Rafael Espinoza

Rafael Espinoza Zepeda (born April 21, 1994) is a Mexican professional boxer who has held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight title since December 2023.

Professional career
Espinoza turned professional in 2013 and compiled a record of 23–0 before facing Robeisy Ramírez on December 9, 2023, for his WBO featherweight title. The then-unknown fighter scored an upset victory after winning the bout by majority decision, becoming the WBO featherweight champion. Before turning professional, Rafael Espinoza amassed only 11 amateur fights in his entire amateur career.

Espinoza vs. Ramírez
On December 9, 2023 at Charles F. Dodge City Center in Pembroke Pines, Florida, Espinoza defeated Robeisy Ramírez by majority decision to become a new WBO featherweight champion.

Espinoza vs. Chirino
Espinoza was scheduled to make the first defense of his WBO featherweight title against Sergio Chirino on June 21, 2024 at BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau in Las Vegas. He won the fight by TKO in the fourth round, dropping the challenger three times in the first, third and fourth rounds.