Turns out that losing his pro debut was a blessing for Robeisy Ramirez.
The two-time Olympic champion from Cuba was outpointed in his first fight by journeyman Adan Gonzales in 2019 but bounced back to win his next 12 fights.
That includes a one-sided decision over Isaac Dogboe to win a wide decision and the vacant WBO 126-pound title — his first major belt — Saturday night in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The official scores were 119-108, 118-109 and 117-111. Boxing Junkie scored it 117-111, nine rounds to three.
“I believe that things happen for a reason,” Ramirez said through a translator, referring to his loss to Gonzales. “If not for that loss, I never would’ve ended up with [trainer] Lauro Salas. Yordenis Ugas never would’ve told me that I have to move to Las Vegas, you have to change your life.
“I never would’ve gotten the team together.”
Ramirez (12-1, 7 KOs) made the team look good at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
The slick 29-year-old southpaw used his footwork to keep Dogboe at a distance favorable to him from beginning to end and consistently picked the loser apart with sharp, accurate shots while taking few himself.
Dogboe (24-3, 15 KOs) was the aggressor most of the way, throwing more punches than his opponent. However, only 18% percent of them landed (113 of 619), according to CompuBox.
Ramirez landed 32% of his punches overall (160 of 495) and 45% of his power shots (121 of 268), which is a high number.
That’s why the judges had a relatively easy night.
“I’m living a new stage in my life,” an excited Ramirez said afterward. “This a new history I’m writing. I did everything I had to do as an Olympian. I won two gold medals.
“And now I can call myself a champion.”
Ramirez is now one of four major featherweight titleholders, joining Luis Lopez (IBF), Mauricio Lara (WBA) and Rey Vargas (WBC).
What’s next for him?
“I want all the smoke,” he said. “I want all the guys, whether it’s Joet Gonzalez, who had a great performance tonight, the champions or [contender] Mick Conlan.
“Whoever they want to put in front of me. I want all of the great fights.”
Meanwhile, Dogboe’s considerable momentum is gone.
The Ghanaian, a former 122-pound titleholder, won four consecutive fights after crushing back-to-back losses to Emanuel Navarrete to earn a shot at the WBO belt only to come up short.
He had a hard time accepting both a 12th round knockdown, which Dogboe said was a slip, and the scoring.
“Robeisy Ramirez is a terrific fighter but the result is b–s—,” he said and later added. “Let’s run it back. That’s all I have to say. It’s a rematch. If you’re a true champion, let’s run it back.”
That seems highly unlikely. It’s on to bigger and better things for the rising Cuban star.