Carlos González held onto his WBA NABA featherweight title, but had to settle for a draw against Nicaragua’s Alexander Espinoza at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut. The judges’ scorecards read 94-96 for Espinoza, 97-93 for González, and 95-95, resulting in a stalemate that allowed the champion to retain his belt.

From the opening bell, both fighters wasted no time trading leather in a high-paced battle. The jab-uppercut combinations were the weapons of choice for both men, but neither was able to seriously hurt the other.

At times, González appeared to be in control, looking like he could pull away with the win, but Espinoza’s sharp counterattacks and relentless work rate kept the fight close and put him in position to possibly steal the belt.

With the result, Espinoza moves to 23-6-3, proving he’s a legitimate contender for regional titles. Meanwhile, González remains undefeated, now standing at 14-0-1, and holds on to his No. 11 ranking in the WBA featherweight division. The American prospect remains focused on climbing the ranks and pushing toward bigger opportunities in the division.