Rafael Espinoza defends WBO featherweight title November 15

Espinoza-Khegai and select undercard fights will stream on the Top Rank Classics FAST channel this Saturday starting at 8pm ET/5pm PT

Rafael ‘Divino’ Espinoza will make a voluntary defense of his WBO featherweight title against Arnold Khegai (23-2-1, 14 KOs) on November 15 in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Top Rank presents this event in association with Zanfer Boxing.

Undercard: Delgado vs. Valenzuela

• Lindolfo Delgado vs. Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela – IBF Super Lightweight Title Eliminator
• Richard Torrez Jr. vs. TBA – heavyweights
• Emiliano Vargas vs TBA – Light Welterweights

Featherweight Division Avoidance

Espinoza (27-0, 23 KOs) has been avoided like the plague by the top contenders and champions at 126. As such, it’s understandable why he’s reduced to defending against the 33-year-old Khegai rather than one of the undefeated fighters, such as Bruce Carrington, Nick Ball and Angelo Leo.

If Khegai is as good as Espinoza is, you can’t blame the Mexican star for taking this fight. It is better to do this than to sit idle.

Khegai is coming off an eight-round unanimous decision victory over 43-year-old former WBA super featherweight champion Liborio Solis on September 12, 2025, in Berlin, Germany. Prior to that, Khegai lost to Joet Gonzalez via a 10-round split decision on March 8, 2025 in Long Beach, California.

When Khegai takes on ‘Divino’ Espinoza on November 15, it will be his third fight in 2025. That is admirable in this day and age for a warrior.

Espinoza (31) has looked outstanding recently, beating Edward Vazquez, Robeisy Ramirez x 2 and Sergio Chirino Sanchez. The wins over two-time Olympic Cuban gold medalist Robeisy were particularly impressive for the lanky 6’1″ as he dominated him in both fights.

Saturday, November 15 – Top Rank Classics (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT)

Rafael Espinoza vs. Arnold Khegai, 12 rounds, Espinoza’s WBO featherweight world title

Emiliano Vargas vs. Jonathan Montrel, 10 Rounds, Junior Welterweight

Lindolfo Delgado vs. Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela, 12 rounds, IBF Junior Welterweight World Title eliminator

Richard Torrez Jr. vs. Tomas Salek, 10 rounds, heavyweight

PLEASE NOTE: Highlights of the Julian Montalvo-Nicolas Patron junior lightweight bout will be shown during the telecast. Montalvo (4-0, 3 KOs) is 17 years old and one of the youngest fighters ever to sign a promotional contract with Top Rank.