Mexican knockout sensation Rafael “Divine” Espinoza will defend the WBO featherweight world title Arnold Khegai on Saturday, November 15, at Arena Potosí in San Luis Potosí, Mexico.

The Guadalajara native will risk his crown on Mexican soil for the first time, while Khegai receives a long-awaited shot at a world title almost three years after he first broke into the WBO top 15.

The card will feature a trio of Top Rank-promoted Mexican-American stars.

US Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. returns in a 10-round heavyweight bout against the Czech veteran Tomasz Salekwhile also growing in the junior welterweight division Emiliano Fernando Vargas competing in his first scheduled 10-round match against Jonathan Montreal.

17-year-old junior lightweight genius Juliana “El Natural” Montalvo (4-0, 3 KO), from Las Vegas, is aiming for his third triumph this year in a six-round fight.

“Rafael Espinoza is an exceptional talent, a 6-foot-1 featherweight with devastating knockout power in both hands. He has dominant power, but I expect Arnold Khegai to be a formidable test,” top president Bob Arum said. “San Luis Potosí is a great fight city and I’m excited that Mexican fans will have the opportunity to see some future world champions in action on the card.”

Espinoza (27-0, 23 KO) won the WBO featherweight world title in December 2023 by majority vote over two-time Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez. In ESPN’s “Upset of the Year,” Espinoza rose from the canvas in the fifth set, then returned the favor in the climactic 12th stanza to clinch the decision. He has since made three defenses, stopping Sergio Chirino in four rounds in June 2024, stopping Ramirez in six in a rematch in December and stopping Edward Vazquez in May in Las Vegas.

Espinoza said: “I’m elated and I’m looking forward to returning to the ring because it will be in my country, with my people. I want to showcase the novel tools in my arsenal. I know Arnold Khegai is forceful, but this motivates me to continue to show that I’m ready for great things. I’m looking forward to the support from the Mexican fans.”

Khegai (23-2-1, 14 KO), of Korean descent, took up martial arts as a teenager to support his family. Two-time world champion in Thai boxing and amateur champion of Ukraine. He turned professional in 2015, and in 2018 he made his debut in the United States, defeating Adam “Mantequill” Lopez by decision. Khegai is 7-1 since moving up to featherweight, with his only blemish being a split decision over division mainstay Joet Gonzalez in March. Khegai, ranked No. 9 in the WBO rankings, returned to winning ways with an eight-round decision over Liborio Solis in September.

“When my team mentioned Rafael Espinoza as an opponent, I told them to do everything in their power to make this fight happen,” Khegai said. “I’ve been on a long journey in boxing and this is the opportunity of a lifetime. I’m coming to Mexico to ruin his return home.”