Robeisy Ramírez, the World Organization (WBO) featherweight world champion is going to Japan to defend his belt for the first time against another fighter who is also a two-time Olympian.
The Cuban (12-1, 7 KO) will face local Satoshi Shimizu on Tuesday, July 25 at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena as the co-main event of the Top Rank undercard for the world title fight between Stephen Fulton and Naoya.” Monster” Inoue.
But Ramírez also looks to the future and knows that a unification fight could appear on the horizon against another king of the featherweight division, Mexico’s Luis Alberto “Venado” Lopez, who holds the IBF world title.
Both champions are promoted by Top Rank.
Ramirez is really looking forward to making his defense of the title against Shimizu in the challenger’s backyard.
“It is one more fight to which I have to pay attention and prepare super well. As soon as we got to Las Vegas we started and we already have two weeks left here before we leave and then a few more days for the fight,” Ramirez told George Ebro.
“This is my first time going to Japan. At first, I was a little doubtful, more so because of the holidays and spending time with the family, but from another point of view it is a great exposure for my career. We were in Scotland and it was great. The fans are happy with my career. Everyone who has been to Japan says that it is a tremendous experience and that I am going to have a good time, beyond doing the job. That’s how I’ve viewed it. I will go with a lot of respect, I will retain my title and then I will see what that culture is like.
“[Me and Shimizu] never crossed paths. If my mind does not fail me, in 2012 he won a bronze medal at 56 kilos. He lost to Luke Campbell, who became an Olympic champion. I’m never overconfident, but you’ll never see me worried. I trust my preparation, my corner, my boxing. When I do a good preparation there is no reason to worry. I have the ability to change things within the same round.”
Should Ramirez win, there will be a push for a unification with Lopez.
“That fight is going to happen as long as I retain the title. I have a lot of respect for him as a boxer. However, part of his team is not something that deserves my respect. One of the managers, I know him. I don’t know if he is a manager or what he has to do with him, he is a person who from what I have heard and know is not trustworthy. Second, his physical trainer, Memo Heredia, who is one of my detractors on social networks, spoke a lot of nonsense about me.
“I have a lot of respect for Lopez as a boxer. In his interviews he talks about 126 pounds, he doesn’t talk about Robeisy Ramírez. I don’t know if after his last fight if he mentioned me. I have always mentioned him because both he and Wood, like Warrington, are in my division, I want to fight with them. It’s not personal with him. I will always go from the front. I don’t speak from behind. I have respect for him as a champion, but his team does not deserve my respect. Everyone wants that fight, but I know I’m not going to underestimate Shimizu.”