Rafael Espinoza vs. Sergio Chirino Headlines Stacked Vegas Top Rank Card
On Friday, June 21, Rafael Espinoza (24-0, 20 KOs) will make the first defence of his WBO featherweight world title against fellow Mexican Sergio Chirino (22-1, 13 KOs). The all-Mexican fight will be the main event of the Top Rank-promoted card at the BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas. The bout will be the 161st all-Mexican world title fight and the 20th at featherweight and be streamed live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ and Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland.
Rafael Espinoza vs. Sergio Chirino Headline Top Rank Card
Rafael Espinoza vs. Sergio Chirino
The Top Rank card will also see Andres Cortes vs. Abraham Nova in a junior lightweight contest, with unbeaten Troy Isley and Javier Martinez colliding in a middleweight bout.
Top Rank chairman Bob Arum spoke on the strength of the June 21 card: “From top to bottom, this is a truly great card that promises action, and we’re thrilled to be doing our first show at the beautiful Fontainebleau Las Vegas.”
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He continued: “Espinoza can be Mexico’s next great champion, but he has a tough assignment in Chirino. Andres Cortes and Abraham Nova is a great grudge match, and the winner will be in great position to challenge for a world title.”
The unbeaten Espinoza was last seen on December 9, 2023, when he upset two-time Olympic gold medallist Robeisy Ramírez, winning by majority decision. Speaking on his return to the ring: “I’m excited to return to the ring. I’m training very hard like always. I know that I’ll be facing a Mexican compatriot who is coming to win. I will be ready to defend my title with a lot of grit and heart. And that’s what I’ll do in the ring, fight with a lot of heart and win my first title defence.”
Chirino suffered his only defeat in 2018 against Mauricio Lara and has won 13 successive fights since, including wins against Ally Mwerangi and Sebastian Tinoco Chavez, with his most recent win coming against Dennis Contreras by a third-round TKO. Speaking on his upcoming world title shot, Chirino said: “We Mexicans are known for having a lot of heart. And whenever there are two of us in the ring, it’s a battle. I’m happy for the opportunity, but at the same time, I know I’ve earned it. I’m coming for that belt. I have a lot of experience. There will be a problem in the ring, and that problem is Espinoza. But I will solve that problem and take home the victory.”
Preliminary Bouts
- Las Vegas bantamweight Floyd Diaz (11-0, 3 KOs) will face Mexico’s Francisco Pedroza (18-11-2, 10 KOs) in an eight-rounder.
- Las Vegas southpaw DJ Zamora (12-0, 9 KOs) will face Mexico’s Jose Antonio Meza (9-9, 2 KOs) in an eight-round junior lightweight fight.
- Los Angeles junior bantamweight Steven Navarro (1-0, 1 KO), a 13-time U.S. national amateur champion making his Top Rank debut after recently signing, will face Juan Pablo Meza (7-3, 2 KOs) in a six-rounder.
- Robert Garcia-trained featherweight Albert Gonzalez (8-0, 4 KOs), of Perris, California, meets Conrado Martinez (9-1, 0 KOs), of Odessa, Texas, over six.
Freelance Writer and Digital Marketer, spending most of his time waiting for Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk II. Also watches YouTube videos of Lennox Lewis fights on a daily basis.
