, Elf or another favorite holiday movie is as much a part of holiday festivities as caroling or unwrapping presents.
On Saturday night, two title fights that are also rematches will put on an intriguing card in Phoenix, Arizona. Rafael Espinoza (25-0, 21 KO) will defend his featherweight title against Robeisy Ramirez (14-2, 9 KO). The main event will see Emanuel Navarrete (38-2-1, 31 KO) and Oscar Valdez (32-2, 24 KO) face off for Navarrete’s junior lightweight championship.
Rafael Espinoza was a 15-1 underdog in the first bout against former two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez in December 2023. Espinoza won a majority decision to take the title from Ramirez. Espinoza overcame a takedown in round five to turn the tide in the fight, outscoring Ramirez 103 to 33 in rounds 10-12 and scored a takedown of his own in the twelfth round. The bump stats for the entire fight were just as odd; Espinoza threw 995 punches to Ramirez’s 376 over the course of twelve rounds.
Ramirez is a slight favorite with -125 odds to avenge his loss to Espinoza.
While Ramirez isn’t looking past getting revenge on Espinoza, he has another potential opponent in Naoya Inoue. Should “The Monster” decide to move up to the featherweight division next year and aim to become a five-division world champion, Robeisy Ramirez will be waiting.
“I saw Inoue in person. He is a great fighter and a legend. But my impression is that he’s small for 126 pounds, and I’m not even that big for my division. Neither would he. He’s quite small to move up, and at a certain point you reach your limits. There is only one Manny Pacquiao. No matter how good your boxing is, at some point the weight becomes too much, and the power of the guys in the divisions above you becomes too much. My boxing is strong, and I feel I can end Inoue’s history.”
Before Ramirez can worry about Inoue, he has his hands full with Rafael Espinoza. Espinoza has fought once since upsetting Ramirez last December and defeating Sergio Chirino Sanchez by TKO in the fourth round in June. Only twice in his career has Espinoza had a fight in the seventh round (the first fight with Ramirez and a ten-round unanimous decision win over Carlos Ornelas in January 2021). Although Espinoza turned professional six years before Ramirez and has nine more pro fights, Ramirez has fought more rounds as a professional (104) than Espinoza (91).
Ramirez says he will show the best version of himself on Saturday. Espinoza believes he has two major advantages in the fight. “Yes, we all know about my height advantage, but I also have another advantage, and that is my heart. So, I’m going to show my heart by giving everything in the ring this Saturday.”
Emanuel Navarrete defeated Oscar Valdez the first time these two Mexican fighters clashed in August 2023. Valdez was a warrior in defeat, taking the punishment of Navarrete in a way that was at once honorable and uncomfortable. The fight was exciting, although Navarrete took a wide unanimous decision victory.
While Valdez has an excellent record with just two losses in 34 pro fights, the two losses have come within his last four fights. Shakur Stevenson outboxed Valdez to hand him his first loss in April 2022. A decision win over Adam Lopez and a knockout of Liam Wilson in his most recent fight ended Valdez’s loss to Navarrete.
For Valdez, who turns 34 in a few weeks, if he doesn’t win on Saturday, many will wonder if he should hang up his gloves. On Wednesday, Valdez addressed that sentiment. “No-no, it’s win-or-win for me. Retirement is not on my mind because I am already a very optimistic person. Very positive thinker. There is no reason to think retirement. The moment you start thinking about retirement, you should retire. It shouldn’t be on your mind. In my mind, I love this sport way too much at the moment.” “I love it much more than my opponent. I bet he doesn’t like it like I do.”
Emanuel Navarrete is the champion, a 2 ½-to-1 favorite in this fight, and has already defeated Valdez, but what makes the rematch on Saturday so interesting is that Navarrete hasn’t fared well in his recent fights either. Navarrete has fought twice since defeating Valdez, with a draw and a loss in those fights. Last November, Navarrete fought Robson Conceicao to a majority draw before moving up in weight for his most recent contest in May. Navarrete was unsuccessful in his bid to become a four-division champion, losing to Denys Berinchyk in a battle for a vacant 135-pound championship. Back in the 130-pound weight class, Navarrete looks to get back in the win column Saturday night.
Many Mexican fans will attend the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. For each man, facing another Mexican fighter in front of crowds of their fellow countrymen should motivate Valdez and Navarrete to have another big fight.
Gather around the big TV this Saturday night and enjoy the gift of two great rematches.
