Robeisy Ramirez is set to defend his WBO featherweight world title for the first time against another two-time Olympian.
He will face Japanese challenger Satoshi “Diamond Left” Shimizu on Tuesday, July 25, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. The Ramirez-Shimizu bout will be the co-main event of the world title clash between Philadelphia’s WBC/WBO junior featherweight champion Stephen Fulton and Japan’s pound-for-pound star Naoya “Monster” Inoue.
Ramirez said, “Next stop, Japan! I am thrilled to announce my quick return to the ring for my first defense of my WBO world championship. Fighting is what I do best, titles are meant to be defended, and there’s no stopping ‘El Tren!'”
Ramirez (12-1, 7 KOs), a two-time Olympic gold medalist, had a rough start to his pro career after losing a split decision to Adan Gonzales in August 2019. However, after teaming up with Cuban trainer Ismael Salas, the 29-year-old has adopted a more pro-friendly style. He has remained unbeaten since and got his revenge against Gonzales in a 2020 rematch inside the MGM Grand Las Vegas Bubble. In 2022, Ramirez knocked out Irish veteran Eric Donovan in February, stopped then-undefeated contender Abraham Nova in June, and beat Jose Matias Romero by ninth-round TKO in October. In his last fight, the pride of Cienfuegos, Cuba, dominated former junior featherweight world champion Isaac Dogboe by unanimous decision to win the WBO featherweight belt.
Shimizu (11-1, 10 KOs) is a 37-year-old southpaw making his first attempt at a world title. Before turning pro, he represented Japan at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. In his first Olympiad, Shizmu was eliminated in his opening bout. Four years later, he moved down to bantamweight and earned a bronze medal, defeating Dogboe but losing to gold medalist Luke Campbell.