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Unheralded Rafael Espinoza, an anonymous 10-year pro getting the opportunity of a lifetime, scored a tremendous upset in a dramatic majority decision victory over Robeisy Ramirez to win the WBO featherweight title Saturday night at the sold-out Charles F. Dodge City Center in Pembroke Pines, Florida.
With the Top Rank Boxing on ESPN main event being a split draw going into the 12th round of the intense fight of the year candidate, Espinoza sealed the shocking victory with a dominating round in which he knocked Ramirez down. One judge scored the fight 113-113 but the other two had it for Espinoza, 115-111 and 114-112.
Espinoza, who had never previously faced a recognizable opponent, could barely hold back near tears of joy during his post-fight interview.
“This man, Fernando Beltran (of Zanfer Promotions), called me and told me, ‘You’re fighting for the world title.’ I was gonna go take a shower and I started to cry,” Espinoza said through an interpreter. “I grabbed my daughter. I gave her a kiss and I made this dream come true and tonight I’m a world champion.”
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