Espinoza Replaces Barrera against Lacierva May 23

20.05 - Mexican buzz-saw and NABO super bantamweight champion GERARDO "Locomotora" ESPINOZA will replace the injured ALEJANDRO BARRERA in a 12-round title defense, Friday, May 23, at The Aladdin Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. Espinoza will rumble against former IBA world champion JORGE "Baby-Faced Puncher" Lacierva, in a fight promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, which will be televised nationally on tape-delay by CSI SPORTS.

Check your local listing for "Corona's World Class Championship Boxing" on your local Fox Sports Regional Network.

Espinoza, world-rated No. 2 by the WBO, who hails from Tijuana, Mexico, with a 16-3 (14 KOs) record, will be making his Las Vegas and his 2003 debut. He returns to the ring after finishing 2002 with consecutive victories over Omar Adorno, 14-2-1, for the NABO super bantamweight title, and Francisco Tejedor, 46-13-2, for the WBA Fedecentro super bantamweight title.

Espinoza's resume also boasts an NABO bantamweight title victory over Cristobal Valle.

Lacierva, 20-5-4 (12 KOs), from Atlanta, GA, captured the IBA bantamweight title in 2000 by winning a 12-round decision over previously undefeated world champion Mauricio Pastrana.

Lacierva successfully defended that title twice during his reign. Lacierva's resume boasts NABO and IBA super bantamweight and WBC Continental Americas super flyweight titles. He returns to the ring fresh from a January TKO 3 performance over Julio Ruiz.