LAS VEGAS — Rafael Espinoza leaned on size, speed, swarming combinations, and a concerted body attack to brutally and systematically beat Edward Vazquez on Sunday night at the T-Mobile Arena.

The controlled and composed attack mercifully ended at the 1:47 mark of the seventh round after Espinoza (27-0, 23 KOs) connected with 207 punches (60 body) to defend his WBO featherweight title.

Vazquez (17-3, 4 KOs) gave a great account of himself by connecting with 123 punches of his own but Espinoza simply walked through everything and was better and stronger than his incredibly game and brave opponent.

The 6-foot-1 Espinoza leaned on a six-inch height advantage and nine-inch reach advantage to pile on the pressure and punches at a high rate.

“I knew he was a great opponent. I knew he would come to fight. And that’s good because it allowed me to show more of my capabilities,” said Esponoza.

“This is the kind of fight that people like to watch. And I like it, too. The people deserve these types of fights. And, as a Mexican fighting on this important Mexican date, I did it with all of my heart, and I will continue doing so.”

The fight served as the co-main event for the Top Rank on ESPN card headlined by undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue in his US return against Ramon Cardenas.

Vazquez – who came in having two highly disputed decision losses against Joe Cordina and Raymond Ford – was in the fight for the first two rounds, but Espinoza started separating himself by the third.

Vazquez had a good showing in the third landing overhand shots, but Espinoza was especially on point with his sharp uppercuts and pinpoint body shots.

Thirty seconds into the fourth, a six-punch combination by Vazquez got him back in the bout. But it was Espinoza who bounced back and started teeing off in the final minute of the round, leaving Vazquez in trouble on the ropes.

Espinoza assaulted Vazquez around the ring in the fifth, busting his nose and reddened his face as referee Harvey Dock closely looked at the action. Dock followed Vazquez to the corner and had an extended conversation as the contender began wilting.

Espinoza stepped off the pedal a bit in the sixth but still dominated the action before the finish arrived in the seventh, as Espinoza trapped Vazquez in the corner and unloaded with a barrage of punches, forcing Dock to stop the fight.

"El Divino" Espinoza successfully made the third defense of his title after taking the crown away from Robeisy Ramirez via split decision in 2023. He stopped Ramirez in the rematch in December.

As has become tradition, the 31-year-old from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico grabbed the microphone after the win and seranded the crowd in Spanish to cap off his dominant Cinco De Mayo Weekend performance.

“In order for a new Mexican idol to be born, I’ll need to fight against the best,” said Espinoza. “So, I’m here. I’m the champion. And I’m here to fight against the best.”

Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan.