By Norm Frauenheim
GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Emanuel Navarrete-Oscar Valdez Jr. fight is a tough call, so tough that neither Marco Antonio Barrera nor Erik Morales will pick a winner.
Navarrete-Valdez has been marketed as a possible successor to the Barrera-Morales trilogy, an iconic rivalry in Mexican boxing.
It’s no coincidence that both Barrera and Morales have been a big part of the promotion. They were featured in the ESPN promo, Hecho en Mexico.
They were on the stage at the formal news conference Thursday.
Barrera sat next to Valdez (31-1, 23 KOs), the challenger and a slight betting favorite tonight (7 p.m./ ESPN) at Desert Diamond Arena. Morales sat next to Navarrete (37-1, 31 KOs), the World Boxing Organization’s junior-lightweight champion.
“It’s complicated,’’ Morales said Friday after both fighters made weight, although Navarrete needed two trips to the scale to make the 130-pound mandatory. Valdez was at 129.8.
It’s complicated, perhaps, because of the divergent styles.
Navarrete, long and lanky, is awkward. His punches come from all kinds of angles, all with great velocity.
If one is a trademark, it’s his uppercut. If it travels through Valdez’ upraised gloves, splitting his disciplined defensive posture, it could end, then and there.
However, Navarette’s long, often wild-swinging style opens him up to a precisely-delivered hook. Valdez’ left is one of the best in the business.
Navarrete got dropped by a right hook from little-know Australian Liam Wilson in the fourth round last February, also at Desert Diamond. He got up and won by ninth-round TKO, but only after he spit out his mouthpiece, forcing a controversial 27-second delay.
Complications are Morales’ way of saying anything can happen. Either fighter can win.
But there’s friendship, too.
“They are my amigos,’’ Barrera said through an interpreter. “I’ve talked to both. I like both of them a lot. I just can’t pick a winner.’’
Barrera was at Valdez’ side as they stepped onto the stage for the weigh-in. Morales was alongside Navarrete, who spent some of his time training at Morales’ gym in Tijuana.
“The winner will be the public,’’ said Barrera, who might have a future as a politician.