Isaac Dogboe will attempt to become a two-division boxing champion Saturday when he faces top-ranked contender Robeisy Ramirez for the vacant WBO featherweight title. Their 12-round main event anchors the fight card (7 p.m. ET main card) from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tulsa, Okla. Five years ago, Dogboe (24-2, 16 KOs) won the WBO junior featherweight title and made one successful defense before losing the belt. He is now in his first major-title fight in four years and is in search of his second division crown with a win over Ramirez (11-1, 7 KOs), a celebrated prospect who will be fighting for his first major title.
Ramirez is a -800 favorite (risk $800 to win $100), while Dogboe comes back at +550 in the latest Robeisy Ramirez vs. Isaac Dogboe odds from Caesars Sportsbook. The over/under for total rounds completed is 10.5, with the Over priced at -160 and the Under listed at +125. Before locking in any Robeisy Ramirez vs. Isaac Dogboe picks, make sure you check out the boxing predictions and betting advice from SportsLine analyst Peter Kahn.
Kahn is a true boxing insider who has his finger on the pulse of what's going on inside and outside of the ring. He has managed numerous world champions and currently manages 20 fighters through his company, Fight Game Advisors. Kahn recently won the 2022 Boxing Writers Association of America Cus D'Amato Manager of the Year award and was named to the 2023 Florida Boxing Hall of Fame.
Kahn is uncanny when it comes to picking fights. He is an astounding 38-10 on his last 48 SportsLine boxing picks, returning $4,000 to $100 bettors. Anyone who has followed him has already seen massive returns.
Now, with Ramirez vs. Dogboe on deck, Kahn has studied the matchup from every angle and released confident selections for the fight. You can see those picks at SportsLine.
Robeisy Ramirez vs. Isaac Dogboe preview
For Dogboe, who was born in Ghana and spent his formative years in London, motivation for winning the fight Saturday not only serves his professional goal of becoming a two-division world champion, but also inspiring the people of his native country.
At least 25% of Ghana's 32 million residents reportedly live in poverty, one of the highest rates in the world. Many residents lack basics such as running water, adequate food and tools for proper hygiene. Dogboe witnessed these struggles in his early years and has made frequent returns in an effort to help those in need.
He's also aware that the Ghana population has been moved by the success of athletes who have come before him, and the nation has strong roots in boxing. Dogboe cites former champions Ike Quartey and Azumah Nelson for opening the door for his opportunities, and Dogboe said he hopes to do the same for others.
"They paved the way. I'm fighting for the people. If I am to inspire a country, a nation... I have to do it now in order for that to manifest itself. I'm here to win," he said.
There's still plenty of pressure on Ramirez, who was one of boxing's hottest prospects in recent memory when he came to the United States following his Gold Medal wins in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics for Cuba.
However, his professional career got off to a rocky start. His handlers noticed he seemed to lack discipline with both his diet and his training regimen. Moreover, he was struggling to adjust to a new culture after leaving his home country.
Those concerns came to a pinnacle in his pro debut against Adan Gonzales in August 2019. Gonzales was a journeyman with a 4-4 record at the time, and was supposed to serve as a layup opponent for Ramirez. Instead, Gonzales landed an early knockdown and went on to win a split decision, which took a lot of steam out of the hype for Ramirez.
The brass at Top Rank, Ramirez's promotion team, told the boxer he needed to immediately make changes or else they would no longer back him. The fighter has since rededicated himself to the craft and vowed to never repeat the same mistakes.
"It's basically the here and the now," Ramirez told the media this week. "This is the task. And I know for a fact that now is the time for me to become a world champion." See who to back at SportsLine.
How to make Ramirez vs. Dogboe picks
Kahn likes the Over 10.5 rounds at a price of -160 in the latest Caesars boxing odds. He's also made the call on a method-of-victory prop and a money-line pick. You can only see those selections at SportsLine.
Who wins Robeisy Ramirez vs. Isaac Dogboe? And which prop is a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see Peter Kahn's best bets for Saturday, all from the boxing specialist who has netted his followers a profit of $4,000, and find out.
