Photos: Rafael Espinoza Officially Belted By The WBO in Puerto Rico

Corozal, Puerto Rico – Arriving with mariachis singing the classic Mexican theme “El Rey”, the new World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight champion, Rafael “Divino” Espinoza of Mexico, came to Corozal with his family and working staff to officially receive his world championship belt in a gathering that included prospects, world champions, and personalities of the sport.

The newly inducted member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame Class of 2024, Ivan Calderon, handed the belt to Espinoza.

WBO President, Mr. Francisco “Paco” Valcárcel - “Thank you all for coming. We have the champion, welcome, this is your home; wife and daughter, you’re all home. Espinoza won the belt fair and square. Thank you to Iván (Calderón) for handing the belt to a champion who deserves it and we’re going to greatly enjoy this gathering”.

Espinoza - “Thank you to Paco, to Hall of Famer Iván, I hope I get to also achieve that someday, congratulations. It’s an honor to be here, the same thing I feel now is the same thing I felt in the fight. I still look at it and having it here is an honor. And I’m thankful to the WBO for all this; I’ll keep training and keep giving it my all to give good fights like this one and make them memorable for everyone."

Espinoza won the world championship last week in Florida by defeating Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramírez of Cuba, by majority decision in an exciting fight, a candidate for Fight of the Year.

During the festivities, the new Mexican champion treated those on hand with his gifted voice by singing “Acá entre nos” by Vicente Fernández, surrounded by current and former WBO champions Oscar Collazo, René Santiago, Álex “El Nene” Sánchez, Wilfredo “Bimbito” Méndez, Nelson Dieppa, Inter-Continental champion and 4th ranked Bryan Chevalier, and rising prospect Juan Zayas.

“I’m from Guadalajara, from Jalisco, and, well, we’re mariachis. I am mariachi, I like to sing, and here’s a song. Thank you to all the champions who are here. ‘Viva Puerto Rico’’ and ‘viva México!’.