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Rafael Espinoza says he’s improved since his earlier struggle towards the previous WBO featherweight champion Robeisy Ramirez final 12 months on December ninth, and he’s going to be able to defeat him a second time this Saturday, December seventh on the Footprint Middle in Phoenix, Arizona.
(Credit score: High Rank)
Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) might be defending his WBO 126-lb title that he gained towards the two-time Olympic gold medalist Robeisy (14-2, 9 KOs). The occasion might be proven reside on ESPN and ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT.
The struggle was very aggressive till the twelfth when Espinoza flurried on a drained Robeisy to drop him to win a 12-round majority choice.
No Excuses
“When I’m in the fight, I like to decide what I’m going to do and adjust to that. I do things so they don’t hurt me as much. I try to box and not get hit and leave everything in the ring,” mentioned Rafael Espinoza to the Sean Zittel channel, reacting to being informed that Robeisy Ramirez mentioned he desires to land his pictures between his mixtures on Saturday.
“Sometimes I like to go ahead to get the results that I want to push on the gas. I’m going to try and do everything intelligently in the ring,” Espinoza continued. “I don’t know what happened to him, but I do expect the best version of Robeisy. I want the best version, and I don’t want any excuses. I’m also going to try and give the best version of myself as well.”
Espinoza goes to get hit loads on this struggle, and he’s received to hope that he can take the facility of Robeisy as a result of he was near being knocked out within the fifth spherical after being dropped. It was lucky for Espinoza that the knockdown got here within the last seconds of the spherical.
“I improved a lot since the first fight [with Ramirez] in all areas, physically with my strength. I worked on the mistakes that I made so I can do things impeccably. There are no distractions as well, and my mentality is at the top. So, in the first fight, I didn’t give up, and in this second fight, that word doesn’t even cross my mind,” mentioned Espinoza.
We don’t know if the 6’1″ Espinoza has improved since his win over Robeisy as a result of he solely fought as soon as towards a really beatable Sergio Chirino Sanchez, stopping him within the fourth spherical on June twenty first. Sadly, we gained’t know if Espinoza has improved till he faces Robeisy this Saturday night time.
Robeisy says he wasn’t at his finest for the earlier struggle towards Espinoza as a result of his father was within the hospital, and he wasn’t ready. This time, he believes he might be prepared and can have the suitable sport plan to defeat Espinoza.
“I don’t like to say if I’m going to knockout because those words blow in the wind. So, what I’m going to do is give my best fight so there’s no doubt what happens. I’ve been in this division for a long time [featherweight]. I’ve maintained myself well. It all depends on my body. I would like to unify. If I can stay in this division, it’ll be no problem. I plan on staying in this division a long time, no problems,” mentioned Espinoza.
If Espinoza stays at 126, he’s going to finish up outgrowing this weight class and begin struggling losses. It is perhaps higher for him to maneuver as much as 130 whereas he’s nonetheless preventing at a excessive stage as a result of he can benefit from the cash that might be out there preventing WBO tremendous featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete. There’s a winnable struggle towards WBC champion O’Shaquie Foster.
