Saturday, Dec. 9 at Charles F. Dodge City Center in Pembroke Pines, Florida, promises to be a fiery evening of boxing. In the limelight, Cuban WBO featherweight champion Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez defends his title against the undefeated Mexican, Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza. Another significant fight on the evening sees Puerto Rican prodigy Xander Zayas fighting Spain’s Jorge Fortea in a 10-round junior middleweight duel.
The fights will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+, starting 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
With the collaboration of Top Rank and Zanfer Promotions, tickets will be up for grabs from Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. ET.
Top Rank’s chairman, Bob Arum, expressed his enthusiasm, “South Florida is in for a treat with this line-up of incredibly skilled fighters. Ramirez faces a tough undefeated opponent, and Zayas, with his massive fan base, is sure to impress.”
Ramirez, with a 13-1, 8 KOs record, had a formidable 2022. After teaming up with trainer Ismael Salas, he dominated fights against Eric Donovan, Abraham Nova, and Jose Matias Romero. 2023 was even more exceptional for Ramirez, defeating Isaac Dogboe to clinch the WBO featherweight title and subsequently defending it against Satoshi Shimizu.
Expressing his excitement, Ramirez stated, “Miami feels like home for many Cubans. I’ve always wanted to fight near my people in Miami. On December 9, I look forward to their overwhelming support.” Espinoza, boasting a record of 21-0, 18 KOs, has a notable height advantage in his division. With a recent
five-fight knockout streak, he is geared up for the world title opportunity. Espinoza remarked, “This is the opportunity I’ve worked for. I respect Robeisy as a great champion, and I’m confident this fight will be remembered.”
Zayas, who signed with Top Rank at the age of 16, has been on a meteoric rise. With recent victories over Quincy LaVallais, Alexis Salazar, Elias Espadas, Ronald Cruz, and Roberto Valenzuela Jr., Zayas is keen on securing his third win of the year. Fortea, on the other side, is a seasoned pro with a streak of wins, including a significant victory over Ismael Flores.
Zayas shared, “This fight is another chance to showcase my improved skills and commitment. I’m ready for what’s next.”
UNDERCARD
As 2023 winds down, Richard Torrez Jr., the heavyweight division’s latest sensation, is all set to deliver a show-stopping performance. Hailing from Tulare, California, this Olympic silver medalist is gearing up to fight the savvy Curtis Harper on December 9 at the Charles F. Dodge City Center in Pembroke Pines, Florida.
For Torrez, this marks his first-ever eight-rounder, a step up considering he’s wrapped up all seven of his pro fights in under three rounds.
The Torrez-Harper showdown is set to stream LIVE and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ right before a double treat on ESPN at 10 p.m. ET. This includes Robeisy Ramirez defending his WBO featherweight world title against Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza and the unbeaten junior middleweight, Xander Zayas, taking on Jorge Fortea from Spain. Torrez, with a record that speaks for itself (7-0, 7 KOs), blasted onto the pro scene after shining at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. He kicked off his career with a bang, stopping Allen Melson in the second round in Fresno, California. His 2022 was just as fiery, going 4-0, and he started his second year as a pro with a knockout over James Bryant. Sure, an injury benched him for half a year, but he came back with a vengeance, knocking out Willie Jake Jr. and Tyrrell Anthony Herndon in the first and second rounds, respectively. Harper (14-10, 9 KOs), on the other hand, is a seasoned pro who’s held his own against some big names like Chris Arreola, Brandon Moore, and Guido Vianello.
