Despite Luis Alberto Lopez’s push, Salvador Rodriguez reports that Rafael “Divino” Espinoza will instead defend his WBO featherweight title against Arnold Khegai atop a November 15th Zanfer/Top Rank show in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
Though this matchup avoids the ethical and moral quandaries present in the Lopez bout, it is by no means a good fight. Khegai (23-2-1, 14 KO) dropped a decision to Joet Gonzalez in March and his only win since saw him take a unanimous decision over the ancient, undersized
Liborio Solis at Berlin, Germany’s Uber Eats Music Hall.
Just learned that existed today. God, I hate late-stage capitalism.
It’s yet another underwhelming foe for Espinoza (27-0, 23 KO), who might just be the best featherweight in the world but hasn’t fought anyone of note outside of his duology with Robeisy Ramirez. I get that they’re trying to keep him warm for Naoya Inoue, but c’mon, Nick Ball is right there for the most cartoonish clash of builds you’ll ever see.
The show will also see Lindolfo Delgado (23-0, 16 KO) face Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela (31-4-1, 17 KO) in a previously ordered IBF super lightweight eliminator. I reiterate that giving Gollaz a second straight IBF eliminator in the same year after getting beaten to a pulp by Subriel Matias in March is dumb as hell.
Top prospects Emiliano Vargas and Richard Torrez Jr will also do battle with the fearsome TBA twins.
