One other chapter in Mexico’s historic saga of intra-national showdowns is ready to unfold.
Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza will make the primary protection of his WBO featherweight world title in opposition to Sergio Chirino on Friday, June 21, inside BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas. Espinoza-Chirino will mark the 161st all-Mexican world title combat and the twentieth at featherweight.
The ten-round junior light-weight co-feature will see Andres “Savage” Cortes and Abraham “El Tremendous” Nova collide in a high-stakes battle offered in affiliation with Murphys Boxing and 12 Rounds Promotion.
In a 10-round particular attraction, unbeaten middleweights Troy Isley and Javier Martinez will reignite a fierce newbie rivalry.
Espinoza-Chirino, Cortes-Nova and Isley-Martinez headline a stacked card streaming reside and solely within the U.S. on ESPN+ and Sky Sports activities within the UK and Eire.
Promoted by High Rank, in affiliation with Zanfer Promotions, tickets go on sale Tuesday, Might 14, at 12 p.m. PT by way of Ticketmaster.com.
“From prime to backside, it is a really nice card that guarantees motion, and we’re thrilled to be doing our first present on the stunning Fontainebleau Las Vegas,” mentioned High Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “Espinoza will be Mexico’s subsequent nice champion, however he has a troublesome project in Chirino. Andres Cortes and Abraham Nova is a good grudge match, and the winner shall be in nice place to problem for a world title.”
“Espinoza-Chirino is one in all this 12 months’s most anticipated fights, and we couldn’t be prouder to host it at BleauLive Theater, a sports activities fan’s paradise the place you’ll really feel the depth of each punch irrespective of the place you’re seated,” says Fontainebleau Las Vegas Senior Vice President of Leisure, Fedor Banuchi. “Espinoza-Chirino title bout underscores Fontainebleau’s 70-year legacy of delivering premier leisure to our visitors and solidifies our standing as a top-tier vacation spot for reside occasions.”
Espinoza (24-0, 20 KOs) devoted over a decade to his professional profession earlier than capturing the WBO featherweight world title in a Battle of the 12 months contender in opposition to Robeisy Ramirez final December. Regardless of being knocked down within the fifth after taking an early lead, Espinoza rallied late and dropped Ramirez within the twelfth, practically stopping him earlier than the ultimate bell. Espinoza earned a majority choice in a surprising upset. Standing at 6’1,” he’s the tallest world champion in featherweight historical past, a division that has included Mexican greats akin to Ruben Olivares, Salvador Sanchez, Erik Morales, and Marco Antonio Barrera.
Espinoza mentioned, “I’m excited to return to the ring. I’m coaching very laborious like at all times. I do know that I’ll be going through a Mexican compatriot who’s coming to win. I shall be able to defend my title with plenty of grit and coronary heart. And that’s what I’ll do within the ring, combat with plenty of coronary heart and win my first title protection.”
Chirino (22-1, 13 KOs) went 9-0 earlier than an early loss to eventual world titleholder Mauricio Lara in August 2018. Since then, he has remained unbeaten, tallying wins in numerous elements of Mexico. Final 12 months, he decisioned Ally Mwerangi and Sebastian Tinoco Chavez earlier than making his 2024 debut in February by stopping Dennis Contreras with a physique shot within the third spherical. The 29-year-old hopes to make historical past by changing into the primary world champion to come back from the Mexican state of Oaxaca.
Chirino mentioned, “We Mexicans are recognized for having plenty of coronary heart. And every time there are two of us within the ring, it’s a battle. I’m glad for the chance, however on the similar time, I do know I’ve earned it. I’m coming for that belt. I’ve plenty of expertise. There shall be an issue within the ring, and that drawback is Espinoza. However I’ll resolve that drawback and take house the victory.”
Nova (23-2, 16 KOs) had a powerful newbie profession spanning nearly 200 fights, with notable wins in opposition to Frank Martin, Richardson Hitchins, and Nahir Albright. As a professional, he went 17-0 earlier than getting into a co-promotional settlement with High Rank in early 2020. He suffered his first skilled setback in June 2022 by way of a one-punch knockout in opposition to Ramirez at featherweight. Following the loss, Nova moved again to junior light-weight, notching victories over Adam Lopez and former world champion Jonathan Romero earlier than a break up choice loss in his first world title shot in opposition to O’Shaquie Foster in February.
Nova mentioned, “We’ve been on a collision course for a very long time. It was finally going to occur. Andres has been nipping at my heels for some time, calling me out and operating his mouth at press conferences. Nicely, on June 21 in Las Vegas, he’s going to get a style of what he’s been craving. Watch out what you would like for. No Concern! No Doubt!”
Cortes (21-0, 12 KOs), a Las Vegas native, made his mark in July 2020 by overcoming a go to to the canvas to safe a choice victory in opposition to Alejandro Salinas on the MGM Grand Las Vegas Bubble. In 2021, he maintained his momentum by outpointing Eduardo Garza in Might, knocking out former world title challenger Genesis Servania within the first spherical in August and vanquishing Mark Bernaldez in three rounds in November. The 26-year-old inked a cope with High Rank the next March and has since gone 5-0 with three knockouts, together with final July’s seventh-round stoppage win over Xavier Martinez and February’s fourth-round TKO in opposition to Bryan Chevalier.
“That is going to be a painful evening for Abraham Nova. He thinks I’m his ticket to a different title shot, however I’m going to plant him on the canvas,” Cortes mentioned. “I’m prepared for a title shot, and no person, particularly not Nova, will cease me from attaining my dream.”
Isley (12-0, 5 KOs) kicked off his professional profession in February 2021 and notched his first 10 wins earlier than becoming a member of forces with 2023 Coach of the 12 months Brian “BoMac” McIntyre. Since then, the Olympian has excelled, registering a dominant factors verdict over Mexican veteran Vladimir Hernandez final November on the Shakur Stevenson-Edwin De Los Santos invoice earlier than knocking out Marcos Hernandez in spherical seven in March. Martinez (10-0-1, 3 KOs), a five-time nationwide champion, began his skilled journey in July 2020. He solely has one blemish, a break up draw in opposition to Joeshon James. The Milwaukee native is coming off his most vital victory, an eight-round choice over Raul Salomon in February.
Isley and Martinez are acquainted foes, having fought 4 instances as amateurs. Isley bested Martinez within the finals of the 2016 and 2017 U.S. Nationwide Championships. Martinez responded with victories on the 2018 U.S. Nationwide Championships and 2020 U.S. Olympic Crew Trials.
“This isn’t the amateurs anymore,” Isley mentioned. “Javier goes to see the distinction in talent once we combat on June 21 in Las Vegas. He’s a troublesome fighter with plenty of coronary heart, however that received’t be sufficient for him to win the combat.”
“That is the top of the rivalry. We fought some nice battles as amateurs, and this one is the tiebreaker,” Martinez mentioned. “I’ve needed this combat ever since I turned professional, and on June 21, I’ll present Troy that our final two newbie fights weren’t a fluke. I used to be the higher fighter then, and I’m the higher fighter now.”
The undercard features a pair of Las Vegas natives and the High Rank debut of a fast-rising prodigy:
· Bantamweight prospect Floyd Diaz (11-0, 3 KOs) makes his second 2024 look in an eight-round tilt versus Francisco Pedroza (18-11-2, 10 KOs). The Las Vegas native shined with an eight-round choice over Puerto Rican vet Edwin Rodriguez in March. Pedroza, after giving stiff checks to Gary Antonio Russell and Jason Moloney, bested three-time Olympian Rau’shee Warren over six rounds in August 2022.
· Junior light-weight southpaw DJ Zamora (12-0, 9 KOs), additionally a local of Las Vegas, will face Jose Antonio Meza (9-9, 2 KOs) in an eight-round contest. The 21-year-old earned two victories in 2023, dispatching Jesus Abel Ibarra in three rounds in March and decisioning Nikolai Buzolin throughout eight in July.
· Junior bantamweight phenom Steven Navarro (1-0, 1 KO) will make his High Rank debut in a six-rounder in opposition to Juan Pablo Meza (7-3, 2 KOs). The 13-time U.S. nationwide newbie champion entered the skilled ranks by stopping Jose Lopez in six in April.
· Albert Gonzalez (8-0, 4 KOs), a featherweight standout educated by Robert Garcia, takes on Conrado Martinez (9-1) in a six-rounder. Gonzalez returns after blasting out Joel Alberto Mora final month.
