Robeisy Ramírez Declares That He Will Be King of the Featherweights

The two-time Olympic champion Robeisy Ramírez (10-1-0, 6 KOs) was scheduled to clash with fellow southpaw Jessie Magdaleno (29-1-0, 18 KOs) on October 29 at the Hulu Theater of the legendary Madison Square Garden, but an unexpected injury forced Magdaleno to pull out of the fight. Nevertheless, Ramírez’s main goal has not changed: to become king of the featherweight division.

According to Sam Katkovski, Magdaleno’s manager, the fighter suffers from bone exostosis in his left hand. He has a spur on the surface of the bone which causes severe pain when hitting with that hand.

The match was of crucial importance to both contenders as the winner would be placed in prime position to receive the opportunity to fight for a world title fight in the featherweight division. So, Ramirez’ representatives looked for a last-minute opponent and found Argentine José Matías Romero (26-2-0, 9 KOs).

“The opponent does not matter. I will put on a show October 29 in New York City,” Ramirez said. “I have the utmost respect for Romero, who took the fight on short notice. But once we get in that ring, I am coming full steam ahead at him for the win. ‘El Tren’ will not be derailed.”

Known by the pseudonym “El Tren” (The Train), Ramírez (10-1-0, 6 KOs) anesthetized the then undefeated Puerto Rico-born puncher Abraham “El Super” Nova (21-1-0, 15 KOs) in the 5th round in New York City.

Without a doubt, for the aspirations of reaching the top at 126 pounds, the confrontation against the 26-year-old Argentine Romero will be crucial for Ramírez, who is in 3rd place in the rankings of the WBO, 4th in the IBF, 7th in the WBC and 8th in the WBA.

Ramirez said that he is looking forward to returning to the legendary Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden and that he is excited to be on the same card that marks the return of Vasyl Lomachenko whom he admires and considers to be one of the greatest talents of all time. 

Ramírez, 28, born in the central Cuban province of Cienfuegos, said that it is rare for two double Olympic gold medalists to appear on the same card and he considers this a great personal honor.

While Ramírez won the medals in London-2012 and Rio de Janeiro-2016, Lomachenko won consecutive gold medals at the China-2008 and London-2012 Olympics.

Ramírez recognizes Lomachenko as one of the most successful amateur boxers of all time, with 396 victories and a single loss. And he has achieved titles in the punch for pay ranks, thanks to his exceptional speed of hand, precision, creativity, magnificent defense and formidable leg movement.

Chosen the best amateur boxer in the Americas in 2011 and 2012, Ramírez left the Cuban team that he was training with in the Mexican city of Aguascalientes in early July 2018, a few days before the start of the XXIII Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia.

A year later, on August 10, Ramírez debuted in the professional ranks and surprisingly lost a four round split decision against American Adán González (5-4-2, 2 KOs) in Philadelphia.

However, 12 months later Ramírez faced González again, this time winning by unanimous decision in six rounds at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“I’m as fast, strong, and smart in the ring as anyone in the featherweight division,” Ramírez told BoxingScene. “On October 29, I will show the world that it is only a matter of time before I become a world champion.”

For Romero, who has a pair of recent victories at 126 pounds, it will be his third fight in the United States. In the previous two, both in 2021, he succumbed unanimously against Mexico’s Isaac Cruz and against Dominican Michel Rivera. Both fights were in the lightweight division at 135 pounds.

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