Rafael Espinoza will have his newly won WBO featherweight title on the line tonight in his first defense against Sergio Chirino in the main event on ESPN+ at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
(Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank)
Event start time: 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT.
Boxing News 24 will give live updates and results below of tonight’s action:
The tall 6’1″ Espinoza (24-0, 20 KOs) surprised many people last year when he upset WBO 126-lb champion Robeisy Ramirez, beating him by a 12-round majority decision on December 9th at Pembroke Pines, Florida.
Espinoza got off the deck in the fifth to come back to dominate the remaining rounds with activity and dropped Robeisy in the 12th round to seal the victory. Before that win, Espinoza was an unknown in the eyes of fans, but he surprised the two-time Olympic gold medalist.
The eight-year professional Chirino Sanchez (22-1, 13 KO) has been mostly little-known opposition himself during his career, but somehow, he’s reason to be #2 in the World Boxing Organization’s rankings without a victory over anyone notable.
Other fights on tonight’s card:
– Unbeaten super featherweight Andres Cores (21-0, 12 KOs) battles the tough slugger Abraham Nova (23-2, 16 KO) in a 10-round contest for the vacant NABO title. Nova, 30, is coming off a loss earlier this year to O’Shaquie Foster and is in a must-win situation.
– Middleweight prospect Troy Isley (12-0, 5 KO) fights Javier Martinez (10-0-1, 3 KO) in a ten-round bout for the NABO belt. Isley, 25, has punching power, but he gets hit a lot and hasn’t always looked the greatest. It’s unclear whether he will go far in the sport unless he makes major improvements.
– Bantamweight Floyd Diaz (11-0, 3 KOs) faces veteran Francisco Pedroza (18-11-2, 10 KOs) in an eight-round contest.
Read the full article here
