WBO orders Espinoza vs Ramirez rematch

Rafael Espinoza and Robeisy Ramirez both scored knockouts in June

One of 2023’s best fights could soon get a sequel, as the WBO has ordered featherweight champion Rafael Espinoza to rematch former titlist Robeisy Ramirez.

The pair have 15 days to negotiate and avoid a purse bid, but odds are they won’t need them; Espinoza (25-0, 21 KO), who shocked Ramirez (14-2, 9 KO) in 2023’s Upset of the Year, officially signed with Top Rank last June ahead of his four-round beatdown of Sergio Chirino. Ramirez, for his part, bounced back by flattening Brandon Benitez the following week.

In an era dominated by instant rematches, I’m fond of how Top Rank went about this. They gave Espinoza the opportunity to prove he wasn’t a one-hit wonder and Ramirez the opportunity to get some mojo back, which should make the sequel both more hype and more intriguing on a technical level than if they’d just rushed them back into the ring. We’ll let you know once pen meets paper.