Lorenzo Parra Out, Ricardo Blandon In to Face Rafael Espinoza Oct. 31 in Riyadh

Rafael Espinoza has a new challenger one week out from his WBO featherweight title defense in Riyadh. Lorenzo Parra is off the Oct. 31 card, and Nicaragua's Ricardo Blandon steps in on short notice, WBO president Gustavo Olivieri confirmed to BoxingScene on Friday.

The fight stays on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez vs. Christian Mbilli, the "Mexico vs. The World" show at Kingdom Arena on DAZN (our card preview here).

Why Parra is out

According to Olivieri, Canelo Promotions told the WBO that the Middle East Professional Boxing Commission, which oversees the Riyadh event, "has determined not to authorize Lorenzo Parra's participation" on grounds tied to the commission's own rules, regulations and policies. Neither the commission nor Parra's team has publicly spelled out the exact reason. Some reports point to medical exam complications, and Boxeo Plus cited unconfirmed travel and immigration problems.

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Parra, a former WBA flyweight champion, was Espinoza's No. 1-ranked mandatory challenger. Canelo Promotions, the promoter of record, asked for Blandon, the WBO's No. 15 featherweight, as the substitute, and the WBO granted it "subject to full compliance with all applicable medical and regulatory requirements," Olivieri said, citing the short timeline and the interests of the champion, promoters and fans.

Who is Blandon?

Blandon, 21-6 (14 KOs), is largely untested at world level. Per Boxeo Plus, he had been scheduled to fight Juan Mendoza in Managua on Oct. 30 and dropped that bout when the title call came. Dan Rafael also flagged "a new foe for Espinoza" in his Friday notebook.

Espinoza, 28-0 (24 KOs), of Guadalajara, first revealed the switch on Box Azteca. "In boxing, things like this happen," he said, as quoted by BoxingScene. "You have to be mentally prepared. I'm taking it in stride, and I'm ready to fight whoever it is." It will be the fifth defense of his 126-pound title and his first fight under trainer Eddy Reynoso as part of Team Canelo, according to Mexican outlet Round Uno.

The swap comes as the whole Riyadh card faces questions over regional security. The U.S. has ordered non-emergency embassy staff out of Saudi Arabia (our story here), though Turki Alalshikh has said the event will go ahead.

Think the late change makes this a mismatch, or a trap fight? Make your call in Boxbid's Fight Picker before the Oct. 31 card.