Rafael Espinoza vs Edward Vazquez Preview May 4th, 2025
Unbeaten WBO Featherweight Champion Rafael Espinoza of Mexico slugs it out with Edward Vazquez of Fort Worth, Texas this Sunday, May 4th. The 12-rounder from Las Vegas, Nevada, can be seen live in America on the ESPN platform while fans in the UK and Ireland can catch it on Sky Sports Action and those in Canada can see it on TSN 2. Espinoza was dropped in the fifth round in his first fight with Robeisy Ramirez in December, 2023 and then decked Ramirez in the final round to win the WBO Title via a majority decision. Espinoza stopped Sergio Sanchez in the fourth round in his first defence and then halted Ramirez in the sixth stanza of their rematch in December in his last outing. Vazquez was last in the ring in October when he stopped Kenneth Taylor after four rounds for the vacant IBF USBA Super Featherweight Title.
Espinoza vs Vazquez Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Edward Vazquez +550
- Rafael Espinoza -900
My Pick
The 31-year-old Espinoza enters the ring with a perfect mark of 26-0 with 22 Ko’s and has boxed 97 rounds since turning pro in 2013. He’s got plenty of power in his punches with a current knockout ratio of 84.6 per cent and has stopped nine of his past 10 opponents and 17 of his last 19. He’s gone the distance just four times and has fought 10 rounds just once and 12 rounds just once. Espinoza is listed at 6-feet-1-inch tall by Boxrec with a 74-inch reach and if that’s true then he’s a bit of a freak of nature for the 126 lb division.
This will be Espinoza’s sixth fight outside of Mexico and he took a huge step up in class against Robeisy Ramirez when he fought for the title but took a step down against the relatively unknown Chirino Sanchez in his first defence. This fight against Vazquez isn’t really an elite showdown either to be honest. Other than the wins over Ramirez, Espinoza’s biggest victories have been over the likes of Carlos Ornelas, Aramis Solis, Alie Laurel, Gerardo Munoz and Rafael Ramirez. Also, just 12 of his 26 opponents have entered the ring with a winning record. However, he proved against Ramirez both times that he’s a world-class boxer.
The 29-year-old Vazquez makes the ring walk with a record of 17-2 with just 4 Ko’s and has 124 rounds of experience under his belt since making his pro debut in 2016 following his amateur days. He measures 5-feet-7-inches with a 65-inch reach, so gives up a massive seven inches in height to Espinoza as well as nine inches in reach.
The first setback on Vazquez’s pro record was a 10-round split decision defeat at the hands of Raymond Ford in February, 2022 but he then bounced back with four straight wins before dropping a majority decision to Joe Cordina in a shot at the IBF Super Featherweight Belt. As far as power goes, Vazquez doesn’t have much pop in his punches at all as just 23.4 per cent of his wins have come by way of stoppage and he’s gone the distance in seven of his past eight contests.
Other than Ford and Cordina, he hasn’t really faced any other recognizable opponents other than perhaps Brandon Cruz. Vazquez also beat Irvin Gonzalez by an eight-round split decision in November, 2020 to take the vacant WBC USA Featherweight Title. In addition, he fought Abraham Torres to a four-round draw in his second pro fight in February, 2017 but that fight was later changed to a no-contest. Vazquez has a decent chin but has been down before in his career as Adan Ochoa dropped him in the second round of their 2020 meeting.
Prediction…
Espinoza has the decided edge in power and size and should be able to keep Vazquez at a safe distance when he chooses to do so. Espinoza constantly lets his hands go as he’s pretty good at swarming his opponents and no matter how good Vazquez is, I just don’t see how he’s going to keep the champion at bay for 12 rounds as he lacks the power to keep him off of him. I’m expecting Espinoza to eventually break Vazquez down and retain his title, most likely by stoppage.
Espinoza is too big and powerful for Vazquez.
Play Espinoza -900 @ BetOnline.ag
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Edward Vazquez betting • Rafael Espinoza betting