Emanuel Navarrete vs. Juan Miguel Elorde - September 14, 2019

[Ruthless-RKO]

Junior featherweight world titlist Emanuel Navarrete, fresh from defending his belt on Saturday night, will be back in action for defense No. 3 on Sept. 14 against Juan Miguel Elorde, Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti told ESPN on Thursday.

After Navarrete blew away Francisco De Vaca by a one-sided third-round knockout in the ESPN-televised main event on Saturday night in Los Angeles, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said Navarrete would quickly return in the co-feature on the Top Rank Boxing on ESPN+ card headlined by lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury against Otto Wallin at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

But Top Rank had to work quickly to find an opponent and got its man in Elorde (28-1, 15 KOs), 32, of the Philippines.

"The paperwork is done and I expect to get it back shortly," Moretti said. "Elorde is ranked No. 2 in the WBO and the fight is sanctioned. Elorde was already in the gym and he took the fight with no hesitation. It's Mexico versus the Philippines on Mexican Independence Day weekend. We're very happy we could get the deal done with all parties."

Elorde is the grandson of Filipino legend and International Boxing Hall of Famer Gabriel "Flash" Elorde, the longtime 1960s junior lightweight world champion. Elorde will be fighting outside of the Philippines for the second time, having also boxed on the Manny Pacquiao-Lucas Matthysse undercard in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 13 months ago.

Elorde will be taking a big step up in competition against Navarrete, but he has not lost since dropping a four-round decision in his 11th fight, in 2011.

Navarrete (28-1, 24 KOs), 24, of Mexico, came away from the fight with De Vaca having had no issues, so he was pleased to take another title defense just a month later.

"Rarely do you see fighters come back the following month, much less world champions," Moretti said. "It's a true testament to his team and his dedication to the sport."

Navarrete burst on the scene in December when he won a decision over heavily favored Isaac Dogboe to win the 122-pound belt and then knocked Dogboe out in the 12th round of an even more dominating victory in their immediate rematch on May 11.

[oogiebe]

Busy champ. Not much of a step up, but he's fighting often which is good. Navarrete is an exciting fighter. Fun watch!

[watsupdoc87]

Would be great to see a modern day champ fighting every couple months.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Would be great to see a modern day champ fighting every couple months.

Tevin Farmer is doing this..

Munguia is/was..

Sometimes a boxer may go a couple rounds, will still get paid the same, but think what's 2-3 rounds? Not much of a workout, no scratches etc.. I'll go again in a 2-3 months.

Mexicans/Thai boxers do this anyway in non-title bouts..

[Boxing Prospect]

Elorde is fornicating terrible.

[world ranked]

Has anyone seen Elorde fight?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Has anyone seen Elorde fight?

Have you?

No footage on Youtube?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Has anyone seen Elorde fight?

[Ruthless-RKO]

This has been added to the Fury-Wallin undercard at the T-Mobile Arena.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Already fight week for this. Feels like the Dogboe fight was last week.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Emanuel Navarrete: “I am really excited to accomplish another dream of mine of fighting as a world champion in Las Vegas and on such an important date for my country, Mexico. We are celebrating our nation’s independence and on September 14, I will go to the ring to put on a great show for my country. I will make them proud and raise our flag high.”

Juan Miguel Elorde: “I accepted this challenge without hesitation. It is my dream to become a world champion, and when I got the offer, it was a great day. But now, it’s time for me to put on a great fight and bring the WBO title back to the Philippines.”

[jewboypgh]

this Navarette is really tough. Id like to see him in with this local ukrainian kid Dovhun if they are the same weight class

[margaret thatcher]

Dovhun

Isn't that the Dragonborn?

[Ruthless-RKO]

This is what the fighters had to say.

Bob Arum

On Navarrete

“If you’re a fighter, you want to fight as much as possible. This kid here, if he could, {if it wasn’t for} injuries and so forth, would fight eight times a year and be happy.”

Emanuel Navarrete

“I was very surprised {to get the offer to fight on short notice}, but I knew it was a great opportunity so we took it. My mentality was I had to train harder and not take a long break because we knew the opportunity that was in front of us.”

“I want to thank Bob Arum. He gave me the opportunity to fight for the title against {Isaac} Dogboe, then the rematch, then De Vaca. Now I’m here, a big card. I just want to tell {Bob}, if he lets me, I want to fight in December, too. And, I will give it my all and show everyone I’m doing things the right way.”

“I want to do my best at 122 {pounds}, and the biggest thing in the division is to unify titles. If my body permits it, I’m going to stay here and unify titles. But if not, I am going to move up, and I have a great career in front of me.”

Juan Miguel Elorde

“It’s a big opportunity, a great experience for me. I’d like to thank everyone for giving me this chance.”

On taking the fight on short notice

“We’re ready because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. When they called, we accepted the challenge because every boxer wants to be a world champion.”

“This is my dream, to become a world champion. I think it’s coming to reality. Thank you, Mr. Bob Arum.”

Jose Pedraza

“I moved up in weight because of the opportunities that are at 140 pounds. That’s why I moved up.”

“It would be great for me, great for Puerto Rico, and that’s one of my goals, to be a three-weight world champion.”

“We have to do one fight at a time. We are going up to a division with a lot of world-caliber fighters, but we have to get past Zepeda first to {earn} that world title opportunity.”

Jose Zepeda

“It’s an honor to be fighting on Mexican Independence Day. I always see this date, big fighters, Mexican fighters fighting on this day. It’s my turn to rep, especially against {a Puerto Rican} fighter. I put all the work in the gym. We’re ready to give the fans a good fight, hopefully the best fight of the night.”

“He’s a smart fighter. He likes to box. He has some speed. We’ve been watching some fights of his, but I believe I have the same thing. I’m a smart fighter as well. Both of us will give it our all in the ring.”

“If everything goes good, first I gotta think about Pedraza. There was a lot of talk about Ramirez and I {fighting a rematch}. A lot of people thought I won, a lot of people thought he won. It was for sure a close fight. If I win this fight, hopefully we could do a rematch.”

Carlos Cuadras

“I am very happy to be on a big card in Vegas. I want to become a world champion again, and I have my medicine for Cardenas in my punches.”

“Cardenas is a great fighter, and a win against him will give me a title opportunity. I am coming here to get the win.”

Jose Maria Cardenas

“That was a great fight. I prepared myself very well, and we know big things are coming. We’re coming for that right now.”

“It will be a war. Every time two Mexicans are in the ring, a big show is promised. I am going to take this fight.”

“Cuadras is a very tough, good fighter. He’s experienced, but I am also a very good fighter.”

Gabriel Flores Jr.

“Each fight I keep improving. I always learn from my mistakes. After every fight, we don’t focus on what I did good. We focus on what I did bad, so we can make sure we fix it every time. Each time I step in the ring, I do better. And when the lights hit, I always react.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Emanuel Navarrete 121.8 lbs vs. Juan Miguel Elorde 121.2 lbs
(Navarrete’s WBO Junior Featherweight world title – 12 Rounds)