1. Espinoza’s First Title Defense Ends in Spectacular KO
WBO World Featherweight champion Rafael Espinoza, in his first title defense, delivered a stunning fourth-round knockout against No. 2 ranked Sergio Chirino on Friday night at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas. Espinoza, who now boasts a record of 25-0 with 21 KOs, proved his dominance by dropping Chirino three times before the fight was halted by Referee Raul Caiz Jr.
2. Espinoza’s Relentless Assault from Round One
From the opening bell, Espinoza showcased his superior skills and power. He pursued Chirino relentlessly, culminating in a knockdown in the final seconds of the first round with a devastating left uppercut. Chirino barely survived the round, only to face more punishment in the following rounds.
3. Second Round: More of the Same
The second round saw Espinoza continue his onslaught. In the final seconds, a powerful right hand followed by a left to the body sent Chirino to the canvas again for an 8-count. Chirino’s resolve was clear, but he was outmatched by Espinoza’s precision and power.
4. The Final Blow in Round Four
Espinoza ended the fight decisively in the fourth round. A right uppercut landed flush on Chirino, dropping him for the third time. Referee Raul Caiz Jr. had seen enough and called a halt to the contest at 2:45 of the round, sealing Espinoza’s first successful title defense.
5. Co-Feature: Controversial Decision for Andres Cortes
In the co-main event, WBO Inter-Continental Super Featherweight champion Andres ‘Savage’ Cortes won a contentious decision over Abraham ‘El Super’ Nova for the vacant NABO Junior Lightweight title. The bout, filled with back-and-forth action, ended with scores of 97-93 twice and 96-94 for Cortes, and a conflicting 96-94 for Nova.
6. Detailed Breakdown of Cortes vs. Nova
The fight saw Nova having an edge in the early rounds, with Cortes becoming more aggressive as the fight progressed. Nova’s strong performance in the ninth round had many believing he did enough to win, but the judges saw it differently, awarding the victory to Cortes amid controversy.
7. Troy Isley’s Tactical Win
2021 Olympian Troy Isley secured a victory over southpaw Javier Martinez in a ten-round battle for the vacant NABO Middle title. Isley, now 13-0, demonstrated superior technique despite multiple low blow warnings, ultimately winning with scores of 97-91 twice and 96-92.
8. Floyd Diaz Outboxes Pedroza
Bantamweight Floyd ‘Cashflow’ Diaz outpointed Francisco Pedroza over eight rounds. Diaz’s speed and precision were too much for Pedroza, who was penalized a point for hitting on the break in the sixth round. Diaz emerged victorious with unanimous scores of 78-73 from all three judges.
9. Dominant Performance by Demier Zamora III
Super Featherweight southpaw Demier Zamora III maintained his unbeaten record with a unanimous decision over Jose Antonio Meza. Zamora’s relentless pressure and superior skill set earned him scores of 80-72 twice and 79-73, despite swelling under both eyes from Meza’s counterpunches.
10. Bryan Polaco’s Knockout Streak Continues
Middleweight southpaw Bryan ‘The Hunter’ Polaco extended his knockout streak by stopping Richard Acevedo in the third round. Polaco’s powerful left hand dropped Acevedo three times before the referee halted the bout at 2:51 of the third round, marking Polaco’s seventh win with five knockouts.
