Account
Don’t have an account? Sign up
Help and preferences
Help
Settings & privacy
Rafael Espinoza Ready For Arnold Khegai To ‘Come With Everything’
Article hero background
Rafael Espinoza Ready For Arnold Khegai To ‘Come With Everything’
Link copied!
Nov 14, 2025
Nov 14, 2025
2 min read
For the first time in over two years, Rafael Espinoza will step back into the squared circle in his home country of Mexico. This time, he returns as a world champion to defend his WBO featherweight title against Arnold Khegai at Arena Potosi in San Lui...
For the first time in over two years, Rafael Espinoza will step back into the squared circle in his home country of Mexico.
This time, he returns as a world champion to defend his WBO featherweight title against Arnold Khegai at Arena Potosi in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, on Saturday. Thr fight will be streamed on the Top Rank Classics FAST channel in the U.S. beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Espinoza knows what it’s like to march into enemy territory to fight for a world title, and given that experience, he’s ready for Khegai to bring everything he has in his first attempt at winning a world title.
"I know what it’s like to fight for a world title,” Espinoza said at the final press conference on Thursday. “When you fight for a world title, you come with everything and more. So, I know he’s going to come with everything. I expect that from him, and I trained for that."
Espinoza (27-0, 23 KOs) of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, will be entering his fourth world title defense. The towering 6-foot-1 champion won the world title in an upset majority decision victory over then-champion and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist for Cuba, Robeisy Ramirez, in December 2023. Since becoming champion, Espinoza, 31, has notched three title defenses, all of which he has won by stoppage inside seven rounds, including a sixth-round TKO of Ramirez in their December 2024 rematch.
Khegai (23-2-1, 14 KOs) of Odesa, Ukraine, enters the clash off an eight-round unanimous decision win over Liborio Solis on September 12. The lone losses of the 33-year-old contender’s career were decision defeats to two-division champion Stephen Fulton and three-time title challenger Joet Gonzalez.
"I’m very happy because this is the biggest fight of my career so far,” Khegai said. “I’ve been waiting forever for this kind of fight, and Saturday will be a defining moment in my career."
The co-feature is an intriguing 12-round clash between undefeated Lindolfo Delgado of Linares, Nuevo León, Mexico, and Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Delgado (23-0, 16 KOs) is ranked inside the top five at 140 pounds by the IBF, WBO and WBC and is coming off a majority decision victory in a 10-round fight over Elvis Rodriguez. Valenzuela (31-4-1, 17 KOs) rebounded from his eighth-round stoppage defeat to current WBC junior welterweight champion Subriel Matias on March 1 to win a 10-round unanimous decision over Manuel Medina Barrera on May 30 in Guadalajara.
Two of Top Rank's top prospects will also return to the ring on the undercard. Undefeated heavyweight prospect Richard Torrez Jr. takes on Tomas Salek (23-7, 14 KOs). Torrez (13-0, 11 KOs) is ranked No. 4 by the IBF and No. 11 by the WBC and WBO and enters the bout off a unanimous decision win over Guido Vianello on April 5. One of boxing’s best prospects, Emiliano Vargas (15-0, 13 KOs), will fight in his first scheduled 10-round bout against Jonathan Montrel (19-3, 13 KOs).
Vargas, 21, has stopped his last six opponents and is coming off a first-round knockout of Alexander Espinoza on July 26.
Analysis
Noticias de combate
Article thumbnail
Next
Anthony Yarde Lighter Than David Benavidez Before Saturday's Ring IV PPV Event
RELATED ARTICLES
Corey Erdman: Cloaked in blood and sweat of Ali and Frazier, Madison Square Garden readies for another big fight
Analysis
Corey Erdman: Cloaked in blood and sweat of Ali and Frazier, Madison Square Garden readies for another big fight
Who wins Bakhram Murtazaliev-Josh Kelly, and what will it mean?
Analysis
Who wins Bakhram Murtazaliev-Josh Kelly, and what will it mean?
Xander Zayas, Javiel Centeno Eye History in Puerto Rico
Analysis
Xander Zayas, Javiel Centeno Eye History in Puerto Rico
RELATED ARTICLES
Corey Erdman: Cloaked in blood and sweat of Ali and Frazier, Madison Square Garden readies for another big fight
Analysis
Corey Erdman: Cloaked in blood and sweat of Ali and Frazier, Madison Square Garden readies for another big fight
Who wins Bakhram Murtazaliev-Josh Kelly, and what will it mean?
Analysis
Who wins Bakhram Murtazaliev-Josh Kelly, and what will it mean?
Xander Zayas, Javiel Centeno Eye History in Puerto Rico
Analysis
Xander Zayas, Javiel Centeno Eye History in Puerto Rico
Can you beat Coppinger?

Lock in your fantasy picks on rising stars and title contenders for a shot at $100,000 and exclusive custom boxing merch.

Can you beat Coppinger?
Partners
  • Strategic
    Partners
  • Strategic Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight
    Partners
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Middlewight
    Partners
  • Middlewight Partners partner logo
  • Middlewight Partners partner logo
  • Middlewight Partners partner logo
  • Middlewight Partners partner logo
  • Middlewight Partners partner logo
  • Middlewight Partners partner logo
  • Lightweight
    Partners
  • Lightweight Partners partner logo
  • Lightweight Partners partner logo
  • Lightweight Partners partner logo
  • Partners
  • Partners partner logo
  • Partners partner logo
  • Partners partner logo
  • Partners partner logo
  • Promoters
  • Promoters partner logo
  • Promoters partner logo
  • Promoters partner logo
  • Promoters partner logo
  • Promoters partner logo
  • Promoters partner logo