Boxing
Rafael Espinoza and Robeisy Ramirez discuss their December 7 rematch
Published
2 months agoon
Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza and Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez delighted fans with a Fight of the Year contender last December, and the pair are looking to pick up where their dramatic 12th round left off in their December 7 rematch at Phoenix’s Footprint Center.
Espinoza (25-0, 21 KO) defeated Ramirez by majority decision to win the WBO featherweight world title on ESPN’s Upset of the Year. Ever since ring time announcer Mark Shunock said “AND NEW”, a rematch seemed inevitable.
However, both men returned in June with different dance partners. Espinoza stopped Sergio Chirino in just four rounds in his first title defense, and Ramirez (14-2, 9 KO) returned a week later to defeat Brandon Benitez with a stunning uppercut in the seventh round.
Espinoza, a Mexican phenomenon over 180 centimeters high, wants to prove that his first victory was not a coincidence. Ramirez, a two-time Olympic gold medalist from Cuba, is determined to reclaim his throne after personal struggles affected his performance in their first meeting.
Espinoza trained at home in Guadalajara, and Ramirez was at camp in Las Vegas. Here’s what they had to say ahead of Part II.
Rafael Espinoza
“I know it will be a war. It will also assist me that I can fight any version of Ramirez. I will be ready, whether he wants to fight at close quarters or at range. As I said before the first fight, I won’t leave without the title.”
“I’m preparing for the best version of Ramirez because I know he’s the one I’ll face on fight night. And that’s exactly what I want. I want him to be in top shape so that there will be no doubts or excuses when I win.
“My self-confidence has increased. My mentality, approach to training and commitment have changed. I’m three times more committed than in the first fight and I think I showed it in the match against Chirino. I want to prove it again against Ramirez.
I know I have to be completely focused in this fight. I made a mistake the first time and it cost me a lot. That’s why we focus on 100% concentration because it’s effortless to lose focus once you get comfortable in the ring. I can’t afford to lose focus even for a second. That will be the key difference in this fight.”
“My top priority is to beat Ramirez on December 7. Then we’ll see who I can unite with. For now, I’m only focused on beating Ramirez.
Robeisy Ramirez
“In the camp, my father became seriously ill. He almost died. It influenced me a lot. My father is in Cuba and I can’t go back. I couldn’t visit him in the hospital. It affected me a lot.”
“It wasn’t the best version of me in the first fight. Despite this, I was still able to put on a great show. So I have no doubt that the second fight will be better.”
“He didn’t surprise me in the first fight. We all know what Mexican warriors are like. They never give up. However, considering my personal problems, I was not in the best shape. Nevertheless, if the judges feel he deserved the decision, then fine.
“I describe myself as a fighter who gets back up every time he gets knocked down. I have the mentality of a champion and I will be a champion again.”
“Everyone knows I’m a fighter. I also have a Cuban boxing school. But as the Mexicans say, I also have the courage to stand in the middle of the ring and go to war.
“A win would put me where I belong. We’ll have to see how this fight develops, but unification fights and fights against the best in the division are always on the cards.
The Emanuel Navarrete-Oscar Valdez II junior lightweight world title bout and the Espinoza-Ramirez co-feature will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT. Sky Sports will be broadcast in the UK and Ireland.
Tickets promoted by Top Rank are now on sale at Ticketmaster.com.
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Boxing
Ryan Rozicki is waiting for Badou Jack’s consent to mandatory cooperation with the WBC
Published
1 week agoon
January 13, 2025The World Boxing Council (WBC) ordered world cruiserweight champion Badou “The Ripper” Jack (20-1-1, 19 KO) to make a mandatory title defense against Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (20-1), number 1 in the WBC ranking – 1, 19 KOs).
If both camps fail to successfully negotiate an agreement, the WBC will organize a tender on February 4, followed by the Jack vs. Rozicki. Rozicki’s promoter, Three Lions Promotions, immediately sent Team Jacek an offer to promote the fight in Canada last week.
“We are waiting for their counteroffer,” explained promoter Dan Otter of Three Lions Promotions. “Boxing has had a huge resurgence in Canada and Ryan is leading the way. He is one of the most electrifying and hardest-hitting fighters in boxing, definitely in the cruiserweight division. He wants the WBC green belt and ultimately the unification of the division. Ryan will fight Jack anywhere for the belt.”
29-year-old Rozicki, born in Sydney (Nova Scotia) and living in Hamilton (Ontario), fought 22 professional fights against 21 different opponents (twice against Yamil Alberto Peralta), stopping 19 of the 20 opponents he defeated. an eye-opening 95-KO percentage.
Jack, 41, was a 2008 Olympian representing his native Sweden. He is a three-division world champion, as well as the WBC super middleweight and World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight heavyweight title holder. Jack has a record of 5-0-2 (2 KO) in world championship fights.
“We respect Jack and I don’t want to sound disrespectful,” Otter added, “but he’s over 40 years vintage and has been relatively inactive for two years (only one fight). He brings a lot of experience and respect to the ring, but he will fight a newborn defender with a lot of power. Jack is going to struggle and honestly, I don’t think he’ll make it past the first few rounds.”
Ryan Rozicki is on a mission to become the first Canadian cruiserweight world champion.
The next move is Badou Jack’s.
Boxing
Floyd Mayweather’s record is not normal, it can’t happen in 70 years
Published
1 week agoon
January 12, 2025Floyd Mayweather’s incredible 50-0 record is not normal and cannot be repeated in sports for another seventy years.
This is the view of Saudi Arabian president Turki Alalshikh, who wants to adopt the UFC model in which fighters lose many fights during their career.
In a speech as he hosted the Ring Magazine Awards after acquiring the long-running boxing publication from Oscar De La Hoya, Alalshikh was unequivocal in his opinion.
“Now losing some fights in boxing must be normal,” he explained. “All fighters want a career similar to Floyd Mayweather – no losses. This may happen once every 50, 60 or 70 years.
“We need it [to be] like currently in the UFC model, where champions lose and win,” added the matchmaker during the Riyad season.
Mayweather rose through the sport in the tardy 1990s to become one of its youngest superstars. Mayweather’s professional success came after winning a bronze medal at the Olympics after losing to Serafim Todorov.
Winning world titles in five weight classes, Mayweather was untouchable. The Grand Rapids native only came close to defeat a few times. He dominated Manny Pacquiao and overtook Canelo Alvarez and Oscar De La Hoya after heated debates, with decisions that should have been made unanimously.
Towards the end of his career, Mayweather chose to face Andre Berto and Conor McGregor, easily winning and ending his boxing career at the age of 50 without ever going out. Calling himself “the greatest of all time,” Mayweather earned first-ballot Hall of Fame honors and is widely considered one of, if not the greatest defensive fighter of all time.
However, Alalshikh says this type of career needs to end so that fans can get the most out of boxing, as is the case with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Boxing needs to become more attractive, and Alalshikh sees the failures of top stars as a way to keep interest at an all-time high.
In this sport, many boxers enjoy undefeated streaks, the most notable of which is Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian Pound for Pound King is 23-0 and has beaten the best he has to offer in his division and cruiserweight classification.
It remains a mystery how Alalshikh plans to make Usyk suffer while he dominates everyone else. By the time his grand plan goes into action, Usyk will be long gone, and Gervonta Davis, Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney may be more realistic targets.
Boxing
Manny Pacquiao remains the favorite to win the title against Mario Barrios
Published
2 weeks agoon
January 6, 2025WBN understands that despite alternative options emerging, it is more likely that Manny Pacquiao will face Mario Barrios next.
Bob Santos, coach of WBC welterweight champion Barrios, told World Boxing News that he is currently in contact with Pacquiao’s team. Asked by WBN if he had spoken to Pacquiao or representatives of any other challenger, Santos replied: “Yes, Pacquiao’s promoter, Sean Gibbons.” Pressed on whether Barrios vs Pacquiao might happen next, he added: “It’s challenging to say. We’ll have to see how this plays out.”
WBN contacted Santos after Conor Benn emerged as a potential alternative to Barrios. The British fighter, who recently returned from a suspension following two positive drug tests, is keen to return to competition.
Benn showed favor with the World Boxing Council at the recent WBC Convention, the WBC Evaluation Committee and during an interview with the sanctioning body over the weekend. “The Destroyer” is ranked second in the rankings at 147 pounds, despite less than solid opponents during his time in exile, during which Benn competed twice in the United States while his career in the United Kingdom was in doubt.
As he battled to clear his name and with the British Anti-Doping Authority finding no evidence that Benn had intentionally taken ostarine, the 28-year-old’s career took a pointed nosedive. Despite this, he remains highly rated and at least one step away from fighting for an eliminator or one of the remaining championship titles.
However, Pacquiao remains Barrios’ favorite. Now it’s up to the boxing legend and Hall of Famer who got the first votes to secure his shot. WBN believes a July date – most likely at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas – is the most realistic date for a Nevada swan song.
Pacquiao could extend his record as the oldest welterweight champion by six years if he can secure a huge victory over the 29-year-old world champion. At 46 years antique, such a scenario remains unlikely, but he can never be compared to one of the greatest players of this generation.
Unlike heavier boxers and his training regiment, Pacquiao looks in great shape despite his advanced age. Everything is set for a massive return to the boxing capital of the world, provided Pacquiao and his team can manage his political ambitions, which are expected to run from this month until May. After that time, Pacquiao could find himself in the summer finals and become the all-time champion, regardless of the result.
Barrios is based in the city, where he trained with Santos, and would be the perfect opponent to see out the career of one of the greatest fighters in history.
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