Having suffered elimination from last year’s US Olympic trials to end her hopes of competing at Rio 2016, you would think the 26-year-old American would be itching to prove a point.

But as one of the 10 ambassadors of the International Boxing Association’s (AIBA) flagship women’s event, Esparza says her overriding feeling is one of inspiration ahead of her opening light flyweight contest on Monday (May 23).

Selected not only for their abilities in the ring, but for their position as positive role models for aspiring boxers and women in general, the ambassadors have an important role to play at this year’s World Championships.

AIBA see the nine-day competition as the perfect platform for the promotion of women’s boxing and establishing it as an integral part of their vision in the build-up to Rio 2016.

Putting individual ambitions aside, it’s a platform that Esparza is keen to shine on.

"Regardless of whether we have to compete against each other, we’re all going for the same thing - that’s building us as a sport," the reigning world flyweight champion told insidethegames.

"I’m excited about showing why they have me as an ambassador and showing what I can do at the best level.

"Not just for me but for everybody, whether they recognise it or not."

Esparza burst onto the international scene in 2006, when she won flyweight bronze as a 17-year-old at the fourth edition of the Women’s World Championships in India’s capital New Delhi.

In the 10 years since, she has witnessed first-hand the growth of the sport she loves.

"I’ve definitely seen the changes," she said.

"This tournament is the best and it’s getting better and better.

"We’re getting more and more respect."

The Texan added: "[AIBA] are about equality and trying to get us, just like we are, where we want to be.

"Supporting us, and not trying to bring us down, is huge."

Other big names chosen to represent "the spirit and strength" of the ninth edition of the Women’s World Championships include Britain’s Olympic gold medallist Nicola Adams and India’s five-time world champion Mary Kom.

Brazil’s Adriana Araujo, a lightweight bronze medallist at London 2012, is also an ambassador along with France’s Estelle Moselly, Bulgaria’s Stanimira Petrova and Morocco’s Khadija Mardi.

Algeria’s five-star official Kheira Sidi Yakoub is a referee and judge ambassador with three-star officials Jennifer Huggins of Canada and Kazakhstan’s Natalya Tsoy undertaking the same role. 

AIBA executive director Karim Bouzidi described the ambassador programme as a new start for the development of women’s boxing.

"We have many ideas to develop the women’s programme," he said.

"One thing we’re on the way to progressing is gender equality.

"We need to bring more women to our sports, not only in the ring, but also in all commissions and in all the working groups."

As the first female to win an Olympic boxing title at London 2012, flyweight Adams is arguably one of the most iconic figures in the women's game. 

The reigning Commonwealth and European Games champion will be focusing on adding a first world title to her CV here, but is more than happy to also fulfil her new-found ambassadorial duties.

"I was asked around the beginning of the year if I’d be an ambassador and help promote the sport of boxing and seeing as though I’ve been doing a lot of inspirational talks at schools, it just seemed like a really good fit for me," she told insidethegames.

"I was honoured to be one of the ambassadors to be chosen to be given this job.

"I love everything about boxing so for me it was a perfect match."

Unlike Adams, London 2012 flyweight bronze medallist Kom has yet to secure her place at Rio 2016.

The 33-year-old, who is bidding for a record sixth world title, will have to reach at least the semi-finals in order to give herself the opportunity to win another Olympic medal in Rio de Janeiro.

She began her quest with a 3-0 victory over Sweden’s Juliana Soderstrom on Thursday (May 19), but isn’t expecting it to be all plain sailing as she goes deeper into the competition.

"Competition is now becoming tougher day-by-day," she told insidethegames.

"It’s good for the young, upcoming women’s boxers that it’s becoming very strong.

"Before, it was seen as quite weak compared to the men’s, but women’s boxers are now very strong physically and mentally."

It remains to be seen what further initiatives AIBA have up their sleeves to help develop women’s boxing, however, the ambassador programme would seem to be an ideal place to start.

Big personalities often make the difference when it comes to selling a sport and having a selection of them at the forefront of AIBA’s campaign can surely only be a good thing.

As women’s boxing gets set to feature on the Olympic programme for the second time at Rio 2016, the future certainly looks bright.