- Rafael Espinoza defends his WBO featherweight title against Arnold Khegai on Nov. 15.
- Espinoza is the -2500 betting favorite, while Khegai is the +900 betting underdog.
- A draw result has odds of +2500.
Reigning WBO featherweight champion Rafael Espinoza defends his championship against Arnold Khegai on Nov. 15 inside Arena Coliseo in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
With his perfect record and 85% finish rate, Espinoza is going to be the heavy favorite with -2500 boxing odds. Meanwhile, Khegai heads into the fight as the overwhelming underdog with +900 odds. A draw result has odds of +2500.
Rafael Espinoza vs. Arnold Khegai Fight Odds
- Rafael Espinoza: -2500
- Arnold Khegai: +900
- Tie: +2500
Rafael Espinoza vs. Arnold Khegai: Prediction
I predict a unanimous decision win for Espinoza against Khegai because of the massive height and reach advantages that he’ll have. Espinoza uses his length effectively to land his combinations and score points on the judges’ scorecards.
Both of them like to move forward and pressure their opponents against the ropes, but I expect Khegai to be the more aggressive fighter since he’ll need to cover more distance to land his punches against Espinoza.
The defending champion can catch the challenger with counterpunches when he lunges forward to throw his combinations. With 8 inches of reach advantage, Espinoza will have all the time in the world to anticipate the counter against Khegai.
With Khegai’s granite chin and tested durability, I don’t think that Espinoza will finish him, but I won’t be surprised if he scores multiple knockdowns during the bout. When the final bell rings, I expect a lopsided decision win for the defending champion.
Rafael Espinoza’s Recent Fight Results
Espinoza is an undefeated boxing world champion who made his pro debut in February 2013 against Victor Valadez, stopping him via TKO in the third round. Following that dream debut, he swept his next 26 fights and kept his perfect record.
In December 2012, he challenged Robeisy Ramirez for the WBO featherweight strap and eked out a close majority decision nod from the judges. Espinoza successfully defended the title three times against Sergio Chirino Sanchez, Ramirez (in their rematch), and Edward Vazquez.
Arnold Khegai’s Recent Fight Results
Khegai is a pro boxer from Ukraine and made his debut in the paid ranks in October 2015. He spent his career competing in Russia, where he won 11 matches and drew one in his first 12 matches.
He first suffered a loss in January 2020 when he fought Stephen Fulton for the WBO Inter-Continental super bantamweight title. After that setback, he won his next six fights before Joet Gonzalez handed him a split-decision loss in March.
His most recent fight was a unanimous decision victory over Liborio Solis last September, which earned him a shot against Espinoza and the opportunity to win his first world title in the pro ranks.
Rafael Espinoza vs. Arnold Khegai: Tale of the Tape
| Rafael Espinoza | Arnold Khegai | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 31 | 33 |
| Height | 6’1” | 5’5” |
| Record | 27-0 | 23-2-1 |
| Reach | 74 inches | 66 inches |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| TKO/KO Percentage | 85% | 61% |
Rafael Espinoza vs. Arnold Khegai: Start Time
Nov. 15, 9 p.m. E.T.
Nov. 15, 8 p.m. C.T.
Nov. 15, 7 p.m. M.T.
Nov. 15, 6 p.m. P.T.
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