Robeisy Ramirez lost his WBO featherweight title in his second defence, as he was upset by Mexico’s Rafael Espinoza via majority decision in Pembroke Pines.
Cuban amateur starlet Ramirez (13-2, 8KOs), a double Olympic champion, had won the vacant title in April, dazzling against Isaac Dogboe, dropping his man in the final round en route to a wide points win. He defended in Japan three months later, stopping Satoshi Shimizu in five rounds. Espinoza (24-0, 20KOS) came into this one as unheralded, having only been the ten round distance once, and usually operating at a low level in his homeland.
Ramirez was struggling with his rangy opponent early on, arguably winning all of the first four rounds, but the champion turned things around in the fifth, dropping Espinoza heavily with a leaping right hand that left the challenger in trouble. The knockdown came with seconds remaining in the round though, and Ramirez was unable to finish the contest. Ramirez largely dominated the next three rounds, landing with several power punches, but Espinoza kept coming back for more, and this broke Ramirez’s spirit.
Esponoza rallied in rounds nine and ten, and after a back and forth penultimate frame, a volley of Espinoza punches in the final round forced Ramirez to take refuge on the canvas. He survived the count, and the breathless bout went to the cards.
Two tallies in favour of Espinoza at 115-111 and 114-112 declared him the new champion, with a 113-113 verdict ruled redundant in a seismic upset.
Carrington, Zayas and Torrez impress on undercard
On the undercard, Bruce Carrington (10-0, 6KOs) impressed, as he blasted out Jason Sanchez (16-5, 9KOs) in the second round of their scheduled ten rounder at super featherweight. Sanchez took Zelfa Barrett the full twelve rounds in April, but he was no match for Carrington. Carrington rocked Sanchez with a left hand, and a massive right hand had him on the deck. With seconds remaining in the round, Carrington connected with a chopping left on the bell, and the referee waved the contest off.
Xander Zayas (18-0, 12KOs) defended his NABF super welterweight title on the bill with a fifth round stoppage of Jorge Fortea (24-4-1, 9KOs).
At heavyweight, Richard Torrez Jr (8-0, 8KOs) left it late, but took an eighth and final round stoppage against Curtis Harper (14-11, 9KOs), while Damian Knyba (13-0, 7KOs) took an eight round decision win against Michael Polite Coffie (13-5, 10KOs).
Delante Johnson (11-0, 6KOs) took an eight round split decision win at super lightweight against Jimerr Espinosa (15-2, 14KOs), while Rohan Polaco (11-0, 7KOs) stopped Keith Hunter (15-2, 9KOs) in the sixth round of their scheduled eight rounder.
Jahi Tucker (10-1-1, KO5) was held to a draw by Francisco Daniel Veron (13-0, KO10) in their super welterweight meeting over eight rounds.
