Top Rank has officially announced the next fight for 30-year-old WBO featherweight champion (57.2 kg / 126 lbs) Rafael Espinoza (26-0, 22 KOs). He will face 29-year-old American contender Edward Vazquez (17-2, 4 KOs).
The bout is set for May 4 in Las Vegas, USA, taking place on the undercard of Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon Cárdenas.
This will mark Espinoza’s third title defense since capturing the belt in winter 2023, when he defeated Robeisy Ramírez. In 2024, Espinoza scored two knockout victories—against Sergio Sanchez and in a rematch against Ramírez.
Vazquez, meanwhile, rebounded from his 2023 loss to Joe Cordina by securing two consecutive wins.