Inoue vs Espinoza

When is Inoue vs Espinoza?

Naoya Inoue could take on Rafael Espinoza in Summer 2026 the United States.

The fight would be scheduled for 12 rounds in the Featherweight division, which means the weight limit would be 126 pounds (9 stone or 57.1 kg).

Espinoza would be making his 5th defense of the WBO World Featherweight Championship. He won this belt against Robeisy Ramirez in December 2023. He has held this belt for 2 years and 19 days.

Inoue vs Espinoza stats

Naoya Inoue would step into the ring with an undefeated record of 32 wins, zero losses, and 0 draws, 27 of those wins coming by way of knockout.

Rafael Espinoza would make his way to the ring with an unblemished record of 28 wins and 0 draws, with 24 of those by knockout.

The stats suggest Espinoza would have a slight advantage in power over Inoue, with a 86% knockout percentage compared to Inoue's 84%.

Naoya Inoue is the older man by 1 year, at 32 years old.

Espinoza has a height advantage of 8 inches over Inoue. This also extends to a 6-inch reach advantage.

Both Naoya Inoue and Rafael Espinoza fight out of an orthodox stance.

Inoue is currently the more experienced professional fighter, having had 4 more fights, and made his debut in 2012, 4 months earlier than Espinoza, whose first professional fight was in 2013. He has fought 90 more professional rounds, totaling 205 compared to Espinoza's 115.

Rafael Espinoza is currently ranked number 1 by The Ring in the 126lb division.

Inoue vs Espinoza form

Inoue remains undefeated as a professional, stopping 3 of his last 5 opponents.

In his last fight, he defeated Alan Picasso on December 27, 2025, by unanimous decision in their IBF World Junior Featherweight, WBC World Super Bantamweight, WBO World Junior Featherweight and WBA Super World Super Bantamweight championship fight at Mohammed Abdo Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Prior to that, he had defeated Murodjon Akhmadaliev on September 14, 2025, by unanimous decision in their The Ring Junior Featherweight, WBO World Junior Featherweight, IBF World Junior Featherweight and WBC World Super Bantamweight championship fight at IG Arena, Nagoya, Japan.

Going into that contest, he had beaten Ramon Cardenas on May 4, 2025, by technical knockout in the 8th round in their WBO World Junior Featherweight, IBF World Junior Featherweight, WBC World Super Bantamweight and WBA Super World Super Bantamweight championship fight at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, United States.

Before that, he had won against Ye Joon Kim on January 24, 2025, by knockout in the 4th round in their IBF World Junior Featherweight, WBC World Super Bantamweight, WBO World Junior Featherweight and WBA Super World Super Bantamweight championship fight at Ariake Arena, Tokyo, Japan.

He had beaten TJ Doheny on September 3, 2024, by technical knockout in the 7th round in their IBF World Junior Featherweight, WBA Super World Super Bantamweight, WBC World Super Bantamweight and WBO World Junior Featherweight championship fight at Ariake Arena, Koto-Ku.

Espinoza remains undefeated as a professional, stopping 4 of his last 5 opponents.

In his last fight, he defeated Arnold Khegai on November 15, 2025, by technical knockout in the 11th round in their WBO World Featherweight championship fight at Arena Coliseo, San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

Prior to that, he had defeated Edward Vazquez on May 4, 2025, by technical knockout in the 7th round in their WBO World Featherweight championship fight at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, United States.

Going into that contest, he had won against Robeisy Ramirez on December 7, 2024, by technical knockout in the 6th round in their WBO World Featherweight championship fight at Footprint Center, Phoenix.

Before that, he had defeated Sergio Chirino Sanchez on June 21, 2024, by technical knockout in the 4th round in their WBO World Featherweight championship fight at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Las Vegas.

He had beaten Robeisy Ramirez on December 9, 2023, by majority decision in their WBO World Featherweight championship fight at Charles F. Dodge City Center, Pembroke Pines.

Activity check

In terms of recent activity, Naoya Inoue has been fighting more than Rafael Espinoza.

Naoya Inoue last fought 5 months and 25 days ago, while Rafael Espinoza's last outing was 7 months and 6 days ago.

Inoue's last 5 fights have come over a period of 1 year, 9 months and 18 days, which means he has been fighting approximately every 4 months and 11 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 43 rounds, meaning that they have lasted 8.6 rounds on average.

Espinoza's last 5 fights have come over a period of 2 years, 6 months and 12 days, meaning he has been fighting on average every 6 months and 4 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 40 rounds, meaning that they have lasted 8 rounds on average.

What are the odds on Inoue vs Espinoza?

Sorry, we couldn’t find any odds for Inoue vs Espinoza yet. If odds are not available initially after the fight is announced, bookmakers usually release them closer to the day of the fight.