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Rafael Espinoza Wants Naoya Inoue Before Moving Up

Rafael Espinoza has his sights set on Naoya Inoue, citing the Japanese superstar as his main reason to stay at 126 pounds. The WBO featherweight Rafael Espinoza Wants Naoya Inoue Before Moving Up @ Boxing News 24…

Boxing News 24

Published: Tuesday, 20 October 2026 at 11:17 PM

Key Things to Know

Rafael Espinoza wants to fight Naoya Inoue at featherweight before moving up in weight.
Espinoza is willing to travel to Tokyo to secure a career-defining fight against Inoue.
The 6-foot-1 WBO champion believes his height and reach advantages can lead him to victory.

The Story in 60 Seconds

WBO featherweight champion Rafael Espinoza has targeted a showdown against Naoya Inoue as his primary motivation to remain at 126 pounds before considering a jump to super featherweight. The 6-foot-1 Mexican titlist stated to The Ring that defeating the Japanese superstar would elevate him into the sport's pound-for-pound rankings, adding that he is open to traveling to Tokyo to stage the bout.

Espinoza expressed confidence that his substantial height, reach, and power give him a strong chance of victory. However, Boxing News 24 notes that the high stylistic risk Espinoza poses might discourage Top Rank and Inoue's team from choosing him over other featherweights.

Read the full article on Boxing News 24

Rafael Espinoza Wants Naoya Inoue Before Moving Up

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