The long-discussed fight between Bruce Carrington and the WBO featherweight champion Rafael Espinoza has not yet taken place, even though both fighters compete under the Top Rank banner.

The newly crowned WBC champion, who will defend his title for the first time on July 4 at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio, against undefeated challenger Rene Palacio (19-0-1, 10 KO), shared his thoughts on the reasons why this fight did not take place.

“I think Espinosa might be a little more strategic if he wants to fight me against others,” Carrington told Ring magazine when discussing a potential meeting with Rafael Espinoza. “I think his team, and maybe even Top Rank, are kind of preparing us to fight each other at the end, like the massive crescendo. You know what I’m saying? So I’m not mad. From a business standpoint, it sounds really good.”

On June 8 at the Madison Square Garden Theater in Modern York, Carrington (16-0, 9 KO) defeated Mateus Heita in the ninth round to win the vacant WBC featherweight title. Although Espinoza has become one of the division’s top names, Carrington believes IBF champion Angelo Leo and WBA titleholder Brandon Figueroa may be more willing to pursue a unification fight.

“I think Angelo Leo and Figueroa are definitely the two fighters that are most likely to fight me,” Carrington said.

Espinoza (28-0, 24 KO) has held the WBO featherweight title since defeating Robeisy Ramirez in December 2023. Carrington’s future meeting with Espinoza was expected to square the two undefeated champions in what many consider one of the biggest fights available in the featherweight division.

Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fight landscape. His reports focus on the most critical fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.

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Last update: 2026/06/10 at 13:44

Many names have been linked to Shakur Stevenson since winning the super lightweight title, but there is one fighter who former sparring partner Regis Prograis believes will beat the promotion’s star pound for pound if given the opportunity.

Since winning the WBO 140-pound crown with a comprehensive defeat of Teofimo Lopez, Stevenson has been called upon to fight Conor Benn, Devin Haney and Gervonta Davis.

Another man who has demanded a fight with Stevenson is the two-time and current WBC super featherweight world champion, O’Shaquie Foster, who defeated Raymond Ford to defend his belt last month.

I’m talking to YSM sports mediaPrograis praised Foster’s talent, saying the only person who can beat the Texan is himself, despite the 32-year-old’s three previous losses.

“I’ve been saying this about O’Shaq forever. At one point I was number one in the world at 140 pounds, he was getting close to 130 pounds and I was telling people Shaq was the truth because his name is so miniature.

“He didn’t have a name, but for a long time I was always into Shaq. I’ve known Shaq basically since I was a kid, so I know how good he was, he was just, naturally, really good.

“He works strenuous and has an attitude. Shaq has been through a lot of things, and when you go through things like that, your attitude changes, you have a different way of thinking. It’s going to be strenuous to beat someone like Shaq.

“I really don’t think someone like him could be beaten, he can only beat himself, he has initial failures and that’s what happened to him, he kind of beat himself.”

Prograis – who recently said he supports Stevenson defeating Haney should they fight – then explained why he thinks Foster is the man to hand the star his first defeat.

“Yes, [I would favour Foster over Stevenson]. I’ve certainly been in the ring with Shaq more often, but I’m telling you, I beat Shakur.

“He’s a natural, he can switch; he can play southpaw and orthodox, equally good on both sides. Shaq can take a punch, Shaq has really good footwork, and Shaq has strength too. He doesn’t have that much one-punch knockout power, but he has strength that you have to respect because it’s going to hurt.”

“I know how good Shakur is. Shakur is a very talented fighter, but for me right now I have Shaq.”

To get into that fight, Foster would have to move up two weight classes and fight for Stevenson’s super lightweight title, or force Stevenson to withdraw and meet him at 135 pounds.

The World Boxing Organization announced Wednesday that Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez has officially relinquished his world junior bantamweight title, moving up to 118 pounds.

“The World Boxing Organization (WBO) has received and officially accepted confirmation from Team Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez that he is relinquishing the WBO Junior Bantamweight (115-pound) World Championship as he begins the next chapter of his extraordinary career by moving up to the Bantamweight (118-pound) division in his pursuit of a third WBO world championship in a modern weight class,” the organization said in an official statement.

Rodriguez, 26, of San Antonio is 23-0 with 16 knockouts. He previously held the WBO flyweight title, which he won against Cristian Gonzalez in April 2023, and unified with Sunlit Edwards later that year. He won the WBO 115-pound belt by defeating Phumelele Cafu in July 2025.

“Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez leaves the 115-pound division as a proud two-division WBO world champion and one of the greatest fighters of his generation,” the WBO statement continued. “His extraordinary talent, technical brilliance, unwavering professionalism and championship spirit have cemented his place among boxing’s elite and firmly position him as one of the sport’s greatest pound-for-pound fighters.”

The 115-pound weight loss is complete

The WBO announcement marks the end of Rodriguez’s departure from the junior bantamweight division, where he held the WBA, WBC and WBO titles. Coach Robert Garcia said this week that waiver letters have been sent to all three sanctioning bodies. On Tuesday, the WBC announced the vacant championship and in a statement thanked Rodriguez for representing the organization.

The WBO said the process to fill the 115-pound vacancy is already underway. “An official announcement regarding the championship vacancy is imminent and will be published shortly,” the statement read.

Vargas fights on Saturday in Glendale

Rodriguez will face WBA bantamweight champion Antonio Vargas 19-1-1 with 11 knockouts on Saturday, June 13 at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. Card promoted by Matchroom Boxing in cooperation with Boxlab Promotions, broadcasts worldwide on DAZN. A victory would make Rodriguez a three-division world champion.

The WBO also hinted at a potential fight with its 118-pound champion. “As his goal is to win the 118-pound world title and ultimately face a future fight against reigning WBO bantamweight world champion Cristian “Chispa” Medina, we wish Jesse every success, good health and continued excellence in all of his future endeavors, starting with his upcoming fight,” the statement read.

“On behalf of the entire WBO family, we extend our honest gratitude and best wishes to Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez,” the organization added. “The doors of the World Boxing Organization will always remain open to a champion who represented the values ​​of excellence, honor and sportsmanship at the highest level.”