Robeisy ‘The Train’ Ramírez Attempts to Derail Isaac Dogboe 

Cuban southpaw Robeisy “The Train” Ramírez began his professional boxing career in 2019 after winning Olympic gold medals in London-2012 and Rio de Janeiro-2016.

In his pro debut against since retired Adan González (5-4-2, 2 KOs), Ramírez (11-1-0, 7 KOs) performed poorly and lost by decision. It was a difficult blow for Ramírez, his supporters, and also the boxing experts who had all predicted a victorious beginning of a future star. However, the loss was a good wake-up call for Ramírez as he realized that professional prizefighting was much more complex and demanding than amateur boxing.

Eleven months later, in July 2020, Ramírez got his revenge, defeating González by unanimous decision. González was a mediocre fighter who suffered another setback shortly after and decided to hang up his gloves for good.

After the bitter initial experience in that first fight against Gonzalez, Ramírez changed his mindset and altered his style. He has since compiled 11 successive victories, seven within the limit, including his three most recent bouts which he fought last year. On October 29, displaying his indisputable talent, Ramírez, 29, knocked out Argentine José M. Romero (26-3, 9 KOs) in the ninth round at Madison Square Garden.

“There’s this long standing stereotype of the Cuban fighter as highly skilled, yet boring. That is not my case. There’s a reason why they call me ‘The Train.’ I come forward,” said Ramírez.

That win streak has catapulted the man from Cuba to a second position ranking with the WBO, which ordered Ramírez to face former world champion and leader in the featherweight division, Isaac Dogboe (24- 2, 15 KOs). The fight is scheduled for April 1st in Tulsa, Oklahoma and the winner would claim the Interim 126-pound title. However, the opportunity to fight for the WBO absolute world title belt presented itself, as Emanuel “El Vaquero” Navarrete (37-1, 31 KOs) relinquished the title after knocking out Australian Liam Wilson (11-2, 7 KOs) in the ninth round on February 3rd in Arizona.

“Main event, World Championship on the line,” stated Ramírez, “This is what I have always wanted and have asked for since I became a professional boxer. I see this fight as the perfect stage from which to present my credentials to the world and make the case that I am the best fighter in the featherweight division. On April 1, I will fulfill the goal of becoming world champion, but I am convinced that my greatest accomplishments in this sport are ahead of me.”

Ramírez continued, “For me, life has always been about continuously being hungry. Talent alone is not enough at this level. True success means continuing to evolve, moving ahead, and conquering hurdles and failures to become great. I’ve experienced true hardship in life, so moving up to the mountains for a few weeks won’t break me. It will only make me stronger, like all of the difficulties I endured on the road to where I am.”

Apart from Ramírez’s obvious optimism, Dogboe, with his experience and track record, represents the most demanding test the Cuban has faced in his professional career.

Born 28 years ago in Kumasi, a city in the Ashanti region of Ghana, Dogboe moved to London at the age of seven where he began and developed his brilliant boxing career. He turned pro at the age of 19, compiling 17 consecutive wins before defeating César Juárez by fifth-round technical knockout on January 6, 2018, capturing the vacant WBO Interim Super Bantamweight title.

Three months and twenty-two days later, on April 28th, Dogboe anesthetized southpaw Jessie Magdaleno (29-1, 18 KOs) in the eleventh round, seizing the WBO title that Magdaleno was defending for the second time. In December of that same year, Dogboe suffered his first setback, losing by unanimous decision to Emanuel Navarrete. They faced each other again in May 2019, with Navarrete winning by TKO in the twelfth round.

After the defeat, Dogboe jumped to the featherweight division, where he has a four-fight win streak, the most recent being by split decision against Joet González (25-3, 15 KOs) on July 23rd of last year.

Article submitted by Jorge Juan Álvarez in Spanish.

 Please note any adjustments made were for clarification purposes and any errors in translation were unintentional.

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