Ideally, Robeisy Ramirez would carry an unbeaten record into his first major title fight.
It’s immaterial to the greater goal in mind for the double Olympic Gold medalist, who has quickly stormed into contention. A showdown with former 122-pound titlist Isaac Dogboe for the vacant WBO featherweight title comes in just his thirteenth fight and less than four years into a pro career that began with a stunning split decision defeat.
Yet, Ramirez feels he still hasn’t missed a step.
“I’m exactly where I thought I would be at this point, when I first turned pro,” Ramirez told BoxingScene.com. “I obviously didn’t expect to lose my pro debut but it was all part of the process to transition from amateur to the pro ranks. I had to adapt to a way of life in a new country, from growing up in Cuba to living in the United States.
“I have done all that and now I am fighting for a world title in my fifth year as a pro. Looking back, I am on course.”
Their scheduled 12-round featherweight contest headlines an ESPN+ telecast this Saturday from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Top Rank carried exceedingly high expectations upon signing the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Gold medalist. Concerns were raised one minute into his pro career, when Ramirez was floored in the opening round of his August 2019 bout with Adan Gonzalez against whom he lost a split decision.
Naturally, Ramirez (11-1, 7KOs) was dismissed by the industry as a never-will-be. He has since rattled off eleven straight victories, including a revenge-fueled victory over Gonzalez in their July 2020 rematch and a trio of knockouts in 2022 that confirmed his place among the top featherweights.
It was his fifth round knockout of Abraham Nova last summer that forced even his harshest critics to stand up and take notice. Ramirez entered the bout on the heels of an early blowout of Eric Donovan [Note: no relation to, but considerably more talented than, this writer], and confirmed his credentials as a valid contender.
A subsequent stoppage of Jose Matias Romero—who previously went the distance with Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz and then-unbeaten Michel Rivera—was the cherry on top. The next stop was simply to fight for a major title, which comes this weekend against the first former or current champion that Ramirez will face in Ghana’s Dogboe (24-2. 15KOs).
“He definitely has a lot of experience and a very high work rate,” Ramirez said. “I think it will be an interesting style mesh that the fans should enjoy.
“That’s what I’m looking forward to, is delivering a performance that pleases the fans and ends with the world championship in my possession like I’ve always envisioned.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox