Rafael Espinoza on the rise after four-round Chirino beatdown

IT came as a surprise at the end of 2023 when Robeisy Ramirez was dethroned by unheralded challenger Rafael Espinoza following 12 rounds of intensely exciting action. Robeisy had seemingly shaken off the shock of a debut defeat to get back on track. Losing a fight was, for the Cuban, supposed to be an anomaly…and then he lost for the second time.

On this occasion, defeat came at the fierce fists of a Mexican featherweight with unfathomable height for the weight. That same fighter, Rafael Espinoza, can clearly punch, as he showed on Friday evening against Sergio Chirino. 

The Robeisy Ramirez rematch may well come next. Bruce Carrington is also sniffing around for a shot. As time and fights move on, one thing is becoming more apparent: the long-term ruler of the featherweight division probably isn’t going to be Robeisy Ramirez.

Instead, it could be the man Eric Armit watched grind his challenger into the Las Vegas dust. Rafael Espinoza is no longer unknown. The WBO champion appears to be as dangerous as any of his championship contemporaries and, in time, could rise above them all.

Round 1

The four-inch taller Espinoza immediately forced Chirino back with his jab and landed a couple of left hooks to Chirino’s body. Chirino landed a quick left hook to Espinoza’s head. Espinoza kept throwing his jab, and then, as Chirino threw a right, Espinoza punched inside it with a short left hook to the jaw that dumped Chirino on his rump. Chirino was up at four, then moved to clear his head and fired punches at the bell.

Score: 10-8 Espinoza

Round 2

Espinoza was again using his jab to keep Chirino retreating, with Chirino throwing counters and connecting with an occasional right. Espinoza drove home straight rights, and then they both landed rights. Espinoza hurt Chirino with body punches. 

Score: 10-9 Espinoza (Espinoza 20-17)

Round 3

Espinoza was working his jab again and throwing long rights. Chirino had no real answer to Espinoza’s jab and was being caught by hooks to the body. Espinoza chased Chirino along the ropes and then sent Chirino back across the ring with rights. 

As Espinoza followed Chirino around the ring, he landed a right that brought blood from Chirino’s nose. Under a burst of punches, Chirino bent over,  put both gloves on the canvas and was given a count. The bell went at the end of the count. 

Score: 10-8 Espinoza (Espinoza 30-26)

Round 4

Espinoza landed a series of hooks to the body then a jab and a right to the body that had Chirino backing off. Espinoza chased Chirino around the ring until he landed a couple of uppercuts. Chirino bent over double and put his gloves on the floor. 

The referee started the count, but Chirino was obviously in pain from the nose injury, so the referee stopped the count and the fight. Espinoza was making the first defence of the WBO title he had won by outpointing Robeisy Ramirez in December. 

At 6’1”, he is tall for a featherweight, and with 21 wins by KO/TKO, he also has power. Chirino had won his last 13 fights against modest opposition who were nowhere near being rated, and his No. 12 position with the WBO was laughable – but no joke.