MIAMI, FL — A lot was anticipated of Robeisy Ramirez. The 2-time Olympic gold medalist was speculated to set the world on fireplace, like Vasiliy Lomachenko did. The Cuban expatriate featherweight southpaw has not but precisely crammed that promise.
He misplaced his professional debut, after which suffered the second setback in his professional profession by dropping the WBO featherweight title in an upset to Rafael Espinoza final December.
Now, Ramirez finds himself climbing again once more.
On Saturday night time, Ramirez took a strong step ahead by knocking out Mexico’s Brandon Leon Benitez with a devastating left uppercut within the seventh of a scheduled 10-round featherweight struggle on the Teofimo Lopez Jr.-Steve Claggett WBO/Ring Journal junior welterweight world championship undercard from the James L. Knight Heart in Miami, Florida.
Greater than something, Ramirez (14-2, 9 knockouts) appeared to toy with Benitez. He was definitely faster and possessed extra expertise than the overmatched Mexican. When Benitez tried loading up, Ramirez was nowhere to be discovered, leaving Benitez usually swatting at air.
Behind his darting and probing, Ramirez began packing rounds. He appeared content material to remain on the skin and outbox his inferior foe. His punches got here separately, which was another than the reluctant Benitez (21-3, 9 KOs) appeared keen to throw. He got here in 1.1 kilos over the 126-pound featherweight restrict. Solely Ramirez was eligible to win one thing referred to as the vacant NABO featherweight belt.
Lastly within the seventh, Ramirez put down the hammer, within the type of a left uppercut that despatched Benitez right into a heap at 2:46 of the seventh spherical.
“It’s no secret that Ismael Salas is without doubt one of the greatest strategists on the earth,” Ramirez stated. “And so the plan was to put on him down little by little. Then, after the final spherical, he tells me to not search for energy photographs however to maneuver a bit and to return to my {novice} roots. That’s what I did. I touched and touched, and I discovered the shot.”
“It’s not my first time touchdown a shot like that. It feels good to land a punch like that as a result of it demonstrates that we labored arduous in camp.”
“I need my title again. I need the rematch in opposition to Rafael Espinoza. If it’s not with him, then I can struggle in opposition to any of the opposite champions.”
In a six-round middleweight battle, Nico Ali Walsh avenged his lone professional loss with a unanimous, although controversial, victory over Sona Akale (9-2, 4 KOs). Walsh (11-1, 5 KOs) received by scores of 58-55 and 57-56 (2). The choice was greeted by a refrain of boos.
To his credit score, it’s the most intrepid Walsh has ever regarded. He made a curious transfer within the sixth when he started leaping up and down, then crossing his chest slamming his proper hand into his left shoulder. Right here, Walsh had dislocated his left shoulder and was attempting to slam it again into place.
Nico Ali Walsh might solely use his proper within the final spherical, after dislocating his left shoulder (Photograph by Mikey Williams/High Rank)
He fought the remainder of the ultimate spherical with one arm.
Walsh, who knocked down Akale with a wild proper within the third, might not have received within the eyes of the group, however persevering with definitely merited severe braveness factors—the sort of bravery his well-known grandfather would have been pleased with.
Junior welterweight Emiliano Fernando Vargas (11-0, 9 KOs) made straightforward work of Jose Zaragoza (9-9-2, 3 KOs) successful by first-round stoppage at 1:32. Vargas, the son of Fernando Vargas, didn’t give Zaragoza time to breathe, leaping on him and downing him with a proper within the first minute of the struggle.
Elvis Rodriguez tags Jino Rodrigo with a left (Photograph by Mikey Williams/High Rank)
In a scheduled 10-round junior welterweight struggle, Elvis Rodriguez returned from a 11-month layoff in opposition to rugged Filipino Jino Rodrigo. Within the first spherical, Rodrigo dropped Rodriguez (16-1-1, 13 KOs) with a proper on the temple. A number of moments later, Rodriguez, on unsteady legs, returned the favor by placing Rodrigo (12-4-2, 10 KOs) down.
Within the third, Rodriguez felled Rodrigo once more with a proper. Rodriguez seized management of the struggle and received for the primary time since July, 2023, successful by scores of 98-91 (2) and 97-92.
Lorenzo Medina went the space for the second time in his profession and acquired a battle in beating Detrailous Webster by six-round unanimous determination by scores of 60-54, 60-53 and 59-55.
Webster (7-4, 3 KOs) put up a struggle. He truly had Medina in some hassle throughout a portion of the primary, then he appeared to punch himself out. Medina (11-0, 9 KOs) then got here again and threw a flurry of photographs at Webster. It was sloppy, two fats guys flailing in a bar room, although it was entertaining.
Junior welterweight Rohan Polanco (13-0,8 KOs) stopped Luis Hernandez (23-4, 20 KOs) at 2:28 of the second spherical of a scheduled eight-rounder.
Yan Santana nails Brandon Valdes with a proper in going 10 rounds for the primary time (Photograph by Mikey Williams/High Rank)
Featherweight Yan Santana (12-0, 11 KOs) went 10 rounds for the primary time in his younger profession, successful a unanimous 98-91 (2), 96-93 determination over the very robust Brandon Valdes (15-5, 7 KOs).
It’s the first time Santana went past 4 spherical. He knocked Valdez down within the first spherical with a left hook on the chin. Santana grew up a basketball participant. He put the gloves on at some point taking part in round with a pal, when a coach noticed what he might do and satisfied him to pursue boxing. Santana has the basics down, does nothing flashy however he realized a wealth of information Saturday night time on the Lopez-Claggett undercard.
“I felt actually good, it was actually turning across the first time ever going 10 rounds, and with the occasion itself, I felt the stress of defending for my nation (the Dominican Republic) and every part, but it surely was expertise and I’m completely happy I received,” Santana stated. “I realized so much. After all I’m a assured fighter. I dropped my arms a bit an excessive amount of. I’ll discuss to my workforce about that. These are issues I need to study and get higher at, however I’m total completely happy in regards to the efficiency.”
Within the first struggle of the night time, middleweight Euri Cedeno (9-0-1, 8 KOs) made quick work out of Dormedes Potes (14-7-1, 10 KOs) with a first-round knockout at 58 seconds of the primary spherical in a scheduled eight-rounder.
Joseph Santoliquito is a Corridor of Fame, award-winning sportswriter who has been working for Ring Journal/RingTV.com since October 1997 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America.
Observe @JSantoliquito
