Commentator Tim Bradley was impressed with the fourth-round knockout victory by WBO featherweight champion Rafael Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) over challenger Sergio Chirino (22-2, 13 KOs) on Friday night on the BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
(Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank)
After the bout, Bradley told the media that he believes the 6’1″ Espinoza could be the perfect fighter within the featherweight division, but he still desires to see him accomplish that task by beating all of the killers.
Tonight, Espinosa looked like pure 24k gold, flattening Chirino thrice in the competition, once in rounds one, three, and 4. In the primary round, Espinoza set the tone for the fight, nailing Chirino with a brief left uppercut that he never saw coming to send him to the canvas.
Although Chirino was smiling and looking out embarrassed when he returned to his feet, Espinoza nailed him with an analogous left uppercut that hurt him as the primary round ended. That punch made it clear that Chirino couldn’t get out of the best way of Espinoza’s shots and would keep getting hurt.
Espinoza’s Potential because the Best Featherweight
“He might well be but you continue to have gotten to prove it inside that ring. There are some killers at 126. He gets hit cleanly, but he can take it,” said commentator Tim Bradley to the media, talking about WBO featherweight champion Rafael Espinoza potentially being the perfect at 126 following his fourth-round knockout win over Sergio Chirino on Friday night.
For Espinoza to prove he’s the #1 fighter at featherweight, he’s going to want to beat these fighters:
– Bruce Carrington
– Rey Vargas
– Nick Ball
– Luis Lopez
– Robeisy Ramirez
– Otabek Kholmatov
Carrington can be a troublesome opponent for Rafael Espinoza because he has more power and size than lots of the fighters within the featherweight division.
Bradley feels that Espinoza would wish to work on his defense to beat guys like Carrington because he’s too easy to hit.
Espinoza has gotten away with having poor defensive skills so far because none of his opponents are big punchers, but that may change if he fought Carrington, Kholmatov, or Luis Lopez.
Espinoza’s Size Advantage over Inoue
“He’s too big,” Bradley said when asked whether Espinoza is simply too big for Naoya Inoue, who holds all 4 belts at super bantamweight. “They’re attempting to put the boogeyman on Inoue.
Espinoza could be too big for Naoya Inoue, but we may not ever get a likelihood since the Japanese star is taking his time about moving up in weight. Inoue could be anxious about what would occur if he took on fighters like Espinoza, Lopez, Vargas, Robeisy and Carrington.
“I feel Shu-Shu [Carrington] does well against Rafael [Espinoza]. It’s a troublesome out because you’ve to fret about so many dimensions and flexibility. he [Espinoza] turned up that uppercut [in round one against Chirino],” said Bradley. “It’s so smooth. He twisted his head and got his head out of the best way [of Chirino’s right-hand shot that he threw at the same time].”
Before Espinoza fights Carrington, he’s prone to have a rematch with Robeisy Ramirez and other champions at 126. There are quite a lot of fighters that would end Espinoza’s reign long before Carrington or Inoue get to him.
“Robeisy is a world-class fighter, a champion, and was considered for Inoue, and he [Espinoza] defeated him. I knew it wasn’t a fluke. The way in which that he [Espinoza] got off the canvas [in round five] and fought with that much conviction and tenacity,” said Bradley.
“I knew he was going to stop him tonight. I told him on the decision. He was going to be an excessive amount of for Chirino. He’s an awesome fighter. I wouldn’t say world-class. He hasn’t proven himself yet. An amazing amateur pedigree. He has a few wins over Robeisy Ramirez, so he ain’t no slouch, but he made it look easy tonight,” said Bradley about Espinoza.
