The season of exciting rematches begins Sky Sports this weekend with a doubleheader of Rafael Espinoza-Robeiz Ramirez and Emmanuel Navarrete vs. Oscar Valdes.
Later this month, Tyson Fury will fight Oleksandr Usyk for the second time for the unified world heavyweight championship.
Ramirez will take part in the first of these world championship rematches when he fights Mexico’s Rafael Espinoza for the WBO world title previously held by the Cuban.
The unheralded Espinoza upset Ramirez in one of the best fights of 2023 a year ago, and the Cuban believes it will be just as tight a second time around.
“You can expect a war,” Ramirez said Sky Sports. “We all know how Mexican fighters are, they never give up.
“The reality is it wasn’t my best and I still managed to put on a great show, so the second fight will be even better.”
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Highlights from Rafael Espinoza’s stunning win over Robeiz Ramirez to capture the WBO bantamweight title.
It’s not the first time Ramirez has had to regroup after a devastating loss.The two-time Olympic gold medalist lost his pro debut to Adan Gonzalez in a huge upset, but got revenge when he won their rematch a year later.
He is looking to repeat that form this weekend.
“I’m trying not to go in there angry about the fighter. I’m going in there focused on my job. I’m going to get back up after I’m down,” he said.
“I’ll be back where I’m supposed to be.”
In the first fight, Ramirez dropped Espinoza in the fifth round, but was knocked down in the final round as Espinoza earned a majority decision.
“I realize he came to win. But I didn’t see him lose in the last round. I went down, if you see the replay,” Ramirez insisted.
“I didn’t see myself as a loser.”
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Robezi Ramirez knocked out Brandon Benitez with a stunning uppercut in the seventh round of their featherweight bout.
A win would set him up for exciting fights with other champions like Nick Ball or Angelo Leo in 2025.
“There’s no problem fighting any of them. That’s one of the things I’ve always had in my mind throughout my career and one of the things I need to do in my career,” he stated.
“Now I have to get my title back and I’ll be ready to team up against any champion out there.”
Boxing is on Sky Sports
December 8
Emmanuel Navarrete vs Oscar Valdes II
Rafael Espinoza v Robeisy Ramirez II
December 14
Natasha Jonas vs Ivana Habazi
Lauren Price vs. Bexy Mateus
Stephen McKenna vs. Lee Cutler
December 15
Jaime Munguia vs Bruno Surace
December 21
Alexander Usyk vs Tyson Fury II (live on Sky Sports Box Office)
Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury II will be live on Sky Sports Box Office
December 24
Naoya Inoue vs. Sam Goodman
January 11
Callum Simpson v Steed Woodall
Caroline Dubois vs Jessica Kamara
February 1
Adam Azim vs Sergey Lipinets
Rafael Espinoza-Robeizy Ramirez will be live Sky Sports’ main event and: Sky Sports+ from 1:30 on Sunday
