Rafael Espinoza is slated to defend his WBO featherweight title vs. Arnold Khegai on Nov. 15 in Mexico, sources tell The Ring. The Ring reported that Espinoza would return on this date, but the opponent hadn't been finalized. Espinoza is The Ring’s No. 1 boxer at 126 pounds. The bout will be his fourth title defense and first title fight in his native Mexico. Espinoza last fought in Mexico in July 2023, one fight before he won the title over Robeisy Ramirez in The Ring’s 2023 Upset of the Year. Espinoza (27-0, 23 KOs) defeated Ramirez a second time the following year. The 31-year-old is coming off a seventh-round TKO victory over Edward Vazquez in May.

“El Divino” possesses dizzying height for his weight class at 6-foot-1. Ukraine’s Khegai (23-2-1, 14 KOs) will concede eight inches at 5-5. The 33-year-old will be fighting for his first world title. Khegai dropped a split decision to Joet Gonzalez in March, the second defeat of his career (the other came against Stephen Fulton in 2020.) He returned with a stay-busy win over Liborio Solis earlier this month. Mike Coppinger is The Ring’s senior insider. He co-hosts “Inside the Ring” every Monday with Max Kellerman. Follow him on X/Instagram: @MikeCoppinger