Robeisy Ramirez on Isaac Dogboe: “It’s going to be a war” on Saturday

By Boxing News - 03/29/2023 - Comments

By Sam Volz: The talented two-time Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez (11-1, 7 KOs) has finished up his preparation for his clash this Saturday night against the tough former super bantamweight champion Isaac Dogboe (24-2, 15 KOs) in a fight for the vacant WBO featherweight title at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

(Photo credit: Alex Sanchez)

The two are fighting for the belt recently vacated by Emanuel Navarrete, who moved up to 130. Dogboe lost twice to Navarrete, but has since won his last four fights against good opposition. Dogboe’s best win of the four came against Joet Gonzalez last July.

The southpaw Robeisy is on another level from anyone that Dogboe has fought before, including Emanuel Navarrete. Dogboe will need to walk through fire for him to have a chance of winning, and it’s questionable whether he can.

“I think the greatest achievement I had was at London 2012,” said Robeisy Ramirez to Top Rank Boxing about competing in the Olympics that year. “I was barely 18 years old. I did not have an expectation of winning a medal or Olympic games; I just to participate and enjoy the experience.

“I won my second Olympic gold in a different division,” Robeisy continued. “In Cuba, when these things happen, not many changes. It makes no difference in life, neither monetary nor simply fame. And that’s how most of all the champions live.”

“The Cuban fighter like Robeisy, when they win, they have one medal, two medals, gold medals, three gold medals,” said trainer Ishmael Salas. “But when the boxing life finishes, they will go down steadily, steadily, steadily down.

“Many of the two, three good men, I’ve seen them living in the poorest of the poor.”

“That dictatorship does not allow you to leave Cuba to make a professional change, to improve your life,” said Robeisy. “You have to do it illegally; you have to defect; you have to leave Cuba.

“When I left the house where you are staying, I came out with a backpack and a pair of tennis shoes that my wife had given me at the time. I think nothing else. I left out the door without looking back.

“When I make the decision. No, I did not say anything to my father. I did not say anything to my daughter, as she was still living in Cuba. For Cubans, it is not difficult to take that step and not tell anyone because you run the risk.

“At the time, he called me ‘Rocky’ so as not to mention my name. At that time, it was said that the Mexican authorities, together with the Cubans, were looking for me, and I had a cap and glasses and all that for a police checkpoint but hoping they wouldn’t ask.

How to watch Robeisy Ramirez vs. Isaac Dogboe?

Ramirez vs. Dogboe will take place this Saturday, April 1st at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The fight event will be shown on ESPN+ at 9:00 p.m. ET.

“It was a crazy, crazy experience. Yes, it was. I did not know when I would see her again,” said Robeisy about his daughter. Thank God she no longer lives in Cuba. She lives in Brazil. And well, God willing, I will see her.

“I have been out of the country for five years, without seeing my mother, without seeing my father. But these are the best steps I have taken, the best decisions I have made in my life where I can now help them,” said Ramirez.

“Every one of us we are living for the family,” said coach Salas. “And we’re leaving for the family and supporting. And to defect from Cuba, this thing means that maybe you can see your family maybe in a year or two years; who knows?

“I saw my family after almost 20 years, 22 years,” said Salas.

The sacrifice is part of this work,” said Robeisy. “My family, my possession, in the effort I make in training. But really, now, I’m focused on this sport, on finishing this fight successfully, which is the most important thing for me.

“I think that if I’m here today, it’s because of the difficult road I’ve had to get here. Starting with problems I had in Cuba, arriving here, and not having good results in my debut. Little by little, I’m showing that I have talent and that I’m going to give it my all, and thanks to that, I’m here.

“So, yes, if it had been an easy path, I think I would have been a little more comfortable, and I wouldn’t be here where I’m at. I’ve seen most of his fights. I think he is a great boxer.

“I always show respect to all my opponents, but I don’t think he’s fought boxers like me. That’s how I read him,”  said Robeisy about Dogboe. “So let him be prepared, and he’s going to be well prepared. It’s going to be a war,” said Robeisy.

What times does Robeisy Ramirez vs. Isaac Dogboe start?

Ramirez vs. Dogboe event begins at 9:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

“I believe Robeisy is very confident, and it’s also a flaw. He thinks he can stand and fight anyone,”  said Dogboe. “In boxing, it only takes one punch. He can punch, but can he take it?

“I’ve been there. I’ve taken it. I’ve been on the floor and gotten back up to knock out a champion,” said Dogboe.

“In Cuba, for no one, it is a secret that this is a business, that the more results you have, the better life condition you have,” said Robeisy about boxing. “But if you are in Cuba, it is to have a little more than others because of the situation there.

“In other countries, they take you in the ring, you climb in there with gloves. If you come out well, they say, ‘Well, let’s go to work,’ but in Cuba, it’s different. In Cuba, they come, they stop you and tell you this has to be done this way, this way, this way.

“It is a process. I didn’t have like,  a love for the sport. As time went by, the years went by, and you start to like what you’re doing, and you get results, and you start to love what you’re working towards,” said Robeisy.

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