WBO featherweight champion Rafael Espinoza returned to action on Saturday night at Arena Coliseo, putting his belt on the line once again in front of a loud Mexican crowd. Standing across the ring was the rugged Arnold Khegai, a shorter, aggressive pressure fighter who came in determined to test the towering 6’1″ champion.
The fight was stopped after the tenth, as Khegai’s left eye was swollen and cut badly from the constant barrage of punches. A clash of heads in the seventh added to his troubles, but most of the damage came from Espinoza’s steady mix of jabs and uppercuts that found their target all night. The Ukrainian-born fighter showed heart, landing several right hands late in the fight, but his corner wisely pulled him out before the eleventh.
Espinoza retained his belt with another high-volume performance, though he absorbed his share of heavy shots. Khegai had his moments, but the size and pace difference proved too much to overcome.
Watch Espinoza vs. Khegai highlights.
In the co-feature, rising prospect Emiliano Vargas earned a ten-round unanimous decision win over veteran Jonathan Montrel in a tougher-than-expected fight. Vargas dropped Montrel early with what appeared to be a rabbit punch, and while the veteran complained, the knockdown stood. The scores were 100-89, 99-90, and 99-90.
Watch Vargas vs. Montrel highlights.
Also on the card, Lindolfo Delgado remained unbeaten but survived a major scare, getting off the canvas in the twelfth to take a split decision over Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela in an IBF light welterweight eliminator. Scores were 114-113 twice for Delgado and 114-113 for Gollaz. With the win, Delgado moves closer to a world title shot against IBF champion Richardson Hitchins.
Watch Delgado vs. Valenzuela highlights.
Heavyweight contender Richard Torrez Jr. needed less than a round to stop Tomas Salek, defending his NABO and NABF titles. Torrez came forward immediately, landed a clean right hook that bloodied Salek’s nose, and forced the referee to halt the fight. The Olympic silver medalist moves to 14-0 with another explosive finish.
Teen prospect Julian Montalvo continued his fast rise with a first-round knockout of Nicolas Patron. A quick two-punch combination scored the first knockdown, and a left hook to the body moments later ended the fight at the 2:02 mark. Montalvo improves to 5-0 with four KOs.
Image Credit: Zanfer Boxing