Espinoza retains WBO featherweight title

Rafael Espinoza (25-0; 21) retained his WBO featherweight title when he stopped Sergio Chirano (22–2; 13) on Friday night inside the BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas.

Espinoza, at around 185cm the tallest featherweight champion in history, dropped the challenger with a left uppercut in the first round and then sent him down again in the third round with a shot to the body.

The referee waved the fight off after a third knockdown in the fourth round. The time was 2:45.

On the undercard, junior lightweight Andres “Savage” Cortes (22-0, 12) won on a 10-round unanimous points decision over Abraham “El Super” Nova (23;3, 16). However, the scores of 97-93, 97-93, 96-94 were considered controversial.

DENNY WINS EUROPEAN MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE

The WBC No 14, IBF Np 15-rated Tyler Denny (20-2-3, 1) won the European middleweight title on a fifth-round technical decision against Felix Cash (16-1; 10) on Saturday night at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, England. The fight was stopped after the fifth round due to a cut over Cash’s right eye. The scores were 49-46, 49-47, 49-47.

WBA No 15 welterweight Lewis “The Croc” Crocker (20-0, 11) won on a 10-round unanimous points decision over WBA No 5 Conah Walker (13-3-1; 5). The scores were 96-93, 96-93, 95-94.

Junior welterweight Cameron Vuong (5-0; 3) won on points over 10 rounds against late replacement Jeff Ofori (13-8-2; 4).

CATTERALL AND PROGRAIS WILL MEET ON 24 AUGUST

Jack Catterall and Regis Prograis meet in a junior welterweight bout at the new 23 500-seat Co-Op Live in Manchester, England, on 24 August.