Mexico's featherweight king, Rafael Espinoza defends his WBO crown against Edward Vazquez on Sunday, May 4th, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Espinoza-Vazquez will serve as the co-feature to the undisputed world junior featherweight championship showdown between Japanese icon Naoya Inoue and San Antonio-born Ramon Cardenas. Espinoza (26-0, 22 KOs) built his career in Mexico before shocking two-time Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez for the WBO title in December 2023. Dropped in the fifth, the 31 year-old Espinoza stormed back to score a twelfth-round knockdown and claim a majority decision in ESPN’s Upset of the Year. He defended the title last June with a fourth-round TKO versus Sergio Chirino before ending the Ramirez rivalry by stopping him in round six of their December rematch.
Vazquez (17-2, 4 KOs), from Fort Worth, Texas, enters his second world title opportunity after knocking out Kenneth Taylor in four rounds last October. Vazquez lost a 2023 130-pound title bid to Joe Cordina by majority decision. Inoue-Cardenas and Espinoza-Vazquez will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Ohashi Promotion, Teiken Promotions, and Sampson Boxing, tickets are on sale now via AXS.com.
This is what Espinoza said following a recent training session in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico:
“Edward Vazquez is a great fighter. He’s going to come with everything. We chose him because we know it would make for an exciting fight. This is an important fight for me. At the same time, I don’t like to predict knockouts or tell people how the fight will end. I’m simply going to do my job. If the knockout comes, then great. Either way, I'm scoring a win for my people."
“I’m treating Vazquez as if he were an unbeaten champion. That’s how I’m taking things in my preparation, and that will ensure I don’t come in overconfident. Also, I know that it’s a huge opportunity for him, so he will come in the best shape possible.”
“It’s a great responsibility to fight on such an important weekend for Mexicans, so I see it as a source of motivation. I want to continue representing Mexico on these important fight dates.”
“The only thing on my mind is Edward Vazquez and defeating him on May 4. But at the same time, I’d like to show the Japanese people that I’m also ready for Naoya Inoue. That kind of fight would help me become one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.”
“I’m going to steal the show on May 4 and give all the Mexicans in attendance a great night.”
