Rafael Espinoza retains WBO featherweight title with third-round stoppage of Ricardo Blandon

Rafael Espinoza successfully defended his WBO featherweight title with a third-round stoppage of Ricardo Blandon in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Mexico's Espinoza, now 29-0 (25 KOs), had originally been scheduled to face mandatory challenger Lorenzo Parra, but complications on Parra's side forced a late change of opponent. Nicaragua's Blandon, 21-7 (14 KOs), stepped in on just one week's notice.

The writing was on the wall inside the opening minute as the towering Espinoza, 32, met Blandon in the centre of the ring and connected with a hard right hand. Blandon was immediately outclassed but refused to back down, throwing wild punches that struggled to find their way past Espinoza's long arms.

Blandon, 34, continued to let his hands go, but could do little to deter the champion, who marched forward behind his jab and repeatedly followed it with a straight right. Espinoza began targeting the body in the second, driving his right hand downstairs and drawing a wince from the Nicaraguan.

The end came early in the third when Espinoza landed another slashing right hand that opened a nasty gash above Blandon's left eye. The challenger was examined by the ringside doctor, who deemed him unable to continue.

The contest was waved off at 1 minute and 22 seconds of the third round, handing Espinoza another successful defence of his WBO crown.

Espinoza remains unbeaten, but with another title defence behind him, attention will now turn to whether the Mexican can secure a unification fight against one of the division's other three champions.