Houston native and unified flyweight title Marlen Esparza has long prioritized becoming the undisputed flyweight champ and unifying all the belts. She ranked this achievement above avenging her lone defeat and settling the score with pound-for-pound elite Seniesa Estrada. Esparza was scheduled to get one step closer to that goal and attempt to add the WBO strap to the WBA and WBC belts she already owns. However, that dream will have to wait a bit longer. Esparaza was scheduled to face undefeated WBO champ, Gabriela Celeste Alaniz, 14-0 (6) of Argentina. Alaniz has not yet received the necessary documentation to travel to the U.S. This has forced Golden Boy Promotions to drop the bout, which was planned for April 29, at College Park Center on the grounds of the UT Arlington campus.
The unification showdown may still happen in the not-so-distant future. Golden Boy is potentially eyeing June or July. Possibly on the card that will feature the return of Grand Prairie native Vergil Ortiz, who was also forced off the card due to a flare-up of rhabdomyolysis. A condition he was diagnosed with last year.
Esparza currently sports a 13-1 (1) record and last fought in Fort Worth at the Dickies arena on the undercard of Vergil Ortiz VS Michael Mckinson. The Houstonian scored a unanimous decision victory over Eva Guzman back in August.