Rafael Espinoza successfully defends WBO title, stopping Sergio Chirino in the fourth round | Boxing News



Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza defended his featherweight WBO name for the primary pace with a fourth-round TKO over Mexican countryman Sergio Chirino.

Espinoza began with a bit of luck, losing Chirino within the opening around, and once more within the 3rd around ahead of sealing the tournament with a knock-out within the fourth around.

The 6’1″ featherweight destroyer (25-0, 21 KOs) despatched Chirino to the canvas within the first around with a counter left hand.

Within the 3rd around, Espinoza unleashed a proper hand that just about despatched his compatriot in the course of the ropes.

That quickly signalled the start of the tip with a flurry of photographs as Chirino (22-12, 13KOs) clash the deck for the overall pace.

“From the beginning, the hunger that I have to triumph, to be better and to move forward was apparent. I gave my heart, and it shows,” mentioned Espinoza.

“I love throwing punches and appearing society what they need to see, which is motion. That’s why I went ahead once the primary around started.

“I’m here. It’s my time. The time of ‘El Divino.’ I want to unify, and I want the big challenges.”

Cortes Edges Nova

Andres “Savage” Cortes (22-0, 12 KOs) dug deep within the teenager light-weight co-feature to overcome former international name challenger Abraham Nova (23-3, 16 KOs) by means of unanimous determination.

Next months of trash communicate, the motion used to be aggravating in a fair match-up.

Cortes took an early top within the opening rounds pushing ahead from a top shield to tie hooks and proper fingers to Nova’s head and frame, and used to be a hit with a proper uppercut at the inside of.

Nova began to seek out his rhythm as Cortes started to tire within the 8th around, and shocked Cortes with an overhand proper within the 9th around.

Nova’s spirited overdue surge used to be no longer plethora despite the fact that, with Cortes scoring 97-93, 2x and 96-94.

“I knew he was a tough competitor. He just went 12 rounds with a world champion. So, I knew it would be a tough one,” mentioned Cortes.

“He called me a dirty fighter, but he was really dirty in there. All these headbutts and stuff. But it was a good fight. No excuses. I dug deep and got the victory.”

Nova mentioned, in reaction: “I started a bit slow. But then I got my rhythm. I went in there, and I did what I had to do. He hit me a lot behind the head.

“That is boxing. All I’ve were given to walk is again to the planning stage, recovery a few issues and are available again.”

Isley wins battle of former amateur rivals

Troy Isley (13-0, 5 KOs) kept his unbeaten record intact as he scored a unanimous decision over Javier Martinez (10-1-1, 3 KOs).

Isley secured the North American Boxing Organisation (NABO) title with scores of 97-91, 2x and 96-92.

The pair had split four fights as amateurs but as professionals, it was Isley’s constant aggression and intelligent boxing that put him ahead.

Martinez resorted to low blows in the seventh round, getting a point deducted, and Isley followed suit in the ninth round.

Martinez tried a late surge in the final two rounds but Isley remained ahead to claim the victory.

“His two wins over me as an novice supposed not anything. The ability hole confirmed. We’re on to larger issues now. I would like the champions quickly,” mentioned Isley.

Alternative effects

Bantamweight: Floyd Diaz (12-0, 3 KOs) earned his 2d victory of the while with an eight-round issues conquer Mexican veteran Francisco Pedroza (18-12-2, 10 KOs).

Ratings: 78-73, 3x.

Juvenile Light-weight: DJ Zamora III (13-0, 9 KOs) authored a workmanlike unanimous determination win over Jose Antonio Meza (9-10, 2 KOs) following 8 rounds of sustained motion.

Ratings: 80-72, 2x and 79-73.

Juvenile Bantamweight: Steven Navarro (2-0, 1 KOs) dazzled in his Supremacy Rank debut and coasted to a unanimous determination victory over Juan Pablo Meza (7-4, 2 KOs).

Ratings: 60-54, 3x.

Middleweight: Bryan Polaco (7-0, 5 KOs) banned Richard Acevedo (6-1-1, 5 KOs) within the 3rd around of a scheduled six-rounder.