By Norm Frauenheim –
PHOENIX – Liam Wilson is back in a city for the first step in a mission to reclaim what he says was taken from him more than a year ago.
“Unfinished business,’’ Wilson says of his junior-lightweight fight against Oscar Valdez Friday in an ESPN-televised bout that could put him in position to finally possess the belt he believes he should already have.
Wilson will return to the same arena, Desert Diamond in nearby Glendale, in an attempt to finish some messy business that erupted into controversy on February 3, 2023.
Then, at least, an angry Wilson described the ring as though the canvas should have been surrounded by yellow crime tape instead of traditional ropes.
Emanuel Navarrete, Wilson said, got away with one.
Wilson, an Australian, knocked down the unbeaten Mexican in the fourth round.
Navarrete clearly hurt, spit out his mouthpiece in an apparent attempt to gain some time to recover his consciousness and composure. As it turned out, he got plenty. It took the referee 27 seconds to retrieve the mouthpiece.
Five rounds later, Navarrete went on to win a vacant World Boxing Organization 130-pound title with a ninth-round stoppage
But it wouldn’t have happened without that long count, said Wilson, the only fighter to put Navarrete on the canvas.
“The whole world saw it,’’ Wilson said Wednesday at the final news conference at a hotel ballroom in downtown Phoenix. “I should have been world champion.’’
Wilson did not file a formal complaint with the WBO or the Arizona Boxing & MMA Commission. He said Wednesday that he only complained to the promoter. But he also said that the Long Count controversy motivated him to return for a second shot at a world title.
“Arizona, I’m glad to be back,’’ said Wilson, a road warrior from Brisbane who trained in Thailand and Las Vegas.
Another shot at a title, — the same title – was created Tuesday when the WBO ruled that Wilson (13-2, 7 KOs) and Valdez (31-2, 23 KOs) are fighting for an interim belt. What happens next depends on Navarrete.
In pursuit of a fourth division belt, he’s fighting for a vacant lightweight title against Ukrainian Denys Berinchyk on May 18 in San Diego
If Navarrete wins, as expected, he could decide to defend the 135-pound title and vacate the 130-pound version.
If that happens, the WBO announced that the Wilson-Valdez winner will be elevated from interim to real. Inevitable controversy would follow. You can already hear the social-media mob screaming “e-mail champion.’’
But, at least, it wouldn’t be a Long Count.
That controversy left some angry echoes and lessons. To wit: In his AZ return, Wilson has no illusions. It’ll be hard to win a decision.
Valdez, a former featherweight and junior lightweight champ, is favored in part because the crowd promises to be with him. He’s popular in Arizona. The two-time Mexican Olympian grew up in Nogales, about a three-hour drive from Phoenix. He has roots in Tucson
Despite his punishing loss by decision to Navarrete at Desert Diamond last August, the crowd cheered him.
“They said thank you for your performance,’’ Valdez said. “At first, I wondered why they were thanking me for a loss.’’
Above all, it was a sure sign that Valdez has some very loyal fans. They’re expected to be there for him Friday
He’ll have the crowd, leaving Wilson with a pretty good idea of what he has.
“No options,’’ he said. “I’ve come here to knock him out.’’
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