WBO featherweight champion Robeisy ‘El Tren’ Ramirez 12-1 (7) will be out to steal the show when he makes the first defence of his world title against Japanese lefty Satoshi ‘Diamond Left’ Shimizu 11-1 (10) at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan on July 25.
The bout will be the main support to WBC and WBO super bantamweight champion Stephen ‘Cool Boy’ Fulton 21-0 (8) versus local hero and international superstar Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue 24-0 (21).
Cuban southpaw Ramirez, 29, will be making the first defence of the vacant belt he won against former WBO super bantamweight champion Isaac Dogboe 24-3 (15) by unanimous decision in April, a fight he punctuated with a 12th round knockdown.
“Just a few months ago, I fulfilled my cherished goal of becoming world featherweight champion,” Ramirez said after a recent training session.
“The time has now come for the first defence of my title and I couldn’t be happier or more honored for it to be in Tokyo, Japan, in front of a sold-out arena and as chief support to the much-anticipated unification clash between Fulton and Inoue.”
Ramirez has grand ambitions for his career and they extend beyond dominating the 126-pound division.
“Becoming world champion was a big leap in my quest to be considered the world’s top featherweight and eventually becoming a consensus pound-for-pound fighter,” he said.
“My battle against the tough and experienced Shimizu will be another important stop in my journey.”
Shimizu, 37, has strung together three victory since his lone loss to Joe Noynay 21-3-2 (9 four years ago. Shimizu was stopped in six frames by Noynay in a fight that took place outside his natural weight class in the super featherweight division. It is notable that Noynay is a fellow southpaw, just like Ramirez.
The champion will be fighting outside of the US for just the second time of his career after having previously fought in the UK. Ramirez says he is more than ready for the experience.
“I’m looking forward not only to the fight, but also experiencing all that this beautiful country has to offer with its passionate boxing fans, it’s vibrant culture and rich history, among so many other things,” Ramirez said.
“See you all at the Ariake Arena on July 25 and get ready for another great show from El Tren!”
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Ramirez took the fast track to becoming a world champion. In 2022, he stopped Irish veteran Eric Donovan in February, starched then-unbeaten contender Abraham Nova in June, and defeated Jose Matias Romero via ninth-round TKO in October. These three victories primed him for his win over Dogboe earlier this year.
Ramirez, who trains in Las Vegas with Ismael Salas, will now finish training camp in Japan.
Shimizu is making his first attempt at a world title. The two-time Olympian and 2012 bronze medalist is coming off a second-round stoppage win over Landy Cris Leon last December.
