BoxRec

Shakur Stevenson vs Emanuel Navarrete negotiations fall apart, fight no longer in the works

Shakur Stevenson and Emanuel Navarrete had discussions, but a deal was not reached for a 130 lb title fight.

Shakur Stevenson won’t be chasing further unification quite yet, but that delay is for a good cause. ESPN’s Salvador Rodriguez revealed today that he’s in talks to defend his super featherweight belts against WBO featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete, “tentatively in August or September.”

Not that clashes with fellow titlists Joe Cordina and the winner of Roger Gutierrez vs. Hector Luis Garcia would be unwelcome, but there’s a whole lot to like about this one.

The clash of styles alone is ultra-tantalizing, putting the technical perfection of Stevenson (18-0, 9 KO) against the power, volume, aggression, and unorthodox offense of Navarrete (35-1, 29 KO). Size doesn’t figure to be an issue, either, as Navarrete is the same height as Stevenson and boasts an additional four inches of reach.

It’ll also be Navarrete’s first fight with a recognized elite since his duology with Isaac Dogboe. While the likes of Ruben Villa, Christopher Diaz, and Joet Gonzalez were solid tests, this is the sort of matchup we’ve been waiting years for Navarrete to enter.

My only personal request is that Navarrete return to 126 if he comes up short. There are some tasty matchups with Leigh Wood, Leo Santa Cruz, Mauricio Lara, and Mark Magsayo that I don’t want him to miss out on.

Press Release

A fighting cowboy, a hometown hero, and the grandson of “The Greatest” are set for a summer night to remember in San Diego.

Mexican star Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete will defend his WBO featherweight world title in the main event against countryman Eduardo “El Gemelo” Baez on Saturday, Aug. 20 at Pechanga Arena San Diego. Navarrete also signed a new multi-year promotional agreement with Top Rank that will see him fight on the ESPN family of networks in events promoted in association with Zanfer Promotions.

The 10-round welterweight co-feature will see San Diego native Giovani “Gallo de Oro” Santillan risk his unbeaten record against a soon-to-be-announced opponent.

In a four-round special feature, undefeated middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh, grandson of Muhammad Ali, will fight Reyes Sanchez in a rematch of their December 2021 bout that Ali Walsh edged by majority decision. Ali Walsh will fight in the historic venue that hosted one of his grandfather’s most memorable bouts. In March 1973, Ali and Ken Norton battled for 12 rounds at what was then known as San Diego Sports Arena. Ali suffered a broken jaw and lost a split decision in a major upset.

Navarrete-Baez, Santillan's welterweight battle, and Ali Walsh-Sanchez 2 will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

Ticket information for this event that will be promoted by Top Rank, in association with Zanfer Promotions, will be announced soon.

“San Diego is a great fight town, and this is an incredible card from top to bottom,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Emanuel Navarrete is always in tremendous action fights, and Eduardo Baez is the type of opponent who will stand in the center of the ring. Santillan is a fantastic young man who drew plenty of support from the local fans last time he fought here. Nico Ali Walsh has improved leaps and bounds since turning pro last year, and I expect him to leave no doubt against Sanchez this time."

Navarrete (35-1, 29 KOs), winner of 30 consecutive bouts, is a two-weight world champion entering his 10th world title bout. A native of San Juan Zitlaltepec, Mexico, he emerged on the world scene with a pair of title fight victories over Isaac Dogboe, which started his run as one of boxing’s most fan-friendly world champions. Following five junior featherweight title defenses in nine months, Navarrete moved up to featherweight and won the WBO title in October 2020 with a decision over Ruben Villa. He defended his title twice in 2021, including last October’s 12-round barnburner over Joet Gonzalez at Pechanga Arena.

"I am very excited to finally be back in the ring on August 20. The inactivity of these last eight months has served to give my body the rest it needed and to reflect on many things,” Navarrete said. “Now I'm coming back stronger physically and mentally. I'm going to show that I'm ready to fight any champion at 126 or 130 pounds. There will be a lot of ‘Vaquero’ for a long time."

Baez (21-2-2, 7 KOs), from Mexicali, Mexico, is the WBO No. 7 featherweight contender. He recently moved up to featherweight after a successful run at junior featherweight that included a Mexican title and wins over three undefeated prospects. In 2017, he lost a tight decision to Mauricio Lara, who entered the title picture with his 2021 knockout over Josh Warrington. Following a disputed majority decision to Ra’eese Aleem last November, Baez moved up to featherweight. In March, he edged Jose Enrique Vivas by majority decision to earn a world ranking and a shot at the 126-pound king.

Santillan (29-0, 16 KOs) is a 10-year pro who has seen his career momentum take off since linking up with noted trainer Robert Garcia in 2020. Last October, he made his Pechanga Arena debut, bringing a raucous cheering section that watched him outfight Angel Ruiz over 10 action-packed rounds. He returned in April in Costa Mesa, California, and knocked out Jeovanis Barraza in seven rounds.

“I didn’t know when I’d be back fighting in San Diego, so when I heard the news, I was ecstatic. This shows we can continue having big cards in San Diego, and I can’t wait for all my fans to pack Pechanga Arena,” Santillan said. “I want a world title opportunity soon. That’s the dream. I’d love to fight for a world title, and defend my belt, in my hometown.”

Ali Walsh (5-0, 4 KOs) had no ring struggles until meeting Sanchez under the Madison Square Garden lights. After a dominant first two rounds, Sanchez rallied in the third and fourth to nearly pull even. In January, Ali Walsh got back on the knockout track with a second-round stoppage over Jeremiah Yeager. Three months later, on the Oscar Valdez-Shakur Stevenson undercard in Las Vegas, he sparked out Alejandro Ibarra in the opening round with a left-right combination. He enters the Sanchez fight with a new head trainer, Kay Koroma, who works with (among others) Stevenson, rising middleweight prospect Troy Isley, and female pound-for-pound star Mikaela Mayer. Sanchez (7-2, 3 KOs), from Topeka, Kansas, entered the first Ali Walsh fight with an unbeaten record built primarily in his home state. He is coming off a decision loss to unbeaten prospect Sharif Rahman, son of former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman.

“Despite winning our last fight, I feel like I must set the record straight with Reyes Sanchez. He’s the only opponent I haven’t knocked out, and I don’t see the rematch going the distance,” Ali Walsh said. “Kay Koroma has already added so much to my arsenal, and I can’t wait to perform in front of the great San Diego fans and everyone watching on ESPN.”

Undercard action, streaming live and exclusively on ESPN+, includes an eight-round junior welterweight showdown between unbeaten Mexican standouts Lindolfo Delgado (15-0, 13 KOs) and Omar Aguilar (24-0, 23 KOs). Delgado represented Mexico at the 2016 Rio Olympics, while Aguilar has 15 first-round knockouts on his ledger and second-round stoppages in his last three bouts.

IBF No 1. featherweight contender Luis Alberto Lopez (25-2, 14 KOs) returns in an eight-rounder, while junior lightweight contender Xavier Martinez (17-1, 11 KOs) looks to bounce back from his first career loss against Alejandro Guerrero (12-2, 9 KOs) in an eight-rounder.

Main card
• Emanuel Navarrete vs. Eduardo Baez, 12 rounds, featherweight – Navarrete’s WBO featherweight title
• Giovani Santillan vs. TBA, 10 rounds, welterweight
• Nico Ali Walsh vs. Reyes Sanchez, 4 rounds, middleweight

Preliminary card
• Lindolfo Delgado vs. Omar Alejandro Aguilar, 8 rounds, junior welterweight
• Luis Alberto Lopez vs. TBA, 8 rounds, featherweight
• Xavier Martinez vs. Alejandro Guerrero, 8 rounds, junior lightweight

Press Release

One of Mexico’s great champions, a hometown hero, and the grandson of a legend will take center stage in San Diego next Saturday, Aug. 20, at Pechanga Arena San Diego.

Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete (35-1, 29 KOs) makes the third defense of his WBO featherweight world title against Mexican countryman Eduardo Baez (21-2-2, 7 KOs), San Diego’s undefeated welterweight contender Giovani Santillan (29-0, 16 KOs) looks to improve to 30-0 against Julio Luna (19-0-2, 10 KOs) in the 10-round co-feature, and Nico Ali Walsh (5-0, 4 KOs) grandson of Muhammad Ali, will see action in a four-round rematch versus Reyes Sanchez (7-2, 3 KOs).

Ali fought at Pechanga Arena San Diego in 1973 — when it was known as San Diego Sports Arena — against Ken Norton in the first fight of their legendary trilogy. Norton broke Ali’s jaw and won a decision in one of boxing’s most storied upsets.

Navarrete-Baez, Santillan-Luna and Ali Walsh-Sanchez 2 will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Tickets starting at $35 can be purchased at AXS.com.

At Monday’s media workout in San Diego, this is what Navarrete, Santillan and Ali Walsh had to say.

Emanuel Navarrete

“He’s a warrior with an imposing, come-forward style. He is intelligent and has good technique. The fight will be difficult in the first six rounds until I figure him out. In the second half of the fight, we expect to be able to connect combinations to the body to weaken my opponent and achieve the victory.”

“This has been the best training camp of my career. We started camp in Mexico City, and we finished in Tijuana.”

“I’m ready to come back after a long layoff. Sometimes you start getting doubts when you spend so much time away from the ring. But as soon as training camp starts, the positive mentality returns.”

Giovani Santillan

“Last time I fought at Pechanga Arena, it was a special experience. I can’t wait to fight in front of the hometown fans again. San Diego has always been my home, and the support I get from my people is truly humbling.”

“Luna is undefeated just like me, and I know neither one of us wants to let go of that ‘0.’”

Nico Ali Walsh

“I am fighting a rematch against the only guy who has taken me the distance, so I need to right that wrong. I have improved so much since then, and I can’t wait to show that in the ring.”

“My grandfather fought in this arena nearly 50 years ago, and I am honored to follow in his footsteps. Continuing his legacy in the ring is something I cherish.”

Fight Week!!

Date: Saturday August 20, 2022
Location: Pechanga Arena - San Diego, CA
TV/Stream: ESPN & ESPN+

Start Times
ESPN+: 6:30 pm ET | 3:30 pm PT | 11:30 pm BST (Preliminary Card)
ESPN: 10 pm ET | 7 pm PT | 3 am BST (Main Card)
Sky Sports: 2 am BST (Main Card)

Promoted by: Top Rank Inc.

Main card

WBO Featherweight Championship
Emanuel Navarrete vs. Eduardo Baez

10 Round Welterweight Bout
Giovani Santillan vs. Julio Luna

4 Round Middleweight Bout
Nico Ali Walsh vs. Reyes Sanchez

Preliminary card

8 Round Super Lightweight Bout
Lindolfo Delgado vs. Omar Alejandro Aguilar

8 Round Featherweight Bout
Luis Alberto Lopez vs. Yeison Vargas

8 Round Super Featherweight Bout
Xavier Martinez vs. Alejandro Guerrero

8 Round Lightweight Bout
Miguel Contreras vs. Josec Ruiz

6 Round Super Featherweight Bout
Austin Brooks vs. Oliver Galicia

4 Round Heavyweight Bout
Antonio Mireles vs. Kaleel Carter

Baez isn't half bad. He could very well get the upset here. If I were a betting man, I'd put money on Baez.

Why is Delgado vs Aguilar an 8 rounder on first ?!
Would be a good main event on Thurs or chief support.

What a fight this is !

Fire of an under. Two Mexicans going at it.

Make sure you catch this Delgado vs Aguilar - two unbeaten prospects with 87% and 97% KO stats in a brutal war..!

Delgado has some crispy ass counters.

Main event will be just as good. Baez is no slouch.

I really like Delgaod. Very athletic counterpuncher for a Mexican.

I love both of these guys

Delgado kind of reminds me of Carlos Cuadras.

I hate that they're trying to push Ali's nephew down our throats. By the way, Ali didn't even believe in race mixing. He was a racist. So it's kind of hilarious how they're trying to spin it like Ali would've loved seeing this kid. And I quote, "... blue birds fly with blue birds, red birds fly with red birds..."

Great start from Santi !

Santillian is a wide ass dude. I just check on BoxRec because I missed the weight division. This is WW! Santillian looking like a buff MW .

2-1 Baez.

Nava doesn't look himself - prolly the weight..?

3-0 baez for me

4-0 baez, nava very lackluster tonight, seems uninterested

5-0, baez with a big arse left hook in that round. nava actually had a good last 15 seconds but isnt doing enough vs a determined opponent

damn! and just like that a body shot crumples baez and it's over