Robeisy Ramirez wears a thorn on his professional record, but he hopes to eradicate it on July 2. The Cuban has been informed that on that date he would face Adan Gonzáles, the man who beat him in his professional debut.

The loss generated doubts about Ramirez's ability to succeed at the highest level. It also poured a wave of rain over Top Rank's hype for the two-time Olympic gold medal winner.

Top Rank, the first promoter to return since the coronavirus pandemic began, will continue with their series of two or three weekly events in Las Vegas and needs to find warriors to fill the gaps, so Robeisy, winner by knockout in just 58 seconds in his recent outing, was a clear candidate to repeat.

But no one on the team expected the new opponent to be Gonzales, who beat the Cuban by split decision on August 10 in Philadelphia.

"When the people of Top Rank approached us with this proposal, we accepted it immediately," said Ramirez coach, Ismael Salas, to George Ebro. "Gonzales is a thorn that still hurts Robeisy on the inside and once we remove that thorn it will allow us to look forward without stopping.''

Ramírez, who won by knockout on June 9 over Dominican Yeuri Andújar, enjoyed just five days of rest and returned right back to training alongside compatriots such as Erislandy Lara and Yordenis Ugás, in addition to the Puerto Rico's Félix "Diamante' Verdejo.

Salas, for his part, has wasted no time in reviewing what happened in Philadelphia over and over again, looking for the exacts reasons for that defeat and what could make Ramirez a different fighter this time.

Beyond what may happen, Salas cannot be happier with the development shown by Ramirez, who is still in high esteem by Top Rank and must continue his ascent at 126 pounds.

"Robeisy on that occasion kind of froze a little and in his corner they couldn't get him out of the lethargy, they couldn't keep him focused,'" Salas added. Everything will be very different now. The inner giant and the enormous talent inside of him has been awakened. On July 2nd we'll remove the thorn.''