Rafael Espinoza (right) lands a right hand on Robeisy Ramirez during their thriller on December 9 in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Photo credit: Mikey Williams, Top Rank
Rafael Espinoza and Robeisy Ramirez are finally back in each other’s sights.
A featherweight title fight rematch was ordered by the WBO on Wednesday. The two sides have until September 19 to reach an agreement for what would be a sequel to their thriller last December
“The camps are given 15 days to negotiate and reach an agreement as ordered,” WBO Championship Committee Chairman Luis Batista-Salas said in a ruling obtained by The Ring. “Failure to reach an agreement within the period set forth herein will result in the Committee ordering scholarship bidding proceedings.
“Any of the parties involved can request purse strings proceedings at any time during the negotiation process. The minimum bid for the WBO flyweight division is $150,000.”
Espinoza is represented in talks by Zanfer Boxing. Ramirez is promoted by Top Rank, Espinoza’s co-promoter.
Espinoza (25-0, 21 knockouts) ended Ramirez’s WBO featherweight title fight by majority decision on December 9 in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Both fighters were dropped, but a 12th round knockout scored by Espinoza secured the victory.
The fight was considered by many outlets to be one of the best fights of 2023. With the win, the 6’1″ Espinoza became the longest featherweight title holder in history. The undefeated 30-year-old is currently The Ring’s no. 6-rated feather weight. He retained his title in a fourth-round knockout of Sergio Chirino (22-2, 13 KOs) on June 21 in Las Vegas.
Ramirez (14-2, 9 KOs) held the WBO title for just eight months before running into Espinoza.
The two-time Olympic Gold medalist for Cuba won the title in a twelve-round decision over Isaac Dogboe last April. He made one successful defense, a fifth-round knockout of Satoshi Shimizu last July 25 in Tokyo.
Ramirez’s loss to Espinoza snapped a 13-fight winning streak after losing his pro debut in August 2019.
The Ring’s no. 9-rated feather weight returned to the win column with a June 29 seventh-round knockout of Brandon Leon Benitez in Miami Beach.
Espinoza has until Dec. 9 to make his first mandatory title defense. There were previously rumors that the fight could end up on the undercard of another rematch. As reported by The Ring, WBO 130-pound titlist Emanuel Navarrete (38-2-1, 31 KOs) and former two-division belt holder Oscar Valdez (32-2, 24 KOs) will meet again on Dec. 7 in Phoenix. Navarrere won their first fight by unanimous decision last August 12 in nearby Glendale, Arizona.
