Robesiy Ramirez got it right the second time around.
The two-time Olympic champion from Cuba was stunned by unknown Adan Gonzales in Ramirez’s professional debut last August, going down in the first round and losing a split decision in a four-round bout.
The rematch took place on the Jose Pedraza-Mikkel LesPierre card Tuesday in Las Vegas. And it wasn’t close.
Ramirez, true to his pedigree, outclassed Gonzales in every way to win a shutout decision in a six-round featherweight bout. All three judges scored it 60-54, meaning it wasn’t much of a fight at all.
“The biggest difference from the last time is I was dropped in the first round,” Ramirez said through a translator. “That threw me off my game plan. Instead of boxing like I did tonight, I tired to land one big punch to get back in the fight.
“Everything was different tonight.”
Indeed, it was.
Ramirez (4-1, 3 KOs) never really hurt Gonzales but he controlled the fight with his special skill set and quickness, sticking, connecting consistently and moving as Gonzales tried mostly in vain to find ways to inflict damage.
And even when they engaged one another in close, the Cuban, who had as many as 400 amateur bouts, got the better of the exchanges.
Gonzales (5-3-2, 2 KOs) didn’t embarrass himself, perhaps proving that he belongs in the ring with an elite talent, but he simply didn’t have the tools to cope with a talent like Ramirez.
The product of Denver was also up against Ramirez’s fellow Cuban ex-patriot and veteran trainer Ismael Salas, who Ramirez brought into his camp after the earlier setback. A little time to reflect and a good hire certainly made a difference.
“I wanted to put our first fight behind me, and I did that,” Ramirez said. “Ever since our first fight, I wanted the rematch. I am glad this chapter of my career is behind me now.”