Part of the joy of the holiday season is rewatching things you have seen before. Sitting down to watch It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story, Elf, or another favorite holiday movie is as much a part of holiday festivities as caroling or unwrapping gifts.
On Saturday night, two title fights that are also rematches will headline an intriguing card in Phoenix, Arizona. Rafael Espinoza (25-0, 21 KO) will defend his featherweight title against Robeisy Ramirez (14-2, 9 KO). The main event will see Emanuel Navarrete (38-2-1, 31 KO) and Oscar Valdez (32-2, 24 KO) face off for Navarrete’s junior lightweight championship.
Rafael Espinoza was a 15-1 underdog in the first matchup against former two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez in December 2023. Espinoza won a majority decision to take the title from Ramirez. Espinoza overcame a knockdown in round five to turn the tide in the fight, outlanding Ramirez 103 to 33 in rounds 10-12 and scoring a knockdown of his own in the twelfth round. The punch stats for the entire fight were just as outlandish; Espinoza threw 995 punches to Ramirez’s 376 over the twelve-round duration.
Ramirez is a slight favorite with -125 odds to avenge his loss against Espinoza.
Though Ramirez is not looking past getting revenge on Espinoza, he has another potential opponent, Naoya Inoue. Should “The Monster” decide to move up to the featherweight division next year and aim to become a five-division world champion, Robeisy Ramirez will be waiting.
“I saw Inoue in person. He’s a great fighter and a legend. But my impression is that he is small for 126 pounds, and I’m not even so big for my division. Neither would he. He’s kind of small to be moving up, and at some point, you hit your limits. There is only one Manny Pacquiao. No matter how good your boxing is, at some point, the weight becomes too much, and the power from the guys in the divisions above you becomes too much. My boxing is strong, and I feel that I can end Inoue’s history.”
Before Ramirez can worry about Inoue, he has his hands full with Rafael Espinoza. Espinoza has fought once since upsetting Ramirez last December, defeating Sergio Chirino Sanchez via technical knockout in round four in June. Only twice in his career has Espinoza had a fight enter the seventh round (the first fight with Ramirez and a ten-round unanimous decision victory over Carlos Ornelas in January 2021). Though Espinoza turned professional six years before Ramirez and has nine more pro fights, Ramirez has fought more rounds as a professional (104) than Espinoza (91).
Ramirez says he will show the best version of himself on Saturday. Espinoza believes he has two major advantages in the fight. “Yes, we all know about my height advantage, but I also have another advantage, and that’s my heart. So, I’m going to show my heart by giving everything in the ring this Saturday.”
Emanuel Navarrete defeated Oscar Valdez the first time these two Mexican fighters clashed in August 2023. Valdez was a warrior in defeat, absorbing punishment from Navarrete in a fashion that was simultaneously honorable and uncomfortable. The fight was exciting, though Navarrete earned a wide unanimous decision victory.
While Valdez has a stellar record with just two losses in 34 pro fights, the two defeats have come within his last four fights. Shakur Stevenson outboxed Valdez to hand him his first defeat in April 2022. A decision victory over Adam Lopez and a knockout of Liam Wilson in his most recent fight bookended Valdez’s loss to Navarrete.
For Valdez, who turns 34 in a couple of weeks, if he does not win on Saturday, many will wonder if he should hang up his gloves. On Wednesday, Valdez addressed that sentiment. “No-no, it’s win-or-win for me. Retirement is not in my mind because I’m already a very optimistic person. Very positive thinker. There’s no reason to think retirement. The moment you start thinking retirement, you should retire. That shouldn’t be in your mind. In my mind right now, I love this sport way too much.” “I love it way more than my opponent does. I bet you he doesn’t love it the way I do.’’
Emanuel Navarrete is the champion, a 2 ½-to-1 favorite in this fight, and has already defeated Valdez, but what makes the rematch on Saturday so intriguing is that Navarrete has not fared well in his recent fights either. Navarrete has fought twice since defeating Valdez, with a draw and a loss in those bouts. Last November, Navarrete fought Robson Conceicao to a majority draw before moving up in weight for his most recent contest in May. Navarrete was unsuccessful in his bid to become a four-division champion, losing to Denys Berinchyk in a fight for a vacant 135-pound championship. Back in the 130-pound weight class, Navarrete looks to get back in the win column on Saturday night.
Many Mexican fans will be in attendance at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. For each man, facing another Mexican fighter in front of crowds of their fellow countrymen should motivate Valdez and Navarrete to have a great fight once again.
This Saturday night, gather around the big TV and enjoy the gift of two great rematches.
