6ft-tall featherweight champion stuns fans as he batters rival on Naoya Inoue card: ‘A monster’
Featherweight giant Rafael Espinoza battered Edward Vasquez, which saw him capture the boxing world’s eye. Espinoza, a Mexican superstar and hugely tall featherweight champion at 6ft, was looking to make a statement in Las Vegas. Top RankVasquez stunned the boxing world with a huge KO display[/caption] He took on Vasquez in a WBO world title clash on the undercard of Naoya Inoue’s US return against Ramon Cardenas. And he battered his rival into submission in the seventh period, with the referee stepping in to stop the contest. Espinoza looked too big and too strong for his helpless rival, who was left with a battered face and bruised body. And fans couldn’t believe what they were watching, with the size difference incredible. One wrote: “This guy’s something else. He is an absolute monster, a pleasure to watch. Another commented: “This is ridiculous. He is genuinely huge.” A viewer added: “Don’t think I’ve ever seen a featherweight this big. The Mexican superstar in the making even spoke about a potential future clash with Inoue. He said: “For there to be the birth for the next Mexican idol, he has to go through all the best fighters. I’m taking them on.” “A fight against Naoya Inoue would catapult me into super stardom. Top RankEspinoza left fans with his name on the tip of their tongue[/caption] Vasquez turned up the ante in the fifth round, battering Vasquez who looked to be wilting to the power and output of the rangy giant. And although the storm appeared weathered for now, he came again and ripped a body shot which hurt his opponent two rounds later. Vasquez tried to cover up on the ropes, but it became quickly apparent that things were over, with the ref stopping the clash. The huge Espinoza is the biggest at the weight class, and has regularly left the boxing fraternity stunned. That includes Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum, who plans to keep Inoue away from Espinoza if he moves up to the weight. “Eventually, Inoue is gonna move up to featherweight,” he said. Top RankEspinoza is open to a showdown with Inoue next[/caption] “I don’t think Inoue’s handlers are gonna wanna put him in with a featherweight that’s just so big. He’s 6-foot-1, enormous. “I don’t remember ever seeing a featherweight as big as Espinoza. “I mean, he towers above the normal featherweight and is a really good fighter. “You know, he’s very aggressive but a skilled boxer and an impressive kid when you talk to him. “He’s very down to Earth. I talked to him with a translator and he seems like a very, very smart kid.”
Featherweight giant Rafael Espinoza battered Edward Vasquez, which saw him capture the boxing world’s eye.
Espinoza, a Mexican superstar and hugely tall featherweight champion at 6ft, was looking to make a statement in Las Vegas.
He took on Vasquez in a WBO world title clash on the undercard of Naoya Inoue’s US return against Ramon Cardenas.
And he battered his rival into submission in the seventh period, with the referee stepping in to stop the contest.
Espinoza looked too big and too strong for his helpless rival, who was left with a battered face and bruised body.
And fans couldn’t believe what they were watching, with the size difference incredible.
One wrote: “This guy’s something else. He is an absolute monster, a pleasure to watch.
Another commented: “This is ridiculous. He is genuinely huge.”
A viewer added: “Don’t think I’ve ever seen a featherweight this big.
The Mexican superstar in the making even spoke about a potential future clash with Inoue.
He said: “For there to be the birth for the next Mexican idol, he has to go through all the best fighters. I’m taking them on.”
“A fight against Naoya Inoue would catapult me into super stardom.
Vasquez turned up the ante in the fifth round, battering Vasquez who looked to be wilting to the power and output of the rangy giant.
And although the storm appeared weathered for now, he came again and ripped a body shot which hurt his opponent two rounds later.
Vasquez tried to cover up on the ropes, but it became quickly apparent that things were over, with the ref stopping the clash.
The huge Espinoza is the biggest at the weight class, and has regularly left the boxing fraternity stunned.
That includes Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum, who plans to keep Inoue away from Espinoza if he moves up to the weight.
“Eventually, Inoue is gonna move up to featherweight,” he said.
“I don’t think Inoue’s handlers are gonna wanna put him in with a featherweight that’s just so big. He’s 6-foot-1, enormous.
“I don’t remember ever seeing a featherweight as big as Espinoza.
“I mean, he towers above the normal featherweight and is a really good fighter.
“You know, he’s very aggressive but a skilled boxer and an impressive kid when you talk to him.
“He’s very down to Earth. I talked to him with a translator and he seems like a very, very smart kid.”
