“To be honest, it seems like the way they’re planning it is for me and Espinoza to meet at the end,” Carrington said. The Ring. “That’s what it looks like because it’s like a big crescendo, me and him having this dream fight. I think that’s what they’re trying to set up, so I’m not mad at it at all.”
From a business point of view, the strategy makes sense. Carrington holds the WBC featherweight title and represents one of Top Rank’s top American hopes. Espinoza holds the WBO belt and has become one of the division’s most entertaining champions.
The problem is that Espinoza has ruined a similar plan once before.
Before running into Espinoza, Robeisy Ramirez seemed destined for stardom. The two-time Olympic gold medalist captured the WBO featherweight title and looked set to become one of the top-ranked marquee attractions. Instead, Espinoza defeated Ramirez twice in grueling fights. The rematch ended with Ramirez suffering an eye injury that kept him out of the ring for over a year, and the Cuban is no longer top-ranked.
Carrington, 17-0 (10 KOs), also showed signs of vulnerability.
The 29-year-old Brooklyn native was defeated by Carlos Castro before rallying to score a ninth-round stoppage in January. Earlier in his career, Carrington escaped with a 10-round majority decision over Sulaiman Segawa in a fight many observers saw as much closer than expected.
At 29, Carrington is not a young prospect with years to develop. If Top Rank believes he can beat Espinoza, there’s an argument to be made that the time to make the fight is sooner rather than later.
Espinoza, 28-0 (24 KOs), presents problems unlike anyone Carrington has faced. Standing 6-foot-1, the Mexican champion combines relentless pressure, high punch output, and proven durability. Those qualities helped him defeat Ramirez twice and transform the featherweight landscape.
Carrington is scheduled to make an optional defense against undefeated Rene Palacios on July 4 in Cleveland. Espinoza does not currently have a fight lined up.
If both keep winning, the matchup that Carrington referred to as a “dream fight” could end up being one of the biggest matchups in the division. But Top Rank has already seen how dangerous Espinoza can be to carefully laid plans.
