Oscar Valdez vs. Emanuel Navarrete | Sky Sports - 12 August 2023

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Oscar Valdez vs. Emanuel Navarrete Fight In Play For Feb. 3, Bob Arum Says

An all-Mexican showdown that is a surefire bet to be a barnburner is inching closer to becoming a reality.

Top Rank boss Bob Arum has indicated that Oscar Valdez and Emanuel Navarrete are slated to face each other in their next fight.

When Arum was asked by Lance Pugmire of spam.com if a showdown was set for Friday, Feb. 3 between the fighters he promotes, the Hall of Fame promoter said the only missing piece to the equation was the location of the event.

“I think both fighters have agreed to fight each other. The question is what venue [in either Mexico City, Los Angeles, or Phoenix]. But that fight is definitely going to happen,” said Arum. “That really is something. These guys don't mess around. There will be a lot of punches thrown. It reminds me of the old Mario Antonio Barrera-Erik Morales days. Valdez is a warrior and he wants to be tested, and who better to test him than Navarrette.”

One of the other unknown elements around the fight is exactly what weight it would be contracted to take place.

Valdez (30-1, 23 KOs) is a former WBO 126-pound world champion and has fought at 130 pounds since November 2019. He won the WBC junior lightweight title by viciously knocking out Miguel Berchelt in 2021 before losing his crown to Shakur Steveson in April via unanimous decision.

Navarrete (36-1, 30 KOs) is a former 122-pound champion who eventually picked up the WBO super featherweight title Valdez vacated. Navarrete has never fought at 130 pounds. He’s coming off a sixth-round KO against Eduardo Baez in August.

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Oscar Valdez, Emanuel Navarrete to vie for vacant title Feb. 3

The Oscar Valdez-Emanuel Navarrete fight for the vacant WBO junior lightweight title is set for Feb. 3 in Glendale, Arizona, sources told ESPN.

The Top Rank Boxing on ESPN main event will be supported by an intriguing co-feature between Jose Pedraza and Arnold Barboza Jr., both of whom are ranked in ESPN's top 10 at junior welterweight.

Valdez and Navarrete will vie for one of the two titles vacated by Shakur Stevenson after he missed weight in September. The bout shapes up as a slugfest between two pressure fighters who have been involved in some brutal boxing matches.

Valdez, a two-time Olympian from Sonora, Mexico, spent a good portion of his childhood in Tucson, Arizona. He welcomed raucous fan support for his September 2021 decision victory over Robson Conceicao in Tucson and will now compete in a third title fight in Arizona.

That victory was marred by a positive test for the banned stimulant phentermine weeks before the bout.

Afterward, Valdez (30-1, 23 KOs) was routed by Stevenson in an April title unification at 130 pounds, the first loss of his pro career. Valdez, 31, also held a title at 126 pounds. He's currently rated No. 3 by ESPN at junior lightweight.

Navarrete, ESPN's No. 1 featherweight, holds the WBO title at 126 pounds but will move up four pounds when he attempts to become a three-division champion. The lanky volume-puncher from San Juan Zitaltepec, Mexico, has made three defenses of the title he won in October 2020.

Navarrete (36-1, 30 KOs) also held a title at 122 pounds. He's coming off a sixth-round KO of Eduardo Baez in August.

Pedraza (29-4-1, 14 KOs), a 33-year-old Puerto Rican, was set to fight Teofimo Lopez on Saturday but fell ill. Now Pedraza will meet Barboza in a fight with title implications at 140 pounds.

A former titleholder at 130 pounds, Pedraza is rated No. 10 by ESPN at 140. He's coming off a draw with Richard Commey in August.

Barboza (27-0, 10 KOs) is coming off a unanimous-decision victory over Danielito Zorrilla in July. A 30-year-old from Los Angeles, Barboza is rated No. 6 by ESPN at 140 pounds.

[THEBUTCH]

After pointless trilogies being contested and leaving fans on a downer.....this is a great match up

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Valdez out

[NoScoutingReports]

Can't say I've seen Liam Wilson box before but on paper it's an underwhelming replacement, would have been a fan friendly fight this one. Winner is meant to face Valdez next but who knows in this sport.

[margaret thatcher]

this is a double suck as it means liam williams-archie sharp is scrapped , so 2 well matched fights become 1 mismatch

[maverick23]

this is a double suck as it means liam williams-archie sharp is scrapped , so 2 well matched fights become 1 mismatch

Archie must have been putting a good chunk of weight for it.

[margaret thatcher]

ffs too many damn liams around, too easy to get them mixed up

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Press Release

The showdown of the summer heads to the desert in a battle that has all the makings of an instant action classic.

Three-division world champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete will defend his WBO junior lightweight world title against former two-division world champion Oscar Valdez in an all-Mexican duel Saturday, August 12 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. Navarrete and Valdez seek to etch their names among the celebrated catalog of Mexican rivalries that includes Marco Antonio Barrera-Erik Morales, Ruben Olivares-Chucho Castillo and Rafael Marquez-Israel Vazquez.

Navarrete-Valdez will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank, ticket information will be announced shortly.

“Emanuel Navarrete and Oscar Valdez are proud warriors, and this is a fight that is destined to go down as a classic,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “The fight fans at Desert Diamond Arena and everyone watching on ESPN are in for a real treat. The winner of this fight etches his name among the great Mexican fighters. I can’t wait.”

Navarrete (37-1, 31 KOs), the fighting pride of San Juan Zitlaltepec, captured his first world title by defeating Isaac Dogboe for the WBO junior featherweight crown in December 2018. He made five defenses before moving up to featherweight, where he beat Ruben Villa for the vacant WBO title in October 2020. The 28-year-old defended his belt with victories over Christopher Diaz, Joet Gonzalez and Eduardo Baez before moving up to 130 pounds. In February, Navarrete joined an elite list of Mexican three-division champions — including Morales, Barrera and Julio Cesar Chavez — by defeating Liam Wilson via ninth-round TKO for the WBO junior lightweight world title.

Navarrete said, “After so much time, this fight will finally take place. Obviously, I am 100 percent motivated because Valdez is still a big threat, and a fight against him could possibly be the start of a new Mexico vs. Mexico rivalry like the one between Barrera and Morales."

Valdez (31-1, 23 KOs), from Nogales, represented Mexico at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. As a pro, he captured the WBO featherweight world title against Matias Rueda in 2016 and made six successful defenses. He moved up to junior lightweight and defeated Adam Lopez in 2019 and Jayson Velez in 2020 before taking on his toughest challenge, a WBC title tilt against Miguel Berchelt in February 2021. Despite disadvantages in height, reach and power, Valdez counterpunched his way to three crushing knockdowns, the last of which earned him a 10th-round KO. After a competitive fight against Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceição later that year, Valdez suffered his first defeat in a title unification battle against Shakur Stevenson in April 2022. He bounced back by defeating Lopez in a rematch in the co-feature to the Devin Haney-Vasiliy Lomachenko super fight last month, and he now hopes to equal Navarrete as a three-time world champion.

Valdez said, “I’m excited to return to the ring, especially because it’s for a world title against ‘Vaquero’ Navarrete. Being a world champion is something that I always dreamed of. I already did it two times, and this is yet another opportunity. So, I’m excited and prepared both mentally and physically for this new opportunity. And I like that it’s between two Mexicans because it’s a win-win for Mexico. It's a guaranteed war when there are two Mexicans in the ring.”

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Undercard Press Release

On August 12, WBO junior lightweight world champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete will face former two-division world champion Oscar Valdez at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. will open the televised tripleheader in a six-round heavyweight tilt against Willie Jake Jr. The bout was initially scheduled for March, but Torrez tore his oblique in training.

Navarrete-Valdez, a to-be-announced co-feature, and Torrez-Jake will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Torrez (5-0, 5 KOs) made his pro debut last year with a second-round stoppage win against Allen Melson. He scored three additional knockouts in 2022 before making his triumphant 2023 debut by blasting out James Bryant in the opening round. Jake (11-3-2, 3 KOs), from Indianapolis, Indiana, is a seven-year pro who has won three straight fights.

The ESPN+-streamed undercard includes some of the sports brightest young talents.

Junior welterweight Lindolfo Delgado (17-0, 13 KOs), a 2016 Mexican Olympian, puts his unbeaten record on the line against compatriot Jair Valtierra (16-2, 8 KOs) in a 10-rounder. Last August, Delgado authored a career-best victory over then-unbeaten prospect Omar Aguilar and is coming off a decision win over Florida veteran Clarence Booth at Desert Diamond Arena in February.

Undefeated lightweight prospect Emiliano Fernando Vargas (5-0, 4 KOs) will face an opponent to be named in a four-rounder. “El General” began his 2023 campaign with a decision win over Francisco Duque in February at Desert Diamond Arena. He then stopped Edgar Uvalle in two rounds in April before beating Rafael Jasso via second-round knockout the following month on the Devin Haney-Vasiliy Lomachenko undercard.

In a six-round super middleweight dual between two of Phoenix’s crowd favorites, Sergio Rodriguez (7-0-1, 6 KOs) and Eduardo Ayala (9-3-1, 3 KOs), will meet for intra-city bragging rights.

Javier “Milwaukee Made” Martinez (8-0-1, 2 KOs), who trains out of the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy, will fight Isaiah Wise (11-2-2, 6 KOs) in an eight-round middleweight clash.

Rising junior welterweight prospect Ricardo Ruvalcaba (9-0-1, 8 KOs) will make his fourth appearance of 2023 in a scheduled six-rounder. Ruvalcaba scored first-round knockouts against Kenny Williams in January, Marco Cardenas in March and Ramon Duarte Marquez in May.

Heavyweight knockout artist Antonio “El Gigante” Mireles (7-0, 6 KOs) returns in a six-rounder against Dajuan Calloway (7-2, 7 KOs). In March, the 6-foot-9, 270-pound southpaw rose off the canvas to edge Patrick Mailata by split decision.

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Next weekend.

Good fight this.

A lot of Top Rank fights not getting any press.

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Fight Week!!

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Press Release | Raymond Muratalla Suffers Injury, Withdraws From Navarrete-Valdez Card

Lightweight contender Raymond Muratalla suffered a training injury and has been forced to withdraw from his ESPN-televised co-feature this Saturday, Aug. 12, against fellow unbeaten Diego Torres at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

The 10-round junior welterweight tilt between rising contender Lindolfo Delgado and Jair Valtierra is the new co-feature and will be televised directly before the WBO junior lightweight world title showdown between reigning champion Emanuel Navarrete and former two-weight world champion Oscar Valdez.

Navarrete-Valdez, Delgado-Valtierra, and the heavyweight showdown between Richard Torrez Jr. and Willie Jake Jr. will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Delgado (17-0, 13, KOs) represented Mexico at the 2016 Rio Olympics and won his first 11 bouts by stoppage. He made his Top Rank debut in June 2021 and outlasted then-unbeaten puncher Omar Aguilar by decision last August in a 2022 Fight of the Year contender. Delgado fought at Desert Diamond Arena in February, knocking down veteran Clarence Booth en route to a one-sided decision victory.

Valtierra (16-2, 8 KOs), from Leon, Mexico, lost an eight-round decision to Muratalla last July. He returned in February against the unbeaten Nestor Bravo, and the bout was ruled a no contest in the fourth round after a head clash opened a cut near Bravo’s right eye.

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Below is what the fighters had to say:

Emanuel Navarrete

“We all know that this fight is raising a lot of expectations. It would be totally fraudulent if Valdez and I didn’t give 100 percent in this fight. We all know that everyone expects a war in the ring. We have all that it takes to make for a great fight.”

“I have said that the fight with Valdez was necessary for my career because of everything it represents. The rivalry between Mexicans is something essential. It’s a good thing for the fight. But boxing fans have also put a lot of pressure on me, saying that my career was missing that cherry on top. They said that I needed an impressive and iconic fight where I exert much more of myself. The fight with Valdez is that kind of fight.”

“Obviously, the fact that Barrera and Morales are here indicates that our promoter wants to tell us something. We have to do something at least similar to what they did. That is the goal. Everything is set so that we can deliver a great fight. I see Valdez, and I see that he’s ready. We’re two days away from getting into the ring, and it’s going to be a great night on Saturday.”

Oscar Valdez

“This fight means the world to me. The loss to Shakur Stevenson sparked something different in me. It woke something up. It made me realize how much I missed boxing and how much I love the sport. The year away from boxing made me miss it so much. I also miss being a world champion. So, it also means the world to me to have another opportunity to become a world champion again.”

“Camp was great. It can be in Lake Tahoe, San Diego, Guadalajara or even China. camps are always the same for me. We train hard for each fight, but for this fight we trained even harder. We trained not only harder, but smarter. We have to be smart in this fight. We had a perfect camp. Eddy Reynoso and my team have done a great job, and we’re ready for this fight.”

“It’s an honor for Barrera and Morales to be here. It means the world to be because I grew up in the era of Barrera and Morales. These two don’t know how much they inspired me. That was the era that I grew up watching. They are warriors.”

“I want to win. I want to be a world champion again. I want to show the fans a good fight. So, I am ready.”

Marco Antonio Barrera

“I’m happy to have been invited for this tremendous fight. Every time there is a Mexican boxer in the ring, you will see a war. And on this occasion, Valdez and Navarrete know what’s going to happen in the ring. I think it will be the type of fight that all Mexicans know how to deliver.”

“Fights between Mexicans will always be exciting. Here we have two Mexicans in the ring who want to be in one of the most historic fights between Mexican boxers. That’s what they are looking to do.”

Erik Morales

“This is a great opportunity for these two Mexican boxers to demonstrate that Mexican boxing is always very exciting. I’ve had the opportunity to speak with both separately. Both have said that there will be a great war. So, I’ve some to see this great war.”

“Mexicans fight because they have a big heart and for pride. The belts don’t matter. Nothing matters. The only thing that matters is determining who is the best fighter from Mexico.”

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[THEBUTCH]

If Valdez is still fresh enough this should be a barn burner of fight

Navarette is on one hell of a winning streak spanning world titles at 3 weight divisions. Exceptional.

We know Valdez is a gutsy as hell and a top fighter capable of pulling off an upset, but I'm going full steam ahead with Naverrete to keeping his run going.

Naverrete is under appreciated but at last has his opportunity to shine.

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Date: Saturday August 12, 2023
Location: Desert Diamond Arena - Glendale, AZ
TV/Stream: ESPN | Sky Sports

Start Times
ESPN+: 6 pm ET | 3 pm PT | 11 pm BST (Preliminary Card)
ESPN: 10 pm ET | 7 pm PT (Main Card)
Sky Sports: 2 am BST (Main Card)

Promoted by: Top Rank Inc.

Main Card

WBO Super Featherweight Championship
Emanuel Navarrete vs. Oscar Valdez

6 Round Heavyweight Bout
Richard Torrez Jr vs. Willie Jake Jr.

10 Round Super Lightweight Bout
Lindolfo Delgado vs. Jair Valtierra

Undercard

4 Round Lightweight Bout
Emiliano Vargas vs. Jorge Luis Marquez Alvarado

6 Round Super Middleweight Bout
Sergio Leon Rodriguez vs. Eduardo Ayala

6 Round Super Lightweight Bout
Ricardo Ruvalcaba vs. Adrian Orban

6 Round Heavyweight Bout
Antonio Mireles vs. Dajuan Calloway

[1198291]

My Dazn is showing mixed martial arts. What's happening?

[1198291]

My Dazn is showing mixed martial arts. What's happening?

[The Gratest]

Check the thread title for a clue.

[Webbo911]

My bad, few to many beers

[margaret thatcher]

nava punched the poo out of him