BUSINESS, Calif. — Whenever offers and negotiations start coming in, Rafael Espinoza can officially decide what’s next for his career.
But if Espinosa can have his way and build on the way he feels so comfortable fighting now as WBO featherweight champion, he’d rather fight for the undisputed title in his division Championship status instead of seeking fortune in heavier weight classes.
Mexico’s 30-year-old Espinoza’s world title status continues to rise as he went 26-0 (22 KOs) in December with a repeat of his 2023 win over Cuba’s Robesi Ramirez He stopped Robeisy Ramirez of Cuba in the sixth round Ramirez, who at the time said he would never see again due to a fractured orbital bone that was detached from his eye.
The victory came just ahead of Espinoza’s compatriot and WBO junior lightweight champion Emanuel Navarrete, who scored an impressive knockout of former two-division champion Oscar Varrete Oscar Valdez successfully defended his belt, and promoter Top Rank is believed to want to stage a showdown between the two because Espinoza – 6’1″ – has room to grow.
However, speaking to BoxingScene on Friday while competing in his title defense against gymnastics partner Mizuki Hita, Espinosa said he was uncomfortable with the idea of focusing on “I’m trying to get better and improve with every competition.” satisfy.
Regarding Navarrete potentially being his next enemy, he said he is targeting a return match in April and that Navarrete is “not what I want” at the moment.
“I want to defend my title and unite. No matter who is a [featherweight] The championship right now — any one of them — is what I want,” Espinoza said. “I know I’m the best of them all. I’m confident I can beat any of these champions. I want all the titles. “
While Navarrete will offer quality prize money, Espinosa believes that in chasing current featherweight belt holders Brandon Figueroa (WBC), Angelo Rio (IBF) ) and Nick Ball (WBA) in the process, he will earn well.
“I know, but I can make just as much money here and I can keep gaining weight,” he said.
He was interested in ball battles because of the height difference.
“That’s going to be a historic fight,” Espinoza said. “Because I’m the tallest champion ever in this division and Nick Ball is the shortest champion ever. A lot of people want to see this fight.”
Of course, Espinoza is also keeping a close eye on developments in the boxing world, knowing that if he can work his way through the division this year, undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue should be ready to move to featherweight in early 2026 class.
“I love this fight,” he said.
Lance Pugmire is an American senior writer at BoxingScene and an associate producer at ProBox TV. Pugmire has covered boxing since the early 2000s, first with the Los Angeles Times, then The Athletic and USA Today. In 2022, he received the Nat Fleischer Award from the Boxing Writers Association of America for career excellence.
