WBO featherweight champion Rafael Espinoza (28-0, 24 KOs) once again delivered a dominant performance, earning an 11th-round TKO victory over Arnold Khegai (23-3-1, 14 KOs) on Saturday night in Mexico.
Although Espinoza showed some vulnerability at times, he dominated Khegai, leaving him with a broken nose and nearly shut left eye. Espinoza keeps his WBO title and is looking to set up a unification fight against the other champions in 2026.
In the opening round, Espinoza and Khegai began a lot slower than usual when it comes to their punch output. Espinoza was establishing his distance with the left jab, but couldn’t land anything significant as Khegai remained in the high guard. Khegai began to let his hands go in the second round as his overhand right found a home on Espinoza’s chin. Khegai had his moments, but it was Espinoza’s jab that dictated the action throughout the round.
Espinoza peppered Khegai with right uppercuts throughout the third round as he slowly increased his punch output. Khegai was trying to land the home run right-hand but missed on most of his attempts. In the fourth round, Khegai landed two consecutive overhand rights followed by a left hook that rocked Espinoza and forced him to hold. Espinoza then came back with left and right uppercuts that busted up the nose of Khegai.
Throughout the fifth round, Espinoza and Khegai went blow for blow as both fighters had their moments. Towards the end of the round, Espinoza’s downhill offense began to slow Khegai down. Espinoza continued to throw his uppercuts and straight right hands, which had Khegai’s left eye almost shut at the end of the sixth round.
In the seventh round, Espinoza landed a huge right hand that nearly folded Khegai in half. Espinoza followed it up with a pair of four-punch combinations, and Khegai was nearly knocked out on his feet, yet he was still trying to land something big. Espinoza continued his dominance in the eighth round as Khegai’s right eye was nearly shut. Khegai landed a few right hands, but not enough to slow Espinoza down.
Rounds nine and ten were more of Espinoza overwhelming Khegai with his offense. Finally, before the start of the 11thround, the corner of Khegai felt he had enough, so the referee waited until the beginning of the round to give him the ten-count and rule Espinoza the TKO victory.
UNDERCARD RESULTS
Emiliano Vargas (16-0, 13 KOs) was put to the test against Jonathan Montrel (19-4, 13 KOs) as he went the full ten rounds to get the victory in the co-main. The judges saw this one 100-89 and 99-90 x 2 for Vargas. Montrel overcame a first-round knockdown and held on to hear the final bell in the fight. It was a good fight for Vargas at this point in his career, as he looks to get to the next level.
Lindolfo Delgado (24-0, 16 KOs) squeezed out a split decision over Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela (31-5-1, 17 KOs) in a fight that could have easily gone to Valenzuela. The judges scored it 114-113 for Delgado, 114-113 for Gollaz, and 114-113 for Delgado. Although Delgado was knocked down in the final round, the judges still awarded him the win, securing the IBF title eliminator.
Richard Torrez Jr (14-0, 12 KOs) made quick work of Tomas Salek (23-8, 14 KOs) by busting his nose in the first round with a right hook, which forced the referee to stop the action so the ringside physician could examine Salek. After consulting with the referee, they decided that Salek could not continue, resulting in Torrez earning the TKO victory.
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