Rafael Espinoza retains WBO featherweight title as a cut stops Ricardo Blandon in round three
The ringside doctor waved the fight off at 1:22 of the third round in Riyadh, and the unbeaten Mexican moves to 29-0 with 25 knockouts.
Rafael Espinoza retained his WBO featherweight title in Riyadh on Saturday when the ringside doctor stopped his fight with Ricardo Blandon because of a cut over Blandon's left eye in the third round.
The fight was waved off at 1 minute 22 seconds of the round, a technical knockout win for Espinoza. The 32-year-old Mexican, who sang for Canelo Alvarez at the weigh-in, is now 29-0 with 25 knockouts. It was the fifth defence of his title.
Espinoza worked behind his jab from the opening round and went to the body with his right hand in the second. Blandon, a Nicaraguan who took the fight on short notice, kept letting his hands go before the cut ended it. He is now 21-7 with 14 knockouts.
Earlier on the undercard, Carl Jammes Martin beat David Picasso by split decision. The card is topped by Alvarez's challenge for Christian Mbilli's WBC super middleweight title.
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Reported by the Combat Sports UK desk. Times are UK and Irish time, and we update the report when the facts change. How we work.