Rafael Espinoza | |
|---|---|
| Born | Rafael Espinoza Zepeda April 21, 1994 Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico |
| Other names | El Divino ("The Divine") |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | Featherweight |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Reach | 74 in (188 cm) [1] |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 27 |
| Wins | 27 |
| Wins by KO | 23 |
Rafael Espinoza Zepeda (born April 21, 1994) is a Mexican professional boxer who has held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight title since December 2023.
Espinoza turned professional in 2013 and had compiled a 23–0 record by 2023. Before turning professional, Rafael Espinoza amassed only 11 amateur fights in his entire amateur career. [2]
On December 9, 2023, at Charles F. Dodge City Center in Pembroke Pines, Florida, Espinoza defeated Robeisy Ramírez in a major upset by majority decision to become the new WBO featherweight champion. [3] [4]
Espinoza was scheduled to make the first defense of his WBO featherweight title against Sergio Chirino on June 21, 2024, at BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau in Las Vegas. [5] He won the fight by TKO in the fourth round, dropping the challenger three times in the first, third and fourth rounds. [6] [7]
Espinoza defeated Robeisy Ramírez by TKO after six rounds when Ramírez sustained an eye injury during a rematch at Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ on December 7, 2024. [8] [9]
Espinoza is scheduled to make the third defense of his WBO featherweight title against Edward Vazquez at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 4, 2025. [10]
| 27 fights | 27 wins | 0 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 23 | 0 |
| By decision | 4 | 0 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | Win | 27–0 | Edward Vazquez | TKO | 7 (12), 1:47 | 4 May 2025 | T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Retained WBO featherweight title |
| 26 | Win | 26–0 | Robeisy Ramírez | TKO | 6 (12), 2:42 | 7 Dec 2024 | Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | Retained WBO featherweight title |
| 25 | Win | 25–0 | Sergio Chirino Sanchez | TKO | 4 (12), 2:45 | 21 Jun 2024 | Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. | Retained WBO featherweight title |
| 24 | Win | 24–0 | Robeisy Ramírez | MD | 12 | 9 Dec 2023 | Charles F. Dodge City Center, Pembroke Pines, Florida, U.S. | Won WBO featherweight title |
| 23 | Win | 23–0 | Ally Mwerangi | KO | 2 (10), 1:53 | 15 Jul 2023 | Restaurante Arroyo, Mexico City, Mexico | |
| 22 | Win | 22–0 | Rafael Rosas Ramirez | TKO | 3 (8), 1:44 | 25 Mar 2023 | El Domo del Code Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico | |
| 21 | Win | 21–0 | Orlando Garcia Guerrero | TKO | 1 (10) | 19 Nov 2022 | Arena Astros, Guadalajara, Mexico | |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | Gerardo Valenzuela Munoz | TKO | 1 (8), 2:44 | 25 Jun 2022 | Palenque Fex, Mexicali, Mexico | |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | Jose Gonzalez Ayala | KO | 3 (10) | 2 Apr 2022 | PALCCO, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico | |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Alie Laurel | KO | 1 (10), 1:37 | 19 Feb 2022 | Plaza Monumental, Tijuana, Mexico | |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Aramis Solis | KO | 1 (6), 0:12 | 25 Sep 2021 | Complejo Deportivo La Inalámbrica, Merida, Mexico | |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Carlos Ornelas | UD | 10 | 16 Jan 2021 | Grand Hotel, Tijuana, Mexico | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Luis Guzman Rios | TKO | 2 (8) | 27 Jun 2020 | Gimnasio TV Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Diego Andrade Chavez | TKO | 5 (8), 0:29 | 7 Jul 2018 | Domo del Parque San Rafael, Guadalajara, Mexico | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Cristian Cortes Gonzalez | TKO | 6 (6) | 17 Feb 2018 | Domo del Parque San Rafael, Guadalajara, Mexico | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Juan Jose Lopez Alcaraz | TKO | 6 (6), 1:56 | 9 Dec 2017 | Domo del Parque San Rafael, Guadalajara, Mexico | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Mario Cruz | TKO | 6 (8), 2:45 | 29 Oct 2016 | Arena Coliseo, Guadalajara, Mexico | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Jesus Marcelino Alvarez | KO | 2 (6) | 23 Jul 2016 | Gimnasio Usos Múltiples UdeG, Guadalajara, Mexico | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Eden Marquez | KO | 1 (6) | 4 Jun 2016 | Gimnasio Usos Múltiples UdeG, Guadalajara, Mexico | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Juan Jose Francisco Marquez Solano | KO | 1 (6), 1:56 | 12 Mar 2016 | Arena Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Karl Garcia | UD | 4 | 30 May 2015 | Florentine Gardens, Hollywood, California, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Agapito Garcia | KO | 1 (6), 2:12 | 20 Mar 2015 | Gimnacio Municipal de Box, Nogales, Mexico | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Carlos Bacasegua Luzania | KO | 3 (6), 2:24 | 7 Nov 2014 | Forum del Mayo, Navojoa, Mexico | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Victor Serrano Islas | TKO | 5 (6), 2:05 | 11 Jul 2014 | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Luis Macias | TKO | 2 (4) | 1 Nov 2013 | Auditorio Morelos, Aguascalientes, Mexico | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Oscar Pena | UD | 6 | 18 May 2013 | Foro Polanco, Polanco, Mexico | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Victor Valadez | TKO | 3 (4) | 15 Feb 2013 | El Gran Mexicano, Zapopan, Mexico |