BoxRec

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.

Valdez is on a bit of a ....

Obliterates Berchelt.. pisses off, and still fights immediately..

Then gets schooled by Stevenson..

Nava is a good fight though.

The WBO has instructed Top Rank to arrange a fight between Emanuel Navarrete and Oscar Valdez, both from Mexico.

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.

Excellent fight. Will be interesting to see how much getting slapped around by Stevenson effects Valdez

Navarrete seemed so uninterested in his last fight. Dude looks like he might be with one foot out the door here soon, imo. Either way, this will be a good fight. I can see Navarrete stopping Valdez.

Valdez out

This should be in the summer.

Valdez will be out soon, then this.