On December 7 in Phoenix, USA, Rafael Espinoza and Robeisy Ramirez will meet for the second time. Their first bout delivered it all: knockdowns, injuries, and a dramatic turn of events that crowned a new Mexican champion.

Here’s an in-depth look at the fighters’ odds, stats, and dynamics ahead of this highly anticipated rematch, presented by Ready to Fight.

Rafael Espinoza

Country: Mexico

Age: 30 years

Weight Class: Featherweight (up to 57.2 kg)

Height: 185 cm

Reach: 188 cm

Stance: Orthodox

Record: 25 wins (21 by KO), 0 losses

KO Percentage: 84%

Total Career Rounds: 91

Recent Fights:

- Win by technical knockout (TKO 4) – Sergio Sanchez

- Win by majority decision (MD 12) – Robeisy Ramirez

- Win by knockout (KO 2) – Ally Mwerangi

- Win by technical knockout (TKO 3) – Rafael Ramirez

- Win by technical knockout (TKO 1) – Orlando Guerrero

Rounds in Last 5 Fights: 22

Average Rounds per Fight in Recent Fights: 4.4

Longest and Shortest Recent Fights:

Longest – 12 rounds (MD win)

Shortest – 1 round (TKO win)

Win Rate in Recent Fights: 100%

KO Rate in Recent Fights: 80%

Ring Activity in Recent Fights: 2.5 fights per year

Combined Opponent Record at Fight Time: 83 wins, 43 losses, 2 draws

Best Opponent Record: Sergio Sanchez (22-1 at fight time)

Least Successful Opponent Record: Orlando Guerrero (17-33 at fight time)

Punching Stats in Recent Fights:

- Jabs: 41 landed out of 256 thrown

- Power Punches: 121 landed out of 383 thrown

- Body Shots: 35

- Total Punches: 162 landed out of 639 thrown

- Overall Accuracy: 25.4%

Robeisy Ramirez

Country: Cuba

Age: 30 years

Weight Class: Featherweight (up to 57.2 kg)

Height: 168 cm

Reach: 173 cm

Stance: Southpaw

Record: 14 wins (9 by KO), 2 losses

KO Percentage: 64.3%

Total Career Rounds: 104

Recent Fights:

- Win by technical knockout (TKO 7) – Brandon Benitez

- Loss by majority decision (MD 12) – Rafael Espinoza

- Win by technical knockout (TKO 5) – Satoshi Shimizu

- Win by unanimous decision (UD 12) – Isaac Dogboe

- Win by technical knockout (TKO 9) – Jose Romero

Rounds in Last 5 Fights: 45

Average Rounds per Fight in Recent Fights: 9

Longest and Shortest Recent Fights:

Longest – 12 rounds (MD loss)

Shortest – 5 rounds (TKO win)

Win Rate in Recent Fights: 80%

Loss Rate in Recent Fights: 20%

KO Rate in Recent Fights: 60%

Ring Activity in Recent Fights: 2.5 fights per year

Combined Opponent Record at Fight Time: 105 wins, 7 losses, 0 draws

Best Opponent Record: Rafael Espinoza (23-0 at fight time)

Least Successful Opponent Record: Satoshi Shimizu (11-1 at fight time)

Punching Stats in Recent Fights:

- Jabs: 34 landed out of 153 thrown

- Power Punches: 125 landed out of 311 thrown

- Body Shots: 33

- Total Punches: 159 landed out of 464 thrown

- Overall Accuracy: 34.3%

Styles and Techniques

Aggressor vs. Counterpuncher – a boxing classic. Rafael Espinoza thrives as an aggressive, high-volume puncher. His towering frame gives him a significant height and reach advantage in the featherweight division, allowing him to impose his will on opponents. Espinoza’s relentless pressure and effective use of range make him a nightmare for any challenger.

Robeisy Ramirez, on the other hand, is a masterful counterpuncher. The two-time Olympic gold medalist is known for his elusive movement and ability to exploit opponents' mistakes. His agility and slick defense make him exceptionally difficult to pin down, and he excels at landing clean, precise shots when opponents leave openings.

Age and Experience Difference

Rafael Espinoza and Robeisy Ramirez are the same age but possess different levels and types of boxing experience. Espinoza is a pure professional fighter, with over twenty pro bouts, many of which were against fellow Mexican competitors. Ramirez, on the other hand, is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, an outstanding amateur fighter who quickly captured and lost a professional title within fewer bouts than his counterpart.

Ramirez’s overall record might appear more impressive due to his extensive amateur success, which granted him tougher opponents from the start of his pro career. However, in their first meeting, his experience didn’t secure him victory against Espinoza.

This time, the key question is what lessons each fighter has taken from their previous encounter.

Punch Statistics in Recent Fights

Espinoza is a relentless and tenacious fighter in the ring. His style involves overwhelming his opponents with volume punching, a strategy that, combined with his remarkable size for the featherweight division, often leads to decisive results.

Ramirez, by contrast, throws fewer punches, averaging around 400 per fight compared to Espinoza’s 600. However, Ramirez is the more accurate of the two, landing with a precision about 10% higher than Espinoza.

The first bout’s statistics favor Espinoza. He outperformed Ramirez in jab accuracy (22.8% to 12%) and power punch accuracy (34% to 28%). Espinoza’s sheer determination in that fight, even after losing the early rounds, ultimately secured him the victory and the title.

Ring Activity

After losing his title to Espinoza in December 2023, Ramirez sought an immediate rematch. However, negotiations fell through.

In the meantime, both fighters stayed active. Ramirez defeated the larger Brandon Leon Benitez via a 7th-round technical knockout. Espinoza, meanwhile, faced fellow Mexican Sergio Chirino Sanchez, knocking him out in the 4th round.

Given their recent activity, neither fighter is expected to show signs of rust. Both are likely to enter the rematch in top form.

Punching Power

Statistically and visually, Espinoza’s punches appear heavier. He generates significant power with a variety of strikes, from straight punches to uppercuts, and delivers them at diverse angles. In his last bout, Espinoza caught his opponent with a perfectly timed uppercut counter, demonstrating his ability to land devastating shots.

Ramirez also boasts notable power, having finished over 60% of his opponents early. However, his primary strengths lie in accuracy, speed, and adaptability. It was these attributes that allowed Ramirez to dominate the early rounds of their first fight, even scoring a knockdown in the 5th round.

Chin and Durability

Both fighters have shown strong chins but were knocked down in their previous bout. Espinoza utilizes his size effectively to keep opponents at bay and avoid their power range. Ramirez, on the other hand, relies on his agility and defensive skills to make himself a difficult target.

Venue Advantage

This will be the first time either fighter competes in Phoenix, Arizona. However, Espinoza is expected to have the crowd on his side. With three Mexican fighters featured in the event's two headline bouts—including the Oscar Valdez vs. Emanuel Navarrete rematch—the arena is likely to be filled with Mexican boxing fans.

Psychology and Recent Success

The fighters’ mindset regarding their previous encounter will play a critical role. Ramirez believes his loss was unjust, which is why he pushed for an immediate rematch.

However, Ramirez is partially to blame for his defeat. After a strong start, he became overconfident and struggled to deal with Espinoza’s relentless pressure. Espinoza, despite being knocked down and suffering a leg injury during the fight, kept up his high-volume approach. This persistence wore Ramirez down and led to a decisive knockdown in the final round, sealing Espinoza’s victory.

For the rematch, the outcome will hinge on two factors: the game plan and the fighters' ability to stick to it. A fully focused and prepared Ramirez, both physically and mentally, could potentially overcome Espinoza’s aggression and claim victory.

Fight Odds by Ready to Fight:

- Rafael Espinoza: 48%

- Robeisy Ramirez: 52%