RAFAEL Espinoza continues to be the WBO featherweight champion following a dominant show in opposition to overmatched Mexican rival Sergio Chirino Sanchez. The challenger couldn’t settle right into a rhythm and was bombed out in spherical 4.
Headlining final night time on the glowing Fontainebleau in Las Vegas as a part of a High Rank promotion, Espinoza set about Chirino in spherical one, dropping his fellow countryman with a left uppercut.
Chirino had his greatest spherical of the struggle in spherical two. Not that he received it, nevertheless it was the one session the 29-year-old bought by way of with out being knocked down.
Rafael nonetheless bossed the three minutes and carried that momentum into the third when one other heavy shot landed on Chirino, who had been buzzed earlier within the spherical earlier than a sneaky physique shot despatched Sergio down for a second time.
Making it into spherical 4, nostril spilling blood, Chirino soaked up a flurry from all-action Espinoza and sagged over for some quick respite. Sliding up straight, Chirino’s night was terminated by referee Raul Caiz Jr, who waved it off at 2-45 of spherical 4 (scheduled for the championship 12).
Espinoza improves his document to 25-0 (21 KOs), whereas Chirino drops to 22-2 (13 KOs).
When Espinoza entered the ring in opposition to Robeisy Ramirez in December 2023 (see beneath), he was a little-known, gangly challenger. After 12 thrilling rounds, Espinoza outlasted the Cuban to win a majority resolution and take residence the WBO crown at 126 kilos.
Robeisy misplaced his title in a battle to Espinoza.
That rematch continues to be on the playing cards for each males. Rising contender Bruce Carrington’s identify was additionally talked about as a future foe.
“The distinction is my starvation, my want to be the perfect,” stated Espinoza, who responded to the potential fights with ‘Shu Shu’ Carrington and Ramirez.
“These are the fights that every one three of us need. They’ll be nice fights and I hope they find yourself occurring.”
Andres Cortes missed weight within the chief assist bout and struggled as his break-out bout wore on. Opponent Abraham Nova, a former world title challenger, appeared to have executed sufficient over the ten rounds.
The three judges thought in any other case, awarding the bout to Cortes by unanimous resolution. Glenn Feldman had it 96-94, whereas Patricia Morse Jarman and Dave Moretti had it wider at 97-93 every, all to the native man who improved to 22-0.
