Two-time Olympic gold medal winner Robeisy Ramirez finally achieved his dream of becoming a world champion.
This past Saturday night in Tulsa, Ramirez outboxed former champion Isaac Dogboe over twelve rounds to capture the vacant WBO featherweight title.
Ramirez has already been approached with the possibility of making his first defense in Miami, which has a large Cuban community.
“[Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum] asked me what I thought of a first defense in Miami. That would be something. That would be great for my career, because I know the fight is going to be packed. Cubans are very fond of sports and I, with my results and with my career, have gradually crept into the hearts of Cubans. I know they are going to take the time even if they don't have it to watch my fight. I'm sure a fight in Miami is going to sell well," Ramirez told George Ebro.
Ramirez is hoping the world title win will lead to major fights in the future.
One future possibility is a showdown with two-division champion Shakur Stevenson.
Ramirez defeated Stevenson in the Olympic games.
But, at the moment the boxers are two divisions apart. Stevenson makes his lightweight debut this Saturday night.
Because of their mutual promoter in Top Rank, Ramirez and Stevenson have become very friendly - but their friendship won't prevent a future encounter - if they ever find themselves in the same weight class.
“Shakur wants to face me and that is a matter of someone wanting to remove a thorn from their side, but we have both grown a lot. He will continue to grow. For the cameras, for the show, to sell himself, he shows himself as he should: a bit arrogant. They like that in the American market, but personally he is a tremendous fighter," Ramierz said.
“We have a tremendous relationship. We talk a lot on Instagram. For the Valdez fight he asked me if I knew of any sparring partners here in Las Vegas so he could work. He arrived that day, he started training. It seems that he is well focused. Afterwards we had a chance to talk. We talk about our respective fights. I wanted to play ping pong, but we couldn't. They say if he doesn't win, he doesn't leave the gym. So, it is about much more than a publicity photo for him."
