(July 20, 2026) On the heels of his impressive first-round knockout over established contender Manuel Avila Saturday night (July 18), Filipino super featherweight Charly “King’s Warrior” Suarez and his promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, are requesting the WBO to follow up on their previous mandate and order unified WBO/IBF junior-lightweight champion Emanuel Navarrete to begin negotiations for a rematch.

Fighting in the night’s co-main event at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, California, and live on ProBoxTV, Suarez, 19-0 (11 KOs), of Manila, brutalized and knocked out Avila, 26-3-1 (9 KOs), of Fairfield, California, at 2:31 of the first round to maintain his mandatory WBO No. 1 status and win the WBO International super featherweight championship.

Citing a desire to stay sharp while waiting to rematch Navarrete, and despite returning from nearly 14 months inactivity, 37-year-old Suarez showed no signs of ring rust and passed the potentially tough test with flying colors, landing several other crisp right hands before the finishing right-hand blow at 2:31 of the opener.

Suarez and Navarrete met for the first time in May of last year and the fight was halted in the eighth due to a Navarrete cut over his left eye that was ruled to have been caused by an accidental headbutt.

After going to the scorecards, the three judges’ original verdict was a unanimous technical decision in favor of Navarrete. However, the fight was changed to a No Contest when the California State Athletic Commission reviewed video replays that showed the cut had been caused by a punch and that, ultimately, Suarez should have been awarded the victory.

The WBO ordered a rematch between the pair, however Navarrete, who was only the WBO champion when he faced Suarez, was first permitted to unify the title against then IBF champ Eduardo Nunez.

Navarrete won the fight by eleventh-round stoppage.

“By destroying Manuel Avila, Charly Suarez proved once again he is the top contender to Emanuel Navarrete, and we ask the WBO to enforce their order and direct his team to start negotiating for a rematch,” said Sampson Lewkowicz.

“Thank you to Garry Jonas and ProBoxTV for giving Charly this high-profile opportunity to show his talents and make a strong case for another title shot.”

“Charly’s dream is to be world champion, and we feel he deserves another shot at the title,” said Suarez’s manager/trainer Delfin Boholst. “Avila was a capable opponent, and Charly had no problem with him. We are ready for another shot at the world title.”

Additionally, Lewkowicz, who is credited with playing a large part in bringing the all-time-great Manny Pacquiao to America (as a then-undiscovered talent), and has also guided the careers of other prominent Filipino boxers such as three-weight world champion John Riel Casimero, former WBO light flyweight champ Donnie Nietes and former WBO super flyweight champion Marvin Sonsona, says he is returning there soon to bring back the next wave of boxing stars from the island nation.

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ABOUT SAMPSON BOXING

Sampson Boxing has promotional partners all over North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Central America. Sampson Boxing events have been televised on such premiere networks as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, ESPN+, DAZN, VS., FOX, Fox Sports, ProBoxTV and several international networks. Sampson Boxing has guided the careers of over 40 world champions, specializing in developing relatively unknown prospects into champions and superstars, including discovering alll-time-great Manny Pacquiao, Hall of Famer Sergio Martinez, World Light Heavyweight, Super Middleweight and Cruiserweight Champion David Benavidez, former two-time champion Javier Fortuna, former world Unified WBA and IBF Super Welterweight Champion Jeison Rosario, former WBA Interim World Featherweight Champion Eduardo “Zurdito” Ramirez, and sibling world champions WBC World Super Welterweight Champion Sebastian Fundora and his sister, WBC, IBF and WBO World Flyweight Champion Gabriela Fundora. Sampson Lewkowicz was inducted into the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame in 2023. For more information, visit sampsonboxing.com.

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By Norm Frauenheim

Reborn Emanuel Navarrete fought his way back from the edge of retirement and now looks at a restored future that starts with options, a decision and perhaps a dilemma.

What’s next?

More to the point, who’s next?

A couple of weeks after a dramatic career-best stoppage of Eduardo Nunez, Navarrete must choose between a promise and an opportunity.

Charly Suarez?

Or O’Shaquie Foster?

The either-or could change, of course. Unforeseen options are like insults from feuding promoters. There’s always another one.

This week, however, there were only two for Navarrete, who on Wednesday got an order that — in acronym-speak — told him he had 20 days to negotiate a deal for a “mandatory” rematch.

The only mandatory here is skepticism, of course. The only bet is an extension. Negotiations and Navarrete’s decision figure to go on for a while.

The dilemma was Navarrete’s own doing. In a contentious arena often devoid of what Ernest Hemingway called “grace under pressure,” a maturing Navarrete showed some.

He thanked Suarez.

He also acknowledged he owed him one.

“I know I owe Suarez that rematch,’’ Navarrete said at a news conference in the immediate aftermath of his 11^th-round TKO of Nunez in front of a roaring crowd in Glendale, AZ.

The rematch has been there, at one level or another, amid lingering echoes of the controversy over the Navarrete-Suarez fight in May. At first, Navarrete was declared the winner by an eighth-round “technical decision.” The referee ruled that a cut above his left eye was caused by a punch.

Thirty minutes after the San Diego fight, however, video showed the cut was caused by a Suarez punch.

Weeks later, the California State Athletic Commission changed the result, ruling it a dreaded “No Contest.”

Ten months later, there’s still no rematch. It screams for one. It sounds as if Suarez is already counting on it. The Filipino told Boxing Scene that he wants the rematch in Las Vegas.

On the last night in February, he was in the Arizona crowd for Navarrete’s victory, a definitive performance that proved to be a powerful answer to most questions about Navarrete’s future. It’s never been brighter.

Nevertheless, a ruling at a regulatory meeting allowed him to retain a title that many believe Suarez had rightfully taken from him in the ring. It remains unresolved, because Suarez stepped aside, allowing Navarrete to fight Nunez.

For that, Navarrete is thankful. But it’s still not clear whether he’ll agree to a sequel, or simply relinquish the WBO belt and move on to another 130-pound unifier against Foster.

Foster was in the Arizona crowd, too.

“Let’s do it …let’s make it happen,’’ Foster told reporters.

Then, he went on to suggest he has more name-recognition than Suarez.

“My profile has been raised,” he said.

Foster also has something that Suarez doesn’t. He’s got a junior-lightweight title, the World Boxing Council’s version – the green belt valued more than any other, especially by Mexican fighters.

The powerful Foster, who like Navarrete is a Top Rank fighter, also represents a significant 130-pound challenge to Navarrete’s renewed aspirations. There was talk that Navarrete merits some serious pound-for-pound consideration after his stoppage of a feared Nunez, a fellow Mexican who was the betting favorite at opening bell.

A victory over Foster would validate what Navarrete did against Nunez. It also would answer a lingering question about Navarrete’s consistency.

He had grown erratic, which was all too evident in a now-forgotten, yet still-controversial stoppage of unknown Australian Liam Wilson, also in Glendale where Navarrete won a then-vacant WBO title in February 2023.

To do it, Navarrete had to get up from the only knockdown in his career. He was floored by a left hook. Clearly dazed, he was still alert enough to spit out his mouthpiece, giving him a controversial 27 seconds to recover. He survived.

Wilson’s corner was outraged. It threatened a protest. It demanded a rematch. Wilson never got one. Will Suarez?

For now, not even Navarrete knows. It’s a tough question, one bound to be controversial in the court of public opinion.

Stand-up guy?

Or pound-for-pound guy?

By Norm Frauenheim

GLENDALE, Ariz. –The blood poured into a right eye. A swelling bruise began to close the left eye. Only the end was easy to see.

Emanuel Navarrete’s punches, long and deadly, bloodied, bruised and busted-up Eduardo Nunez, forcing the ring physician to call an end to the carnage in the first second of the eleventh round Saturday night at Desert Diamond Arena.

Navarrete’s victory proved to be a definitive answer to a growing chorus of critics who believed that the three-division champ was in a steep decline. He’s not. Instead, he’s a unified junior welterweight champion. He took Nunez’ International belt and added it to his World Boxing Organization title.

“I feel like I got back to what it is to be a Mexican warrior,” he said to a roaring crowd after his fourth appearance in the state since 2023.

The only way back to his warrior roots, however, was through a determined challenge from another resilient Mexican. Nunez (29-2, 27 KOs) was a slight favorite. And there were moments when it looked as if he might prevail.

“I want to be champion again,” he said after hugging Navarrete in the center of the ring. “I will continue to learn. 

Nunez’ right eye was cut in the fourth round. From the fifth through about the eighth, however, his power and evident discipline forced Navarrete to retreat.

But his corner stopped the bleeding after the round.  The blood was gone, suddenly and seemingly replaced by a sharper Nunez. He began to find his range. He landed a solid body-to-head combination that backed Navarrete into the ropes. 

The double shot, perfectly executed, seemed to surprise Navarrete, whose loosey-goosey style managed to confuse Nunez over the first two to three rounds. But the combo interrupted Navarrete’s momentum. He hesitated just enough for Nunez to get back into the fight.

Nunez’ power was finding avenues under Navarrete’s long, spaghetti-like arms. First, he targeted Navarrete’s body. Then his head, Navarrete went into reverse. He marched forward in the opening round. He retreated in the seventh. Increasingly, the relentless Ninez was there, his head and face in Navarrete’s chest. In the eighth, Nunez backed  him into the ropes and followed with a succession of head shots that landed with an echo that could be heard above the roar from the crowd. 

In the ninth, the blood started flowing again. A rapid swelling, the color of a purple grape, appeared around the left. Only the end was left.  

Emiliano Vargas prevails in punishing fight

There’s more to Emiliano Vargas than just a pretty face. There’s a mean streak too.He displayed it Saturday in a contentious, bruising stoppage of Augustine Quintana Saturday In a junior-welterweight fight that was a good measure of the young prospect’s chances of fulfilling his potential at Desert Diamond Arena.

“I want to become a world champion in my next fight,” the 21-year-old Vargas said after forcing Quintana’s corner to end it after the ninth round.

In the early rounds, it looked as if Vargas would win easily. In the fifth, however, Quintana (22-3-1, 13 KOs)  suddenly got aggressive. He marched forward, pursuing Vargas and throwing punches at a wild rate and in every direction. One landed low. Then, another. Vargas was in evident pain. The referee called time and warned Quintana.

For a few seconds, Vargas walked it off. The warning, however, changed the fight. It got nasty, borderline ugly. Quintana continued to throw punches, some that repeatedly seemed to land just at or below the beltline. But Vargas didn’t back away. 

Instead, he stood and exchanged shots that echoed throughout the old ice hockey arena. In the eighth, Quintana slipped onto his hands and knees. Vargas looked at him. Actually, he glared and gestured at the Argentine, urging him to get up. No interpretation necessary. Vargas wanted to administer some more punishment. 

He did with punches that forced another timeout  Quintana was sent to his corner where the ringside physician was waiting. The  good doctor took a look at his busted-up face and determined the fight could continue. Nobody was happier about that than Vargas.  A round later, it was over, despite angry protests from the busted-up Quintana.

Abel Ramos storms back, scores decision over Smalls

Now we know why Mario Barrios wouldn’t fight Abel Ramos again.

Ramos, fighting for the first time since a controversial draw with Barrios for the WBC welterweight title more than a year ago, displayed great conditioning, unleashing another furious rally for a victory over prospect Tahmir Smalls at Desert Diamond Arena.

It was close, but this time the judges got it right, giving Ramos (29-6-3, 22 KOs) a split decision– 98-92  and 97-93 for Ramos, 96-94 for Smalls.

Ramos and the crowd — populated by many fans from hometown Casa Grande about an hour drive from Glendale — celebrated as though they had been waiting for fate and fairness to finally favor Ramos.

For months, he waited and wondered, praying and hoping for a rematch with Barrios. 

“It’s been awhile since I last fought,” he told The Boxing Hour before opening bell.  “I thought I’d get the rematch. There were. a couple times I thought it was done. They kept saying yeah. But then he got the Manny Pacquiao fight. That’s when I knew I’d have to fight somebody else. No regrets. 

“I’m just happy to be here, fighting again. 

“I just love to fight.”

For the last six rounds, that was evident, painfully so for Smalls (16-1 11 KOs). First, there were body shots from  Ramos. Then, head shots. In the final round, Smalls slipped to the canvas, a picture of exhaustion..

“It’s exactly how I thought it would go,” said Ramos, who resurrected his future. “I hope this win will give me another title shot. I want Ryan Garcia, all of the champions.” 

Martinez, Cardenas fight to a draw

Jordan Martinez didn’t get the win. But he got the cheers and probably a rematch.

Martinez, an entertaining mix of energy and speed, wound up with a draw in front of hometown fans Saturday against favored Arturo Cardenas in the first fight of the DAZN live stream of the Emanuel Navarrete-Eduardo Nunez fight at Desert Diamond Arena.

Martinez (16-0-1, 15 KOs) appeared to grab the early momentum in the junior-featherweight fight. He danced into the ring and kept his feet moving throughout most of the early rounds. By the mid rounds, however, Cardenas (17-0-2, 9KOs) began to catch with solid shots. It was enough for him to also catch him on the cards — 98-92 for Martinez, 96-94 for Cardenas and 95-95. It was a split draw. A split audience, too..

“Most of his shots were hitting me on the gloves,” Cardenas, of Mexico, said.

The, crowd booed,

“We can run it back for sure and I’ll come back better,” said Martinez, a Phoenix fighter who wore the city’s logo on the back of his trunks.

Mesa junior welterweight Ochoa suffers first loss

Mexican Oscar Alvarez Guerrero brought Julio Cesar Chavez out of his broadcasting seat and onto his feet with a resilient burst of late energy that led to an upset decision over Trini Ochoa, a popular junior welterweight from Mesa, Saturday at Desert Diamond Arena.

The early moments in the eight-round fight appeared to belong to Ochoa, who delivered an effective body attack. But the lanky Guerrero (15-2, 12 KOs) endured the shots, recovered and then began to dominate, especially in the final couple of rounds. That’s when Guerrero mounted a relentless attack, backing Ochoa (21-1, 9 KOs) on to the ropes and into the loss column for the first time.

Bantamweight Velle stays unbeaten with dominant decision

Phillip Velle, an accomplished amateur, continued to add a prospect’s credibility to his resume Saturday, displaying a comprehensive skill set in a dominant decision over Brayan Ramos at Desert Diamond Arena.

Velle (5-0, 2 KOs), landed several well-executed counters throughout a sxi-round bantamweight fight. He staggered Ramos (8-8-1, 2 KOs), a resilient Mexican who managed to stay on his feet and in the fight. 

Prospect Beltran extends unbeaten record

Hector Beltran calls himself Handsome. The nickname still works. His face and record remains unmarked.

Beltran, a Robert Garcia-trained prospect, stayed unbeaten with a shutout decision over a game Cesar Diaz in the second fight on the Navarrete-Nunez featured card Saturday at Desert Diamond Arena.

Beltran (7-0, 5 KOs), of Dallas, took complete control of the welterweight bout in fourth, landing successive shots that rocked Diaz (10-2, 6 KOs) from one side of the ring to the next. 

First Bell: Navarrete-Nunez card opens with quick KO

Las Vegas welterweight Rahman Muhammad turned a scheduled matinee into a short feature Saturday at Desert Diamond Arena

Muhammad (3-0, 2 KOs) wasted little time, opening the show with second-round stoppage of Mitchell McFadden, (1-1), of Atlanta, on a Matchroom card featuring the Emanuel Navarrete-Eduardo Nunez fight for two pieces of the junior-lightweight title

By Norm Frauenheim

GLENDALE, Ariz. – For a while, the only thing separating Emanuel Navarrete and Eduardo Nunez was a valid passport. Now, even that’s gone.

Navarrete and Nunez stood face-to-face, seemingly even for perhaps the most intriguing fight in a new year Friday, just a day after Navarrete resolved issues over a lost passport and boarded a private jet in Mexico City for a flight to Arizona.

He landed, his papers and weight all in order. As he stepped off the scale, he looked relieved. Finally, he was where he was supposed to be. Finally, there were no issues about the weight. He safely came in under the junior-lightweight limit of 130 pounds.

In a staged weigh-in after the official one behind closed doors Friday morning at Desert Diamond Arena, he was at 129.2 and Nunez at 129.8.

Over the last few years, the 31-year-old Navarrete (39-2-1-1, 32 KOs) has often struggled to make weight. But this time, more than a passport was lost.

Pounds were, too, enough for him to stay in the hunt to keep his World Boxing Organization belt and to take Nunez’ International Boxing Federation title Saturday night at Desert Diamond in a DAZN-streamed bout.

“Obviously, we had our setbacks, all out of our hands,’’ Navarrete said through an interpreter. “But, finally, we’re here.’’

Navarrete sounded confident. The three-division champion is no stranger to Arizona where he’s already fought three times since 2023.

“This is a lot like my second home,’’ Navarrete said.

He’s been lucky in Maricopa County. He escaped with a victory over Australian Liam Wilson, scoring a stoppage after getting up from a controversial knockdown. He’s also been dominant, punishing Oscar Valdez, first at Desert Diamond and again at the Suns home arena in downtown Phoenix.

He knows the city. It knows him. But a boxing ring never includes any of the comforts of home. It’s full of danger and shifting allegiances, both of which are personified in the emerging face of Nunez.

Navarrete has the resume and an awkward style, a puzzle to most who have tried to solve it.

But Nunez has the momentum, which includes an astonishing knockout rate. He’s not perfect, but he’s close. He’s stopping opponents at a 93.1-percent clip.

Twenty-nine victories in 30 fights, 27 by stoppage. It comes with no surprise, perhaps, that his only loss came on the scorecards early in his career. Nunez’ power has dictated what he does. Who he is.

“Navarrete has been a champion for a long, long time,’’ Nunez said, also through an interpreter. “But I feel like it’s my time to write my own destiny.’’

Nunez woke up Friday as the favorite. The betting odds have been close since the fight was announced. Throughout, however, Nunez has been the bettors’ slight favorite, a sign perhaps that the fighter from Sinaloa has captured the imagination of Mexican fans.

For now, at least, Nunez is a name. Few American fans have seen him fight. In August 2024, he beat Miguel Marriaga in Carson, Calif. Last May, he traveled to Japan, scoring a unanimous decision over Masanori Rikiishi for a vacant IBF title in Yokohama. Twice, his passport has been punched with some noteworthy credibility.

But none would be more powerful than a victory over Navarrete, whose name has been near the top of Mexico’s boxing royalty for many years.

A victory over Navarrete would be a sure sign that he has arrived, especially among Mexicans, boxing’s biggest and loudest demographic. It’s no coincidence that promoters, Matchroom and Top Rank, have dubbed the fight “King of Mexico.”

Canelo Alvarez, who still plans a post-Terence Crawford comeback in September, might argue with that one. For one night, however, the marketing title works.

The 27-year Nunez has youth and evident energy. Against a Navarrete, he might need a lot of both. Navarrete’s edgy victories over Valdez suggest he’s at his best against fellow Mexicans. Valdez is popular in Arizona, in part because he has roots in Tucson. But Navarrete walked through him. From round to round, it looked as if he was energized by a partisan crowd. Those Valdez fans might be his fans now.

Nunez figures to encounter that version of Navarrete, who is also motivated by talk that he is not the fighter he was five years ago. In his last fight, he escaped against Charly Suarez. It ended in controversy over whether a punch or a head butt left Navarrete with a nasty cut. Eventually, it was ruled a No Contest. Navarette kept his belt, but couldn’t shed the questions.

“Some of the criticism was unfair,’’ said Navarrete, who has never had a better chance to prove just how unfair.   

4 x 3 mins Welterweight contest
RAHMAN MUHAMMAD (147.4lbs)     vs.           MITCHELL MCFADDEN (146.4lbs)
Las Vegas, Nevada                                                             Atlanta, Georgia

Followed by

6 x 3 mins Jr Middleweight contest
HECTOR BELTRAN JR. (154.8lbs)        vs.           CESAR DIAZ (155.2lbs)
Dallas, Texas                                                                           Lima, Peru

Followed by

6 x 3 mins Super-Bantamweight contest
PHILLIP VELLA (119.8lbs)        vs.           BRAYAN RAMOS (117.8lbs)
Henderson, Nevada                                        Sonora, Mexico

Followed by

8 x 3 mins Super-Lightweight contest
TRINI OCHOA (142.8lbs)          vs.           OSCAR ALVAREZ (143lbs)
Phoenix, Arizona                                               Sonora, Mexico

LIVE ON DAZN FROM 6PM

10 x 3 mins WBC Continental Americas Super-Bantamweight title
ARTURO CARDENAS (122lbs)               vs.           JORDAN MARTINEZ (121.8lbs)
Michoacán, Mexico                                                           Phoenix, Arizona

Followed by

10 x 3 mins WBA Continental North America title
TAHMIR SMALLS (147lbs)       vs.           ABEL RAMOS (146.2lbs)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania                      Casa Grande, Arizona

Followed by

10 x 3 mins WBO Latino and NABF Jr. Lightweight titles
EMILIANO VARGAS (139.8lbs)               vs.           AGUSTIN QUINTANA (139.6lbs)
Oxnard, California                                                             Buenos Aires, Argentina

Followed by

12 x 3 mins WBO and IBF Jr. Lightweight World title unification
EMANUEL NAVARRETE (129.2lbs)     vs.           EDUARDO NUNEZ (129.8lbs)
San Juan Zitlaltepec, Mexico                                    Sinaloa, Mexico

Emanuel Navarrete

“We had our setbacks getting here and a lot of it was out of our hands, but we’re here now and it’s great to see all the support to see two Mexican warriors get in the ring.

“There was a lot of speculation after my last fight, but I don’t think I have anything to justify. We can be really confident going into this fight and I want to show to myself that I can go and face these great champions. I feel I have a lot of time left in this sport to fight in great fights, but I want to just show tomorrow night that I have the guts and the heart to face these tough opponents.

“I’ve never liked to rank the fighters that I’ve fought, i always let other popular do that, but I can say without a doubt that Sugar is in the top five that I’ve faced, and because of that, this is a very important challenge for me. 

“I’m not blind, we’ll see on the night who has the most power. From the moment you board the train as a professional, you have the answer of what you are willing to do to win, and everything I’m willing to do to become a World champion and to be unified has never changed.

“We both have power, so I think that physical condition is key. Whomever can endure the most will win, and that physical condition will determine that. 

“I always want the knockout in all my fights but if it’s not possible then I take my time, I’ve learned that. I know I won’t hurt him with one punch, but I can destabilize him and go from there. 

“It’s always a pleasure to fight for my country. For my origins and representing my country, my flag, with a fighter like him. I believe it’s going to be an excellent fight. I’ve worked so hard so I can deliver the best fight of my career.”

Sugar Nunez

“He’s a fighter that’s very difficult to decipher. it’s a lot of pressure. What attracts me to this fight is that I like challenges. I know that this fight is important for my development to keep moving. 

“He has many knockouts and his rivals say he’s heavy handed. I think everyone has their own qualities. The truth is it’s a great challenge in front of me, he’s a great fighter, but I’m happy for this challenge. As a fighter and as a person, there’s a lot of respect there.

“I’m sure it’s going to be a war. He will arrive prepared and we will do our jobs, and then God will decide.

“I think this victory will be very important to both of us. He is well known in Mexico, and I’m molding my path now, so this is very big. We all have a winning mentality and are willing to do what is needed to win. I have a winning mentality, I see myself winning this fight. 

“I could never have imagined that I would be facing an opponent like Navarrete in the future, it’s an honor and I’m delighted to be here, and ready to take advantage of it.

“It’s a very difficult style to face but we have looked to copy it in sparring, so we’re confident in our preparation. We love the challenge and you know it’s a guaranteed war. 

“He’s been a champion for a long time, but I want to go in and write my own history.”

Eddie Hearn

“This is what boxing is all about. The best v the best, two champions in Sugar Nunez and Emanuel Navarrete face off in here on Saturday night, live on the zone around the world in front of 12,000 fans in here for what will be an incredible atmosphere.

“This fight as I said, exactly what boxing needs the IBF champion and the WBO champion, and we thank the WBO and IBF for making this fight and of course, our partners in this show, Top Rank, as it takes everybody coming together to make great fights like this.

“But in great fights like this, there’s always drama. When we arrived in Arizona yesterday, Emanuel Navarrete said he was very chilled. He was at the Mexican embassy at Mexico City, just rocked up there to get his visa and no one could find his passport. So overnight, we’re having a nice little panic about myself and the fine folk at Top Rank.

“And he went this morning, nice and chilled and on weight, and he’s currently on a private jet here, slightly delayed but as far as he’s concerned, he’s ready for the fight of his life. They will be facing off here in around an hour, and we have three incredible 50/50 fights on the undercard and some of the finest young talents in the game.”

Emiliano Vargas

“Quintana is a hell of a fighter. Throughout this whole process of winning Prospect of the Year, being at the Super Bowl; I know that didn’t matter to him. After winning the prospect of the year, I ran ten miles because I pictured him running five. Prior to the Super Bowl, I did 12 rounds, three different guys.
So I’m ready to go. I pictured him, every night. I know at the end of the day, he’s ready. He’s ready for the challenge and so am I.

“I’ve got to show everybody what I’m about. This fight is going to do that. Quintana is a great fighter. He’s caused upsets but I’m ready to go. I’ve crossed every check in my box. And now it’s fight week, I’m ready to make weight and ready to shine on Saturday night.

“The energy here in Glendale, Arizona has been amazing. Even when I fought at 3pm here in the prelims before, they would come out and I would feel the energy. Now, later in the night and I just can’t wait to shine in front of everybody.

“I’ve seen what it is to be a great fighter. And it’s been in front of me, has been in my father. I stand on the shoulders of my mother and father. Without them, I wouldn’t be here. I understand at the end of the day, if I want to be great, I have to outwork the regular guy in the boxing gym because the microscope is already on me from the get, from the debut.

“If I’m gonna do anything, I’m gonna do it 120 per cent. I know that is the only way I operate. If I’m locked in on something, that’s it. I prepare myself 120 per cent. I can’t wait. This is the beginning of the Emiliano Vargas era, and I want it all. I want the titles, but at the end of the day, if I don’t get past Quintana, then I don’t get to any of that. I thought about them through the whole process. I understood that I had to go to work.”

Agustin Quintana

“Firstly, I want to say thanks to God for giving me one of these other opportunities that I get, and for taking me to these places. It’s an honor to be here and a real dream of mine. I’ve been really enjoying the week so far, and I will continue to enjoy what’s left of it and go on to have a special night on Saturday.”

Tahmir Smalls

“I just want to thank God for the opportunity and thank you guys for the opportunity, now I’m ready to set off fireworks come Saturday. I know who I got in front of me. I haven’t slacked off one bit in this camp. I’m ready to get it on.
I’m 100 per cent ready. I wouldn’t have taken the fight if I didn’t believe I was ready, I wouldn’t have took the fight in his backyard. I just know I crossed every T and dotted every I in this camp, and I’m ready to set fireworks off.”

Abel Ramos

“I want to thank God for allowing me to be here and good health and blessed to be back in my hometown of Arizona after nine years of not fighting here. It is going to be amazing. This fight card is is going to be fire and I’m excited to be here.

“We know what we have in front of us, it is going to be a tough fight. But we trained well for for that. And, I’m going to use my experience as an advantage and my hometown, of course.”

Arturo Cardenas

“I’m coming into this fight ready and prepared. As you say, we never take a step back in terms of accepting fights. I’m here once again, boxing in Arizona, it’s my third time here and I’m very grateful to be here, and I’m ready to put on a great show once again.”

Jordan Martinez

“Let’s go. That’s all. I’m ready for this. This is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for. And I am ready to show everybody what I could do in the ring.” 

By Norm Frauenheim

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Emanuel Navarrete missed a news conference Thursday for a fight for a unified junior-lightweight title Saturday against emerging fellow-Mexican Eduardo Nunez at Desert Diamond Arena because he lost his passport.

The fight for the World Boxing Organization and International Boxing Federation belts was still on, however. 

During the  undercard portion of a delayed news conference, promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed a story first reported by The Boxing Hour and said  Navarrete was on a private jet from Mexico City to Phoenix.

“”Earlier, he was sitting in an embassy in Mexico City,” Hearn, Nunez’ promoter, said. “Nobody could find his passport.

Hearn had hoped to stage the ritual stare-down between Navarrete and Nunez later in the night. But there was still no sign of Navarrete as the undercard part of the newser ended.

Representatives for Top Rank, Navarrete’s promoter, were confident he was enroute.

“We had some drama this week,” Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti said.

Moretti then thanked Hearn for acquiring a private jet.

“We’re still negotiating that,” Hearn said.

Navarrete is popular in the Phoenix area. His scheduled Saturday fight on DAZN is his third at Desert Diamond and his fourth in Maricopa County since 2023. He beat Oscar Valdez in a rematch in December, 2024 at the Suns home arena in downtown Phoenix in his last Arizona appearance. His drawing power has been evident.

“This fight will happen in front of what will be 12,0000 fans,” Hearn said.

Following an unbelievable weekend of boxing in “The Ring: High Stakes” Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia and Claressa Shields vs. Franchon Crews-Dezurn II, DAZN’s action-packed Q1 boxing slate continues this Saturday, Feb. 28, when Emanuel Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs) and Eduardo Nunez (29-1, 27 KOs) face off with both the IBF and WBO Super Featherweight Titles on the line. The fight at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Ariz., will air live on DAZN starting at 9pm ET / 6pm PT. Main event ringwalks are set to kick off at approximately 11:47pm ET / 8:47pm PT / 4:45am GMT. 

The Navarrete vs. Nunez undercard features three exciting bouts with four undefeated fighters looking to protect their unblemished records. Tahmir Smalls (16-0, 11 KOs) hopes to remain perfect against Abel Ramos (28-6, 22 KOs) in a welterweight matchup. Elsewhere, the promising 21-year-old super lightweight prospect Emiliano Vargas (16-0, 13 KOs) will enter the ring to face Agustin Quintana (22-2-1, 13 KOs) undefeated but is in for a challenge as Quintana hasn’t lost a fight in nearly three years. Rounding out the undercard is a bantamweight clash between two undefeated fighters in Arturo Cardenas (18-0, 9 KOs) and Jordan Martinez (16-0, 15 KOs). 

Heading into March, the action continues as both former interim champion Arnold Barboza Jr. (32-1, 11 KOs) and Kenneth Sims Jr. (22-3-1, 8 KOs) will move up to the welterweight division in a highly contested bout that will also feature a pair of world champions in Gabriela Fundora (17-0, 9 KOs) and Oscar Collazo (13-0, 10 KOs) on the undercard, live on DAZN on March 14 in Anaheim, Calif. 

The following weekend, DAZN boxing heads to Orlando, Fla., on Saturday, March 21 for a WBC Middleweight Title fight between Carlos Adames (24-1, 18 KOs) and Austin “Ammo” Williams (20-1, 13 KOs). Adames’ third title defense was originally set with Williams in January as part of the Shakur Stevenson vs. Teofimo Lopez card, but Adames pulled out before the weigh in due to illness. 

All fights are airing worldwide on DAZN and can be viewed via a DAZN subscription. If you are not currently a DAZN member, then monthly and annual subscription options are available to watch over 185 fights a year across boxing, bare knuckle boxing, MMA and kickboxing.

Please click HERE to sign up for DAZN Media Center — your one-stop hub for assets across DAZN Boxing including upcoming pay-per-view events, subscription fights and our archive library.

UPCOMING EVENTS ON DAZN

Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026

Navarrete vs. Nunez Press Conference

4pm ET / 1pm PT / 9pm GMT

WATCH HERE

Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

Navarrete vs. Nunez Weigh-in

Feb. 27 4pm ET / 1pm PT / 9pm GMT

WATCH HERE

Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026

Emanuel Navarrete vs. Eduardo Nunez

Desert Diamond Arena | Glendale, Ariz.

WATCH THE FIGHT HERE

Saturday, March 14, 2026

Arnold Barboza Jr. vs. Kenneth Sims Jr.

Honda Center | Anaheim, Calif. 

WATCH THE FIGHT HERE

Saturday, March 21, 2026

Carlos Adames vs. Austin Williams

Caribe Royale Resort | Orlando, Fla. 

WATCH THE FIGHT HERE

NEWS AND SOCIAL

• Eduardo Nunez RETURNS this Saturday 
• Another step towards greatest this Saturday  
• Only one can be crowned the next King of Mexico   #NavarreteNunez live on DAZN this Saturday
• Promise kept   @ammowilliams’ World Title shot against WBC Middleweight Ruler @caballobronco is rescheduled for March 21 
• The Next King of Mexico.
• Are you ready for war? 
• Emanuel Navarrete is clinical in the ring
• Champion vs Champion   @vaquero_navarrete and @sugarnunez97 put their WBO & IBF World Titles on the line this Saturday at the @ddarenaaz 
• Emanuel Navarrete vs Eduardo Nunez: THE BREAKDOWN
• Emanuel Navarrete vs. Eduardo Nunez: A Mexican War That Could Steal Fight of the Year

Tahmir Smalls will defend his WBA Continental North America Welterweight title against Abel Ramos at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona on Saturday February 28, live worldwide on DAZN, leading the undercard for the blockbuster unification clash between Emanuel Navarrete and Eduardo ‘Sugar’ Nunez.

TICKETS FOR FEBRUARY 28 ARE ON SALE NOW FROM TICKETMASTER.COM

Smalls (16-0 11 KOs) claimed the title in his last outing on home turf in Philadelphia, dropping Jose Roman Vazquez twice over ten rounds to pick up his first belt and biggest win to date.

‘Boots’ Ennis’ stablemate now steps up once again, and this time he’s entering the Lion’s Den to take on Phoenix’s Ramos (28-6-3 22 KOs) in another step-up showdown. Ramos returns to the ring after a grueling World title battle with WBC champion Mario Barrios in Texas in November, missing out on becoming a World ruler with their tussle ending in a draw.

Ramos will be eager to get back into position for a third shot at a World title, having faced Yordenis Ugas for the WBA strap in September 2020, and for Smalls, the showdown gives the 26 year old the chance to further stake his claim for more big fights at 147lbs – a must-win night for both fighters in the desert.

“2026 is my year,” said Smalls. “I am coming for everybody that is in my way to becoming World champion in the division, and that starts with Abel Ramos on February 28.”

“Devin Haney, Mario Barrios, Rolly Romero and Lewis Crocker – I am calling out all of you. I am taking over the Welterweight division and there is nothing stopping me. On February 28, Abel Ramos – it’s belt to ass. Statement time.”

“I am excited to be back in the ring,” said Ramos. “It’s going to be an action-packed fight card, and I am ready to put on a show for all my people here in Phoenix.”

Elsewhere on a stacked card in Arizona, Arturo Cardenas defends his WBC Continental Americas Super-Bantamweight title against Jordan Martinez. Mexican Cardenas (17-0-1 9 KOs) puts the title on the line for the fourth time after a successful third defense in Stockton, California in December, and does so against unbeaten Arizonan Martinez (16-0 15 KOs) who will be hungry to claim the biggest win of his career and rip Cardenas’ title away.

“A big thank you to my team at RGBA and Matchroom for the opportunity to perform on such a great card between two Mexican warriors,” said Cardenas. “On February 28, I am looking forward to putting on an exciting fight for the fans there in Arizona and continuing my climb to a World title.”

“Quiero Gerra! (I want war) Quiero Sangre! (I want blood),” said Martinez. “Arturo is making a big mistake in taking this fight. This is the opportunity I have been waiting for, asking for, and now it’s finally here. This is my city. This is my time. February 28, don’t blink.”

A third title fight on the card sees Emiliano Vargas continue his rise in the paid ranks, defending his WBO Latino and WBC NABF Super-Lightweight titles against Agustin Quintana. Vargas (16-0 13 KOs) claimed the vacant WBO Latino title in Mexico in November with a landslide points win, and the Las Vegas starlet will be aiming to kick 2026 off in style in Arizona against Quintana (22-2-1 13 KOs), the experienced Argentinian on a four-fight winning streak which included him handing Marc Castro a first defeat in December 2024.

“The fans in Arizona have always supported my family, and I can’t wait to put on a show for them February 28,” said Vargas. “This is a great card headlined by two Mexican warriors, and I’m thrilled to be part of it.”

There’s more local flavor on the card in the shape of unbeaten Super-Lightweight Trini Ochoa (21-0 9 KOs), while unbeaten Texan Super-Welterweight Hector Beltran Jr (6-0 5 KOs) and unbeaten Las Vegas pair Rahman Muhammad (1-0 1 KOs) and Phillip Vela (4-0 2 KOs) all taste action and will be matched in due course.

Emanuel Navarrete retained the WBO Junior Lightweight title with a controversial technical unanimous decision over Charly Suarez at The Pachanga Arena in San Diego, California.

In round one, Suarez started to bleed from the nose after Navarrete landed a straight right. In round four, Suarez was cut over the right eye from an accidental headbutt. In round six, Navarrete suffered a horrendous looking cut over his left eye from an accidental headbutt. Replays showed that it was a clean left hand from Suarez that caused the cut.

The doctor checked the cut to begin the seventh frame. The doctor then stopped the fight as the eighth bell rang.

When they went to the scorecards, Navarrete won by scores of 78-75 and 77-75 twice.

Navarrete, 130 lbs of San Juan, Mexico needed six tries to make the championship weight limit is now 40-2-1. Suarez, 129.9 lbs of Sawata, PHL is 18-1.

Muratalla Decisions Abdullaev; Wins Interim Lightweight Belt

Raymod Muratalla won the IBF Interim Lightweight Title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Zaur ABdullaev.

Muratalla landed 140 of 533 punches; Abdullawv was 87 of 352.

Abdullaev, 134.4 lbs of Fontana, CA won by scores of 119-109 twice and 118-110 and is now 23-0. Abdullaev, 134.6 lbs of Russia is 20-2.

The full champion is Vasiliy Lomachenlko. Lomachecko has not defended his title due to a back injury,

Andres Cortes remained undefeated with a 10-round unanimous decision over Salvador Jimenez in a junior lightweight bout.

Cortes landed 120 of 501 punches. Jimenez was 63 0r 253.

Cortes, 131.7 lbs of Las Vegas won by scores of 100-90 twice and 99-91 and is now 23-0. Jimenez, 131.9 lbs of Spain is 14-2-1.

Giovani Santillan won a 10-round unanimous decision over Angel Beltran in a welterweight fight.

Santillan, 147.2 lbs of San Diego won by scores of 97-93 on all cards and is now 34-1. Beltran, 146.6 lbs of Mexicali. MEX is 18-3.

Perla Bazaldua won a four-round unanimous decision over Mona Ward in a junior bantamweight fight.

Bazaldua, 114.4 lbs of Los Angeles won by scores of 40-36 on all cards and is now 2-0. Ward, 114.1 lbs of Saint Louis is 0-2.

Alan Garcia won an eight-round unanimous decision over Cristian Medina in a lightweight contest.

Garcia, 136.7 lbs of Ulysses, KS won by scores of 79-73 on all cards and is now 16-1. Medina, 136.7 lbs of Unaipan, MEX is 8-3-1.

Sebastian Hernandez remained undefeated with a 10-round unanimous decision over Azat Hovhannisyan in a junior featherweight bout.

In round nine, Hovhannisyan was docked a point for holding.

Hernandez, 122 lbs of Tijuana, MEX won by scores of 98-91 on all cards and is now 20-0. Hovhannisyan, 122.7 lbs of Terovan, ARM is 21-6.

  •  Emanuel Navarrete 130 lbs. vs. Charly Suarez 129.9 lbs
(Navarrete’s WBO Junior Lightweight World Title – 12 Rounds)
Referee: Edward Collantes           
Judges: Lou Moret, Pat Russell and Fernando Villarreal

   • Raymond Muratalla 134.4 lbs vs. Zaur Abdulalev 134.6 lbs
(Vacant Interim IBF Lightweight World Title — 12 Rounds)

Referee: Thomas Taylor        
Judges: Dennis O’Connell, David Sutherland and Steve Weisfeld

(ESPN+, 6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT)

•   Sammy Contreras 138.9 lbs vs. Dyllon Cervantes Alvarado 139.6 lbs
 (Junior Welterweight  — 4 Rounds)

•  Andres Cortes 131.7 lbs vs. Salvador Jimenez 131.9 lbs
 (Junior Lightweight — 10 Rounds)

•  Giovani Santillan 147.2 lbs vs. Angel Beltran 146.6 lbs
 (Welterweight — 10 Rounds)
 
•  Perla Bazaldua 114.4 lbs vs. Mona Ward 114.1 lbs
 (Junior Bantamweight — 4 Rounds)

•  Alan Garcia 136.7 lbs vs. Cristian Medina 136.7 lbs
 (Lightweight — 8 Rounds)

•  Sebastian Hernandez 122 lbs vs. Azat Hovhannisyan 122.7 lbs
 (Junior Featherweight — 10 Rounds)

NOTE: The Albert Gonzalez-Ivan Guardado Jr. fight was canceled after Guardado withdrew due to his issues with his weight cut.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (May 8, 2025) — Mexico’s fighting cowboy returns to his home away from home to reignite a storied rivalry with an unbeaten Filipino challenger.

Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs) will defend his WBO junior lightweight world title against Charly Suarez (18-0, 10 KOs) this Saturday at Pechanga Arena San Diego, the latest chapter in the Mexico vs. Philippines fistic saga.

In the co-feature, SoCal native Raymond Muratalla (22-0, 17 KOs) and Russia’s Zaur Abdullaev (20-1, 12 KOs) will collide for the vacant IBF interim lightweight world title.
 
Navarrete-Suarez and Muratalla-Abdullaev will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

The ESPN+-streamed undercard will begin at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT and features the return of junior lightweight contender Andres Cortes (22-0, 12 KOs), who takes on Spain’s Salvador Jimenez (14-1-1, 6 KOs) in a 10-rounder. 

Additionally, San Diego’s hometown hero Giovani Santillan (33-1, 18 KOs) will square off against Mexico’s Angel Beltran (18-2, 11 KOs) in a 10-round welterweight clash, while newly-signed 19-year-old junior bantamweight prodigy Perla Bazaldua (1-0, 1 KO) makes her Top Rank debut in a four-rounder against Mona Ward (0-1).

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets are on sale via AXS.com.

At Thursday’s press conference, this is what the fighters said:

Emanuel Navarrete

“My performance against Oscar Valdez was my way of showing that I’m now at 100 percent. There’s no doubt about that now. So, all we have to do is prepare well to achieve my goals.”

“We know what happened the last time I was in San Diego. We did not get the victory. We lost against Denys Berinchyk in our attempt to win a title at 135 pounds. But now, defending at 130 pounds, we want to let the people know I’m ready to move forward with my career.”

“I prepared for a great fight. We know that Suarez is coming for my title. So I want a great fight so everyone can see I’m ready to continue on the path of victory.”

“We have to defend my title first. We’re going to work hard and take the title home. After, we’ll see if I stay at 130 or move up again.”

Charly Suarez

“I prayed for this fight. And here it is. The opportunity has come, and I have taken it. And we won’t lose.”

“I’m bringing all my amateur experience into this fight. This is it. The world title shot is here, so I’m ready and I’m excited for the fight on Saturday.”

“This is a good opportunity for me to represent my country and to show the world that Filipinos are good at boxing and that Filipinos and Mexicans put on great fights.”

Raymond Muratalla

“I’m ready to go. It’s been a long time. I’ve been putting in work. My time is here. So I’m shining on Saturday.”

“We know he’s tough. We know he’s coming to fight. But I’m fully prepared for whatever he brings.”

“A win on Saturday would be huge for my family and team. I’ve been dreaming of this since I was a kid.”

Zaur Abdullaev

“I’m happy to return to the United States after five years. And I’m ready to finally become a world champion.”

“I started my training camp out in the mountains. And I finished camp out here in California. I’m ready to do anything to win.”

“Muratalla is a very good fighter. I’ve watched many of his fights. But I’m ready to overcome this challenge.”
 

Andres Cortes

“There’s level to this. I’m going to show that I’m at the top.”

“I dream about this every night. I’ve dedicated my whole life to this sport. This is what I do. So, I’m ready to get back in there.”

“When you bet on me, it’s a guaranteed bet. If you want to make some money, take me by knockout.”

Salvador Jimenez

“There’s nowhere better to be than in the Mecca of boxing, the United States. This opportunity has come to me because God’s timing is perfect.”

“I am a warrior. I like to brawl. I can box in any way he wants, but I like to be in wars.”

Giovani Santillan

“I’m excited to be back here in San Diego. Every time I come to San Diego, I give everything I have. I leave it in the ring.”

On the last year, including loss to Brian Norman Jr.

“It was tough. We went through some hard moments with my fight last year in San Diego and some things that happened with my family towards the end of the year. But I’m resilient, and my dad raised me to always work hard and always have faith and hope. I’m back here, and I’m excited for this weekend.”

“Right now, I’m on the climb back up to another world title shot. I want another world title shot, and I’m ready for it already. I have to focus on this weekend, and I hope to get that soon.”

Perla Bazaldua

“Signing with Top Rank, one of the biggest promotional companies out there, was one of my dreams. Finally getting that contract and now performing on this stage is such a motivation, especially in this camp.

Saturday, May 10

ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT)

Emanuel Navarrete vs.Charly Suarez, 12 rounds, Navarrete’s WBO Junior Lightweight World Title

Raymond Muratalla vs. Zaur Abdullaev, 12 rounds, Vacant Interim IBF Lightweight World Title

ESPN+ (5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT)

Sammy Contreras vs. Dyllon Cervantes Alvarado, 4 rounds, Junior Welterweight

Sebastian Hernandez vs. Azat Hovhannisyan, 8 rounds, Junior Featherweight

Mexican three-division king Emanuel Navarrete will defend his WBO junior lightweight world championship against undefeated Filipino contender Charly Suarez.

Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs) returns to the site of his narrow loss to Denys Berinchyk last May, which ended his bid to become a four-division world champion. He bounced back that December, stopping Oscar Valdez in six rounds to maintain his dominance at 130 pounds. This marks Navarrete’s 16th world title bout, a run that began with his 2018 upset of Isaac Dogboe.

Suarez (18-0, 10 KOs), a 2016 Olympian, burst onto the global scene with a 12th-round stoppage of Paul Fleming in Australia in 2023. He’s since gone 3-0 in the U.S., including a third-round knockout of Jorge Castañeda last September. Suarez aims to become the Philippines’ third reigning world champion, joining 105-pounders Melvin Jerusalem and Pedro Taduran.

In the co-feature for the vacant interim IBF lightweight world title, SoCal native Raymond Muratalla will fight Russia’s Zaur Abdullaev.

Muratalla (22-0, 17 KOs) returns to California for the first time in over two years, having risen from a first-round knockdown in 2023 to stop Humberto Galindo in nine. He’s since scored statement wins over Jeremia Nakathila, Tevin Farmer, and Jesus Perez to earn this interim world title shot. The Fontana native is one of the lightweight division’s fastest-rising contenders.

Abdullaev (20-1, 12 KOs) has reeled off nine consecutive wins since his 2019 loss to Devin Haney, including stoppages over Jorge Linares and Roman Andreev. He also owns victories over former champs Dejan Zlati?anin and Roger Gutierrez. Last October, he extended his streak with a 12th-round TKO over Juan Javier Carrasco.

The action-packed undercard begins at 5:30 p.m. ET/ 2:30 p.m. PT on ESPN+ and includes some local flavor, as San Diego-born welterweight contender Giovani Santillan (33-1, 18 KOs) looks to maintain his momentum against Angel Beltran (18-2-1, 11 KOs) in a 10-rounder.

Timothy Bradley, Jr., Mark Kriegel, and Bernardo Osuna will call the action.

Original Programming:

ESPN Original Series “The Fight Life” chronicles a year in the world of Top Rank Boxing through the journeys of five of the sport’s elite boxers: Tyson Fury, Naoya Inoue, Seniesa Estrada, Teofimo Lopez, and Josh Taylor.

ESPN+: On Demand Shows, Archives & Premium Articles

• Top Rank: Real Time– All-access with top fighters throughout fight week as they work their way to fight night. 
• Who Do U Fight 4?– Learn what drivesthe next generation of Top Rank stars. 
• State of Boxing– Post-show coverage of the biggest fights on ESPN and ESPN+. 
• Best of Boxing Spotlight – An archive of the all-time best Top Rank fights. 

Follow @ESPNRingside: Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) TikTok

Navarrete vs. Suarez (All Times ET)

About ESPN

About ESPN+

LAS VEGAS (March 27, 2025) — Perla Bazaldua, a 15-time national amateur champion from Los Angeles, has signed a long-term promotional contract with Top Rank.
 
The 19-year-old junior bantamweight is LA’s latest female boxing star to sign with Top Rank, joining multi-weight world champions and pound-for-pound queens Mikaela Mayer and Seniesa Estrada.
 
Bazaldua (1-0, 1 KO) will make her Top Rank debut in a four-rounder on Saturday, May 10, as part of the Emanuel Navarrete-Charly Suarez card in San Diego. She is co-managed by George Ruiz, who has guided Mayer’s entire career, and her head trainer/co-manager is Manny Robles, who has worked with the likes of Andy Ruiz Jr., Oscar Valdez, Serhii Bohachuk, and reigning WBO featherweight world champion Rafael Espinoza.
 
“I’m honored to be part of the Top Rank family, and I can’t wait to get started,” Bazaldua said. “I want to inspire young women, especially where I come from in South Central Los Angeles. I want to show young women that if you stay disciplined and true to yourself, dreams do come true.”
 
“George and Manny have an excellent eye for talent, and I look forward to working with them to develop Perla into a world champion and a superstar in the sport,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum.
 
“Perla is special. Only 19, she has ring smarts far beyond her years and a work ethic that signals a world champion in the making,” Ruiz said. “When she decided to turn pro, I was honored that she chose Manny and me to manage her. She’s only the third woman ever signed by Top Rank, so Bob Arum and Todd duBoef see what Manny and I saw in her. I’m proud to represent her alongside the best women in boxing, Mikaela Mayer and Ginny Fuchs.”
 
Robles said, “It’s been a long time coming. I’m thrilled and excited for Perla, but I know this is the beginning of something great. Her commitment to the sport is like no one else, and I’m certain she will take women’s boxing to another level, just like Mikaela Mayer. She has some big shoes to fill with the world’s best boxing promotional company, Top Rank!”
 
Bazaldua started boxing at 9 years old under the watchful eye of her father, Crispin. Boxing is a family affair, as her older brother, Criztec, is currently a 6-0 junior welterweight prospect. In addition to an amateur run that included a gold medal at the 2023 Youth Brandenburg Cup in Germany, Bazaldua spent multiple camps as a sparring partner for Estrada, who retired last year as the undefeated, undisputed minimumweight world champion. Last December, she had a show-stopping pro debut in Santa Ynez, California, scoring a first-round stoppage over Mollie Backowski.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (March 25, 2025) — The next chapter in the storied Mexico vs. Philippines boxing rivalry is about to be written.

Mexican three-division king Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete will defend his WBO junior lightweight world championship against undefeated Filipino contender Charly Suarez on Saturday, May 10, at Pechanga Arena San Diego.

In the co-feature for the vacant interim IBF lightweight world title, SoCal native Raymond Muratalla will fight Russia’s Zaur Abdullaev. 

Navarrete-Suarez and Muratalla-Abdullaev will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets go on sale Friday, March 28, at 12 p.m. PT via AXS.com.

“San Diego is an incredible fight town, and we are thrilled to return with Emanuel Navarrete, who will go down as one of the great Mexican champions of his era,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “Charly Suarez is a determined, unbeaten contender who will have everyone in the Philippines cheering him on. Raymond Muratalla is an elite lightweight but has a tall task against Abdullaev, who has been on a tremendous run for several years.”  

Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs) returns to the site of perhaps his greatest professional disappointment. Last May at Pechanga Arena, he moved up five pounds to battle Denys Berinchyk for the vacant WBO lightweight world title. Berinchyk upset Navarrete by split decision, spoiling his dream of becoming a four-weight world champion. In his return to 130 pounds last December, Navarrete was in vintage form, stopping Oscar Valdez in a rematch over six one-sided rounded rounds in Phoenix, Arizona. Navarrete enters his 16th world title bout, a staggering run that began in December 2018 with his upset of Isaac Dogboe for the WBO junior featherweight crown.

Navarrete said, “I’m at a new stage of my career, and I’m fired up for another defense of my world title. This fight motivates me. Suarez is undefeated and dangerous. He’s ranked No. 1 in the world for a reason. He’s exactly the kind of challenge that fuels me. I owe the fans in San Diego a win, and on May 10, I’ll settle that debt with a dominant victory.”

Suarez (18-0, 10 KOs) had several hundred fights as an amateur, representing his homeland at the 2016 Olympics and several World Championships. A six-year pro, he won a pair of regional titles in March 2023 when he scored a come-from-behind 12th-round stoppage over Paul Fleming on hostile turf in Sydney, Australia. The Fleming triumph paved the way for a deal with Top Rank, and Suarez has won three straight fights in America. He knocked out Jorge Castañeda in three rounds last September, which came five months removed from a hard-fought eight-round decision over Louie Coria. The Philippines has two reigning world champions — 105-pound standouts Melvin Jerusalem and Pedro Taduran — and Suarez looks to become lucky number three.

Suarez said, “I am thankful to Top Rank for this opportunity.  When I enter the ring on May 10, I will show the world I have what it takes. I won’t waste this opportunity. Navarrete is a monster in the ring, but I know I am better.”

Muratalla (22-0, 17 KOs), from Fontana, California, returns to his home state for the first time in over two years. On that March 2023 evening in Fresno, he rose from a first-round knockdown to knock out Humberto Galindo in nine. Since that brief hiccup, Muratalla has steadily climbed the ranks, including knocking out the big-punching Jeremia Nakathila in two and outlasting former world champion Tevin Farmer over 10 rounds en route to a unanimous decision. Last November, he iced Jesus Perez in two rounds to earn this shot at the interim world title.

“I’ve been working toward this my whole life. Every fighter dreams of becoming a world champion, and on May 10, I take a big step toward making that a reality,” Muratalla said. “Zaur Abdullaev is a good fighter. He’s beaten tough opponents, including former world champions, but I’m done waiting. I’m highly ranked and have put in the work. It’s my time now. When I take that interim title, the Raymond Muratalla era begins.”

Abdullaev (20-1, 12 KOs) hasn’t lost in more than five years, having won nine straight fights since falling via fourth-round TKO to Devin Haney in September 2019. His string of victories includes a 12th-round stoppage of three-weight world champion Jorge Linares, a convincing 12-round decision over one-time WBC lightweight world champion Dejan Zlati?anin, a third-round stoppage of then-unbeaten contender Roman Andreev, and a 10-round decision over Venezuelan former junior lightweight world champion Roger Gutierrez. Last October, Abdullaev battered Argentina’s Juan Javier Carrasco en route to a 12th-round TKO.

“I’m coming to America ready to take this belt,” Abdullaev said. “Muratalla is a top contender, but I have the skills and experience needed to emerge victorious.”

The ESPN+-streamed undercard includes some local flavor as welterweight contender Giovani Santillan (33-1, 18 KOs) looks to maintain his momentum against Angel Beltran (18-2-1, 11 KOs) in a 10-rounder. After losing his “0” via TKO last May at Pechanga Arena, “El Gallo De Oro” returned to winning ways in December with a first-round stoppage of Fredrick Lawson. Beltran, from Mexicali, Mexico, is coming off a third-round KO of Jose Quintero Velarde earlier this month. 

Phoenix, AZ – A tip of the black hat to Emanuel Navarrete, still El Vaquero.

Still the The Victor.

Navarrete’s power proved to be too much for Oscar Valdez about a year-and-a-half ago and again Saturday night in a junior-lightweight rematch in front of a roaring crowd at Footprint Center.

Valdez made some promised adjustments. But there was no way to adjust to his power. He just doesn’t have as much of it as Navarrete. He didn’t in August 2023 at Desert Diamond Arena in nearby Glendale. He didn’t  Saturday night in downtown Phoenix. 

Pick the time. Pick the place. It wouldn’t matter. Navarrete settled it, once and for all, proving that he’s simply a better fighter than Valdez.

“I tried,’’ Valdez said.

But  trying in the rematch didn’t carry him for as long as it did in a punishing loss in the first fight. The rematch was a repeat and then some. Navarrete finished the popular fighter from Mexico’s northern Sonora and south Arizona, dropping him three times — once in the first round, again late in the fourth and the finisher in the sixth.

Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs) ended it with a thundering body shot, a left hand that sent Valdez into the ropes and onto the canvas. At 2:42 of the sixth, the fight was over, although Valdez told the crowd he would continue to fight on. The only sure thing is that Navarrete won’t be anywhere in his future, how ever much longer his career lasts.

“I had to work hard in each round.’’ said Navarrete, still the World Boxing Organizations 130-pound champion. “I had to push him back. He comes forward. I had to push him back. And that was the right strategy to take down a Valdez, who is always strong.”

“I told everyone before that I would have a new left hand. And that’s what has happened. It felt really good. We are not starting a second stage of my career. And I plan to take advantage of it.”

Valdez (32-3, 24 KOs) promised adjustments might have cost him in

the opening moments. In the the first round, Valdez moved forward, throwing two or three punches , then ducked and backed away from Navarrete’s attempts at a counter. Late in the first round, Valdez ducked enough to jeopardize his balance. Navarrete capitalized, landing a combination that put, almost pushed, Valdez on to the canvas for an  early knockdown.

Valdez came back over the next couple rounds. He caught Navarrete with succession of solid rights.  All the while, it looked as if Valdez was trying to disrupt Navarrete, an instinctive fighter who is at his dangerous best when he’s gets into a rhythm. It’s a rhythm that rolled over Valdez throughout 12 rounds in the first fight 16 months ago.

Valdez’ adjustments worked, but never long enough to keep Navarrete off him. Interrupt Navarrete’s rhythm, but there was no way to halt his power. It was his advantage in the first fight and again in the second. No need for a third. 

At the end of the fourth rounds, Valdez found himself on the canvas again. He protested to the referee. But to avail. The referee wasn’t listening. He saw what a crowd of more than 8,000 was witnessing. Valdez simply had no chance against Navarrete. Never has.

“Sorry to those who came to see me,’’ Valdez said.  “I wish it was a better result. Maybe next time. No excuses from me. He beat me well.’’

Beat him again.

Espinoza retains his WBO belt

In the 1st of 2 championship rematches of the night we have the co main event of the Navarrete Valdez card, inside the footprint center. Mexican fighter Rafael “Divino” Espinoza defending his WBO Featherweight tittle for the 2nd time in the highly anticipated rematch with Cuban Robeisy Ramirez. In their first fight a year ago, Espinoza edged out the win by a majority decision. Each fight did taste the canvas Espinoza in the 5th, Ramirez touched in the 12th.

Leading up to the fight the fight at hand with many calling it as the potential fight of the night. While both of them have been very respectful and cordial throughout this build up. At the press conference each said that they want to give the fans and themselves a great show.

Rafael “Divino” Espinoza 25-0(21KOs) from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico weighed in at 125.7lbs while Robeisy Ramirez 14-2(9KOs) Cienfuegos, Cuba came in at 125.6

In the opening rounds as expected with two technical fighter both use this round to check each other temperature, in which both were low. Not much action went on except for a couple of punch flurries.

Espinoza started to attack the body of Ramirez, later it opened up a clean uppercut. Ramirez came back with solid left hook that woke up the crowd while getting the attention of Espinoza. As the round went on Ramirez found a home on the right side of Espinoza’s face.

For the first time of the night the boo bird started to chirp however they were quickly turned to cheers as if the fighter heard them. So far this has been an evenly contested fight with both going back and forth. Espinoza is having a little trouble cutting off the ring, as Ramirez is circling the ring. Thus far in the five rounds the action is steady picking up each round

The start of the 6th had a huge turn of events as Ramirez was hit with a straight right hand to his eye that led to him waving his hand up in the air indicating he wanted no mas and that’s how referee Chris Flores took it. Stopping the fight 12 seconds into the round. Earning a TKO victory Espinoza improves to 26-0(22KOs).

In the post fight interview Ramirez indicated that he was hit with a few elbows in the 4th round, and it led to him making sure his health was top priority wanted to protect himself since the referee was not. When interviewed Espinoza stated that Ramirez was feeling his power and knew was coming if he stayed in the fight longer. As for the future he wants the big fights and become a legend in the sport. He also mentioned that he wants to make Phoenix his home. Could we see a potential show down with the winner of the main event?…..possibly in Phoenix?…

Lindolfo Delgado scores convincing stoppage

Lindolfo Delgado has heard boos. Heard questions. But he had only answers Saturday night on the Emanuel Navarette-Oscar Valdez 2 card at the Suns arena in downtown Phoenix.

Delgado (22-0, 16 KOs), a Mexican junior welterweight, dropped Jackson Marinez (22-4, 10 KOs) twice in the fifth round. First, he landed an uppercut combo, putting Marinez, of the Dominican Republic, on the canvas in evident pain. Seconds later, he finished him with a body shot. At 2:14 of the round, referee Wes Melton ended it, declaring Delgado a TKO winner.

Richard Torrez storms back into the KO column

Richard Torrez looked at his record back in September and didn’t exactly recognize it.

It was one knockout shy of perfection in a fight that ended when his opponent was disqualified for spitting out his mouthpiece repeatedly.

“I got in a cab and the driver asked me what I did for a living,” Torrez said. “I told him I’m a heavyweight boxer. So, the driver asked what my record was. That stopped. me. I couldn’t tell him 11 victories, 11 knockouts.”

Torrez will never have that perfect record again. But he put the stoppage back into his identity Saturday, blowing away Mexican Isaac Munoz Saturday on the Emanuel Navarrete-Oscar Valdez rematch card at the Suns home area in downtown Phoenix.

Torrez (12-0, 11 KOs) rocked Munoz (18-2-1, 15 KOs) repeatedly through the first two rounds. In the third, he caught him along the ropes, where Munoz slumped into a defenseless posture. The referee ended it, then and there, at 59 seconds of the round

Perez chopped down

The start of the 2nd half of tonight’s fights Gerardo Perez 12-6-1(3KOs) from Salta, Argentina took on Albert “Chop Chop” Gonzalez 11-0(7KOs) fighting out of Moreno Valley, Ca. In just his 2nd 8 round fight “Chop Chop” is making his return to the valley of the sun. In his Arizona debut he was featured on his stablemates card when Super Flyweight champion Bam Rodriguez fought Sunny Edwards for the IBF and WBO Flyweight belts last December.

Not the way of the night as the first round was pretty much a fill out, as both fighters did not do much engaging. Gonzalez did land 2 clean shots to Perez’s head. Things got interesting as both fighters met in the middle of the ring to start off the 2nd round. The action maintained for much of the round. While each had their moments, again Gonzalez made more of the opportunity and landed the harder punches and knocking Perez’s head back a couple of times.

In the 3rd chop chop found his rhythm stunning Perez with a right hook. In a old fashion brawl this fan favorite round got the fans out of their seats. As this was the round of the night up to this point. Even with the Mexican legend entering the arena could not take away from the action going on in the ring.

Rounds 4 and 5 were catch your breathe type rounds with the actions taking a little break. Gonzalez did start to pick up his punching towards the end of the 5th connecting plenty of times to Perez’s head, however that did not stop him from keep coming forward and pressing the action.

Sensing he has his opponent on the verge “chop Chop” came out of the 7th looking to end it. Walking him down to the corner with a borage of punches. Yet again Perez took those punches stopping the momentum.

 As the fight comes to the end entering the 8th and final round both fighters deserve to be applauded as they left it all in the ring. With Gonzalez maintaining the out put and land the more efficient punches he closed out the fight with some head snapping punches.

The fight ended with no one hitting the canvass but that is not to say it was not a great fight. On the flip side it was the fight of the night as both warriors stood in front of each other and took what the other had. Going to the judges Gonzalez earned the Unanimous decision with 2 of the judges having it a shootout 80-72 and the 3rd scoring it 79-73.—David Galaviz

Steven Navarro put super into flyweight with second-round TKO

It started with a glancing body punch. It continued with a solid body shot. It ended with a left hook. 

From body to head,  Los Angeles super-flyweight Steven Navarro (5-0, 4 KOs)did it all, knocking down Puerto Rican Gabriel Bernadi (7-2, 3 KOs) three times in the second for a dominant stoppage at 2:29 of the round Saturday in the fifth fight on a card featuring the Emanuel Navarrete-Oscar Valdez rematch at Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix.

Santillan races to first-round TKO

Giovani Santillan, a slick welterweight from San Diego, is often criticized for not having enough aggression in what is otherwise a versatile skillset.

Let’s just say it was missing in action.

But it was suddenly there, appearing like a bolt of lightning in overwhelming Ghana welterweight Frederick Lawson within three rounds on an ESPN card featuring the Oscar Valdez-Emanuel Navarrete rematch at Footprint Center, the Phoenix Suns home arena.

At the sound of the opening bell, Santiillan (33-1, 18 KOs) — trainer Robert Garcia in the corner for his third straight fight of the day —  raced at a surprised Lawson (30-5, 22 KOs), who had no counter or defense.  As the bell sounded an end to the opening round, referee Chris Flores waved it off, Santillan a first-round TKO winner 

Referee hits the canvas, Art Barrera wins TKO

The fighters were left standing. Only the referee went down.

In a quick finish to a welterweight fight, referee Wes Melton rushed to step in between Art Barrera Jr. and Juan Carlos Campos Medina. Melton was trying to save Medina from further punishment.

He did, but Melton took a tumble in the fight’s only knockdown Saturday afternoon, several hours before the Emanuel Navarrete-Oscar Valdez main event at Footroitn Center.

Unhurt, Melton coolly got up and ruled a timely end to the fight at 2:58 of the second round, declaring the Robert Garcia-trained Barrera (7-0, 4 KOs) a TKO winner over Medina (4-2, 3 KOs) of Sioux City, Iowa.

Prospect loses pro debut

He walked into the rung as a prospect. He walked out of it winless.

Cesar Morales’ pro debut ended in a loss and perhaps an early lesson in the second fight on a card featuring the Emanuel Navarrete-Oscar Valdez rematch Saturday.

Morales, a Mexican lightweight signed by Valdez manager Frank Espinoza and trained by Robert Garcia, got rocked in the fourth and final round at Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix.

 A  succession of punches from Kevin Mosquera (3-0, 1 KO), a long and lanky fighter from Ecuador, rocked Morales. In a desperate effort to maintain his balance, his gloves touched the canvas for an official knockdown

That was enough to put him on the losing end of a majority decision — 39-36, 38-37, 38-38 — in what proved to be an early surprise on Top Rank’s 10-fight card. 

In the opening bell inside the Footprint Center home of the Phoenix Suns, Roman Reynoso 22-5-2(10KOs) fighting out of Moreno, Argentina faced DJ “The War Machine” Zamora 14-0(9KOS) a Top Rank prospect coming all the way from Las Vegas, NV. Both fighters made weight yesterday for their Jr Lightweight contest.

In the first round Reynoso went down twice, first by a shot to the right side of his stomach at the 1:03 mark and then on his own accord with a wild punch that connected only with the cold air in the arena.

Sensing some urgency Ramon came out in the 2nd round with a flurry of punches, pushing Zamora to the ropes. What seemed to be plan A for Reynoso did not hold up and with no plan B, Zamora had his equalizer, with 1:17 left in the round, he landed a left hook square on his opponent’s jaw. Referee Chris Chavez Stopping it shortly after. Improving to 15-0(10KOs) Zamora still has some room for improvement but the reward out weighs the risk in his young career.—David Galaviz

By Norm Frauenheim

PHOENIX — On the scale Friday, they were almost even. On the scorecards a year-and-a-half ago, they were close. On any scale, the fight is hard to predict.

Emanuel Navarrete and Oscar Valdez meet for the second time Saturday at Footprint Center in a fight that fans hope is more of a rematch than a repeat.

The first fight — at Desert Diamond Arena in nearby Glendale — was a punishing blowout, delivered by Navarrete, who got on a roll and rolled over Valdez, who left the ring badly bloodied, a fractured eye socket and absolutely no chance on the cards. It was 119-109, 118-110 and 116-112, all for Navarrete.

About sixteen months ago, it looked as if there’d never be another one.

“It was too one-sided,’’ said Valdez (30-2, 24 KOs), who Friday was at 130-pounds, the junior lightweight limit and one-tenth of a pound heavier than Navarrete (38-2-1, 31 KOs). “I have to be honest.’’

But Valdez’ stubborn  persistence and a couple of sloppy performances by Navarrete set the stage for another. When the rematch was first announced, there was some skepticism about its marketability. Once was enough, wasn’t it?

No, it wasn’t. That much was clear at Friday’s weigh-in. 

A crowd and a buzz filled an upstairs ballroom at a downtown Phoenix hotel. The back-and-forth display of violence, blood and courage created an appetite for more, NavarreteValdez2. 

A restless crowd of fans from southern Arizona and northern Mexico jammed the room. Phoenix has often been called a city full of educated boxing fans, Perhaps, they know something that wasn’t always evident in the first fight. Whatever it is, the buzz says a genuine battle is looming in the second chapter between the Mexican rivals

A sure sign is at the box office. Footprint opened up the upper section of seats at the Suns arena late Thursday. 

Tickets are selling, not only for the Navarrete-Valdez, but also for another rematch, Rafael Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) versus Robeisy Ramirez (14-2, 9 KOs) in a rematch of Espinoza’s majority decision for a featherweight title a year ago. Espinoza was 125.7 pounds Friday, also a tenth-of-a-pound heavier than Ramirez, a Cuban who heard Cuba, Cuba chants after he stepped off the scale

Even Navarrete says he can’t wait to watch  Espinoza-Ramirez.

“Me and Oscar are going to war all over again,’’ said Navarrete, still the World Boxing Organization’s’ junior-lightweight champion. “But it might be hard to put on the kind  war that we’ll see from Ramirez and Espinoza.’’

Call it a night of encores, for fighters and fans.

By Norm Frauenheim

PHOENIX — Rafael Espinoza is in line for a possible shot at the Oscar Valdez-Emanuel Navarrete junior-lightweight winner if he beats Robeisy Ramirez in a featherweight rematch, one of two title rematches on the ESPN-televised card Saturday at Footprint Center.

There’s talk that Espinoza, unusually tall for a featherweight, is about to move up in weight, from 126 pounds to 130, if he again beats Ramirez, who lost a dramatic majority decision to Espinoza a year ago in Pembrook Pines, Fla.

The 6-foot-1 Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs), the World Boxing Organization’s featherweight champion, was at 125.7 pounds Friday at the official weigh-in. He was only a tenth-of-a-pound heavier than Ramirez (14-2, 9 KOs), but was five inches taller. At 30 years old, it looks as if Espinoza is ready to fight in a heavier division.

“Rumor is, he’ll go up,’’ Brad Goodman, of Top Rank, said.

First, however, he has to beat Ramirez, a Cuban who many thought won the first fight. Late Friday, Ramirez was a slight betting favorite.

There has been talk that Espinoza might move up to challenge Texan O’Shaquie Foster (23-3, 12 KOs), the World Boxing Council’s junior-lightweight champion. But Espinoza, who wore late Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela’s jersey to Friday’s weigh-in, in an all-Mexican fight against either Valdez or Navarrete for the WBO’s 130-pound title looks to be a more marketable match among Mexican and Mexican-American fans.

 •  Emanuel Navarrete 129.9 lbs. vs. Oscar Valdez 130 lbs
(Navarrete’s WBO Junior Lightweight World Title – 12 Rounds)
Referee: Raul Caiz Jr.
Judges: Benoit Roussel, Steve Weisfeld, and Chris Wilson

   • Rafael Espinoza 125.7 lbs vs. Robeisy Ramirez 125.6 lbs
(Espinoza’s WBO Featherweight World Title — 12 Rounds)
Referee: Chris Flores
Judges: Tim Cheatham, Zac Young, and Dennis O’Connell

(ESPN+, 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT)

•  Lindolfo Delgado 139.9 lbs vs. Jackson Marinez 139.2 lbs
 (Delgado’s WBO Latino Junior Welterweight Title— 10 Rounds)

•  Richard Torrez Jr. 236.6 lbs vs. Issac Munoz 252.1 lbs
 (Torrez’s Jr. NABF Heavyweight Title— 8 Rounds)

•   Albert Gonzalez 127.2 lbs vs. Gerardo Antonio Perez 127.7 lbs
 (Featherweight— 8 Rounds)

•  Steven Navarro 115.6 lbs vs. Gabriel Bernardi 115.4 lbs
 (Junior Bantamweight — 8 Rounds)

•   Giovani Santillan 147.9 lbs vs. Fredrick Lawson 146.3 lbs
 (Welterweight — 10 Rounds)

•  Art Barrera Jr. 149.4 lbs vs. Juan Carlos Campos
Medina 149.7 lbs
 (Welterweight — 6 Rounds)

•  Cesar Morales 136.3 lbs vs. Kevin Mosquera 136.4 lbs
 (Lightweight — 4 Rounds)
•  DJ Zamora 131.3 lbs vs. Roman Ruben Reynoso 131.9 lbs
 (Junior Lightweight — 8 Rounds)

By Norm Frauenheim

PHOENIX — Emanuel Navarrete arrived at a news conference without his trademark. The black cowboy hat wasn’t there. For years, it has been a symbol — defiant, ominous and a reliable indication of exactly what he intends to do.

But Thursday he just wore a simple baseball cap. He could have been just about anybody.

Of course, he isn’t. Friends and rivals still call him Vaquero, an old-school nickname that says Beware. Maybe, he just left the defining hat in his room or his bags. It’s a good bet, of course, that it’ll be there when he makes his ring entrance Saturday night for a rematch with Oscar Valdez at Footprint Center. The black hat, after all, is his identity.

Yet, there are questions just days before opening bell about exactly who he is at this stage of a whirlwind career, which includes three division titles and — for awhile — an unlimited horizon. He stormed into the sport at a get-the-hell-out-of-my-way pace, a fighter as fearless as he was impatient. But is that gunslinger still there?

The answer to that one looms as a determining factor as to whether he can score a punishing encore over Valdez, who was badly-battered in losing a one-sided decision in their first fight on a hot day in August 2023 at Desert Diamond Arena in nearby Glendale. Since that bloody drama about 16 months ago, Navarrete defended a junior-lightweight title in a narrow decision over Robson Coneicao and talked about a possible date with Shakur Stevenson. Anything looked possible.

But a jump up the scale to lightweight in a fight against Denys Berinchyk halted his momentum. He looked sluggish and fleshy in losing a split decision to Berinchyk, another prepared and skillful Ukrainian. Against Berinchyk, Navarrete looked just like another guy in a baseball cap. The loss — which cost him a fourth division title, prompted his return to junior-lightweight in another title defense in a rematch with Valdez, who is as stubbornly studious as he tenacious.

Repeatedly, Valdez has promised tactical changes in the rematch. Expect more patience from a fighter who went for broke early in the first fight and wound up broken because of it. The question is whether a return to 130 pounds is the right fit, the only fit, for Navarrete. He conceded Thursday that there have been changes.

“Everything has gone well in camp,’’ Navarrete said. “We had to make some changes, mostly because my body is not the same as it was. But everything else is good. As soon as I get to the fight location, which in this case is Phoenix, the switch is on. There will be no excuses. I’m here because I want to be.”

Valdez, who dismissed a win-or-retire narrative in an interview with Boxing Scene and The Boxing Hour at a north Phoenix gym Wednesday, suggested that Navarrete has already been thinking about retirement. Navarrete was quoted in Spanish-speaking media that he might retire after a few more fights. Connect the dots and the result is some inevitable speculation: How much has Navarrete changed? Has he hung up that black hat for good? The rematch with Valdez might be as much and opportunity to answer that question as it is a chance for Valdez to avenge a painful loss.

“This is the biggest fight of my career, because this the first time I’m fighting somebody who already beat me,’’ he said Thursday.

Translation: Valdez is seeking redemption on a night when Navarrete might be in pursuit of a restoration. He wants to prove that the black hat still fits. He’s still a Vaquero in more than just name.

“We all have worked and we have planned to put on a war together again,’’ he said. “I can’t say much more, yet I know it will be epic.”

PHOENIX, Ariz. (Dec. 5, 2024) — Two world title rematches are set to light up The Grand Canyon State, with legacies and redemption on the line.

Three-division champion Emanuel “El Vaquero” Navarrete (38-2-1, 31 KOs) defends his WBO junior lightweight world title against former two-division king Oscar Valdez (32-2, 24 KOs) in an all-Mexican main event this Saturday, Dec. 7, at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

Navarrete aims for a knockout in the sequel, while the Eddy Reynoso-trained Valdez believes he can turn the tables and become a three-time world champion.

In the co-feature, Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) defends his WBO featherweight world title against Cuba’s Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez (14-2, 9 KOs), the man he unseated one year ago to seize the crown.

Espinoza looks to prove that his title-winning effort was no fluke, while Ramirez is eager to show what he can do at his best after personal issues hindered his preparation for their first encounter.

Navarrete-Valdez 2 & Ramirez-Espinoza 2 will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT.

The ESPN+-streamed undercard begins at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT and includes the return of unbeaten Mexican junior welterweight contender Lindolfo Delgado (21-0, 15 KOs), who will face Jackson Marinez (22-3, 10 KOs) in a 10-round clash.

U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. (11-0, 10 KOs) makes his fourth appearance of the year in an eight-round heavyweight tilt against once-beaten Mexican Issac Muñoz (18-1-1, 15 KOs), while welterweight contender Giovani Santillan (32-1, 17 KOs) looks to bounce back from his first pro defeat in a 10-rounder versus Fredrick Lawson (30-5, 22 KOs).

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets are still available via Ticketmaster.com.

This is what the fighters had to say at Thursday’s press conference.

Emanuel Navarrete

“We all know that we both plan to come out and give a war and leave everything in the ring again. And what better way to do it than by having a co-main event that’s gonna eat things up?”

“The bar is gonna be set really high and so we’re gonna have to try to do better than that. It’s gonna be hard especially with these two great people {Espinoza and Ramirez} right next to us. It’s gonna be difficult for both me and Valdez. However, we don’t need much. All we need is for the bell to ring for us to go to war.”

“I’m focused 100 percent on him. I haven’t thought about anything beyond Valdez. And now he’s coming with a different strategy. The first fight helped us learn about each other. And now we will use the tools that we extracted from the first fight. And, aside from using our experience with each other, we will also come with the same heart as last time. And so, I can’t say much, but no doubt it will be not just a fight but an epic event, especially with the co-main before us.”

Oscar Valdez

“The {Liam Wilson fight} was very important for me because boxing penalizes you if you have a lot of losses. It’s not like other sports where you can lose and you can do better in the next season. In boxing, most people don’t want to see you again after a couple of losses. So, doing that fight was very important for me. That’s why there was so much emotion for me after that fight. And that fight got me the ticket for this rematch.”

“This is not an easy fight. This is a hard task. But nothing in life that is worth it is going to be easy. It’s always going to be hard. So, we trained hard. I’m excited for this. I’m excited to face the great ‘Vaquero’ once again. It’s going to be a great fight.”

“I visualized this. I feel I can do a lot more in the sport. After I lost, I went back home and was obviously sad and disappointed in my performance. But then you go back to the gym, and you start to work out. Then, you start to see that you can do better. So, you have to visualize it first. And now we are here. Let’s get it on.”

Rafael Espinoza

“God’s timing is perfect. We waited a bit for the rematch, but now we are here. And like I’ve said since the first fight, I’ve always wanted a rematch. because it was a war where we both gave everything. So, he deserved it, I deserved it, and the people deserved it.”

“Knowing you are a champion affects you mentally. As a champion, you know that you have a big commitment, and so I’ve become a better person and a better fighter as a result, and I’m enjoying it.”

“Yes, we all know about my height advantage, but I also have another advantage, and that’s my heart. So, I’m going to show my heart by giving everything in the ring this Saturday.”

Robeisy Ramirez

“Well, it’s no secret that we’re not the only fighters here. The main event will also be a war. So I’m happy to be here. I’m excited to be with these champs here. And overall, we want the public to enjoy this event.”

“I think that to mention things from the past right now is unnecessary because it sounds like excuses, and I will never give excuses in this sport. Simply put, I think that I learned how you should fight when you’re not at 100% physically and mentally.”

“It was very nice to see my parents again recently. It had been six years. It’s no secret that I can’t return to Cuba, and so it filled me with a lot of satisfaction to be able to see them, to embrace them, to spend time with them, and I hope that after this victory, I can repeat that as soon as possible.”

Lindolfo Delgado

“{My last bout against Bryan Flores} was not easy. It was a tough fight. I’m happy with the result. I’m happy it ended that way because it took me out of my comfort zone and pushed me to be better, work harder, and prepare for what is next.”

“This is what I’ve been waiting for. I’m focused on my fight because I know it’s a tough fight. I’m looking for an opportunity at a world title. I have what it takes to fight against anyone and against any of those champs. I’m just waiting for that opportunity.”

Richard Torrez Jr.

“I was saying I don’t care about {the knockout streak}, but in the Uber back to the hotel from the venue {following a DQ win in September}, the driver asked me, ‘What’s your record?’ I was like 11-0 with, oh, 10 knockouts. So, that does kind of sting a little bit. But, at the end of the day, I’m here to win, and I’m here to put on good performances. I did that last time, and I’m looking to continue doing that.”

“{Muñoz} is rated the number one heavyweight in Mexico. He’s been on the amateur scene for a while, and he knows what he’s doing. I’m really excited for this fight.”

“Every time I train, I train for a world championship fight. I don’t train for the opponent. I train to be the best boxer I can be, and on Saturday night, you will see that.”

Giovani Santillan

“Losing is tough, but it’s part of the sport. And that’s what I signed up for, to take on the hard, tough fights. Sometimes you lose, but that one loss is not going to hold me back from getting to where I want to get to.”

“Ever since I went back to camp, everyone has been supportive. They all believe in me, and since then, it’s been about working on strategy and game plan for this fight. But also my preparation. A lot of it has to do with my weight cut and things like that.”

“That’s the way I was raised by my dad. Sometimes, you fall, but you get back up and keep going. That’s the mentality I’ve had since {my defeat}.”

Saturday, December 7

ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ (10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT)

Emanuel Navarrete vs. Oscar Valdez, 12 rounds, Navarrete’s WBO Junior Lightweight World Title

Rafael Espinoza vs. Robeisy Ramirez, 12 rounds, Espinoza’s WBO Featherweight World Title

ESPN+ (5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT)

Lindolfo Delgado vs. Jackson Marinez, 10 rounds, Delgado’s WBO Latino Junior Welterweight Title

Steven Navarro vs. Gabriel Bernardi, 6 rounds, junior bantamweight

Giovani Santillan vs. Fredrick Lawson, 10 rounds, welterweight 

DJ Zamora vs. Roman Ruben Reynoso, 8 rounds, junior lightweight

Top Rank Boxing on ESPN: Navarrete vs. Valdez II and Espinoza vs. Ramirez II  will be presented live this Saturday, December 7, at 10:30 p.m. ET/ 7:30 p.m. PT on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+. The event takes place at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

Headlined by a pair of long-awaited rematches, the main event features Mexican action hero Emanuel Navarrete defending his WBO junior lightweight world title against countryman and former two-division world champion Oscar Valdez. Navarrete and Valdez fought in August 2023, with Navarrete earning a unanimous decision.
 

Navarrete (38-2-1, 31 KOs) first claimed world title glory in December 2018, winning the WBO junior featherweight belt and then making five title defenses in nine months. He won the WBO featherweight title in October 2020 and became a three-weight king champion in February 2023 when he knocked out Liam Wilson for the vacant WBO junior lightweight world title. Navarrete has defended that belt twice, including the epic first encounter with Valdez. Although his bid to become a four-division champion fell short in May against Denys Berinchyk, Navarrete returns to 130 pounds, intent on re-asserting his dominance.

Valdez (32-2, 24 KOs), a two-time Mexican Olympian, won his first world title in 2016, defending the WBO featherweight crown six times before moving up to junior lightweight. There, he claimed the WBC title with a highlight-reel knockout of Miguel Berchelt. Valdez endured his first pro defeat in a high-stakes unification tilt against Shakur Stevenson in 2022. After a comeback win in May 2023, he fell short against Navarrete before earning the interim WBO junior lightweight belt in March with a seventh-round stoppage over Wilson.

In the co-feature, WBO featherweight world champion Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza defends his crown against Cuban star Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez, the man he dethroned to win the title last December.

Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) built his career in Mexico, fighting all but two of his pro bouts there before facing Ramirez in Florida. He overcame a fifth-round knockdown and sealed the fight with a crucial 12th-round knockdown, securing a majority decision in what was hailed as ESPN’s Upset of the Year. Espinoza made his first defense in June with a decisive fourth-round TKO over fellow Mexican Sergio Chirino. Ramirez (14-2, 9 KOs), a two-time Olympic gold medalist, made one defense of the WBO title he won via unanimous decision over Isaac Dogboe in April 2023.

The action-packed undercard bouts begin at 5:30 p.m. ET/ 2:30 p.m. PT on ESPN+.

ESPN’s Joe Tessitore, Timothy Bradley, Jr., Mark Kriegel, and Bernardo Osuna will call the action.

ESPN.com:

Out Thursday: Ranking the Fights for December 7

Nick Parkinson looks at the three boxing cards on the same night, ranks the best fights and shares his thoughts on why you should watch.

Out Friday: Emanuel Navarrete vs. Oscar Valdez by the Numbers

Using stats from CompuBox and SIG, we look at the anticipated rematch between Navarrete and Valdez by the numbers.

ESPN Original Series “The Fight Life” chronicles a year in the world of Top Rank Boxing through the journeys of five of the sport’s elite boxers: Tyson Fury, Naoya Inoue, Seniesa Estrada, Teofimo Lopez, and Josh Taylor.

ESPN+: On Demand Shows, Archives & Premium Articles

• Top Rank: Real Time– All-access with top fighters throughout fight week as they work their way to fight night. 
• Who Do U Fight 4?– Learn what drivesthe next generation of Top Rank stars. 
• State of Boxing– Post-show coverage of the biggest fights on ESPN and ESPN+. 
• Best of Boxing Spotlight – An archive of the all-time best Top Rank fights. 

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Navarrete vs. Valdez (All Times ET)

About ESPN

About ESPN+

(Nov. 27, 2024) — Emanuel Navarrete and Oscar Valdez are two of this generation’s most accomplished Mexican warriors, and they enter their December 7 rematch at Footprint Center in Phoenix with something to prove.

WBO junior lightweight world champion Navarrete (38-2-1, 31 KOs) returns to defend his crown following May’s decision defeat to Denys Berinchyk for the vacant WBO lightweight world title. While he fell short in his mission to become a four-weight world champion, Navarrete intends to re-assert his place atop the division hierarchy.

Former two-weight champion Valdez (32-2, 24 KOs) hopes to become a two-time junior lightweight king and avenge his August 2023 decision loss to Navarrete. That evening, Navarrete prevailed by unanimous decision in a toe-to-toe battle that left Valdez bruised and bloodied.

Navarrete trained in the mountains of Mexico, while Valdez spent more than two months in San Diego. This is what they had to say ahead of the sequel.

Emanuel Navarrete

“There is a lot of pride at stake, especially in a Mexico vs. Mexico battle. When you have that dynamic, there’s always going to be pride. Valdez and I know that adds more significance to this fight.”

“I believe it will be an even better fight because we are familiar with one another. That will lead to more exchanges and better action for the fans.”

“I’m working hard because I know I must push Valdez to his limits. The second half of the fight will be less about technique and more about physical training and who is the best prepared to withstand the punches.”

“I know what happened against Berinchyk. Nothing was controversial about it, and I want to return to lightweight one day. When I fight at lightweight again, I will be much better than I was against Berinchyk.”

Oscar Valdez 

“I have a few more battles left in me. I feel great. I showed I had a lot left in my last fight when I beat Liam Wilson. I was emotional because I knew beating Wilson would punch my ticket to an even bigger fight. I am excited to be sharing the ring with a warrior like ‘Vaquero’ again and to have the opportunity to win the WBO junior lightweight championship.”

“I’m at the point of my career where I appreciate everything and enjoy every moment, whether running, sparring, or just having a coffee. I enjoy the fights and am grateful for everything in life.”

“I’m back in the gym training for a second opportunity at Navarrete, looking at what we did wrong, watching film, and working hard to correct mistakes. Not everyone gets a second chance. I will make the most of it. I’m not wasting days.”

“I know what to expect from Navarrete. I know what to train for. I’ve trained hard and smart for this fight. In the first fight, I made several mistakes. My biggest mistake was trying to knock out my opponent. I always want to give the fans what they pay for, but I focused on the knockout instead of sticking to my game plan. I’m working smarter, fighting smarter, and bringing in sparring partners that better imitate his style.”

“The boxing fans in Arizona are incredibly supportive. Some of the most memorable nights of my career have taken place there, and I look forward to giving the fans in Phoenix an action-packed battle.”

Navarrete-Valdez II and the featherweight rematch between WBO champion Rafael Espinoza and Cuban star Robeisy Ramirez will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT. Sky Sports will have coverage in the U.K. and Ireland.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.com.

(Nov. 27, 2024) —  Before WBO junior lightweight world champion Emanuel Navarrete and former two-weight champion Oscar Valdez meet in their highly anticipated rematch on Saturday, Dec. 7, at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, they sat down for a spirited roundtable with four of their legendary Mexican countrymen: Julio Cesar Chavez, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, and Juan Manuel Marquez.

For the first time, Chavez, Morales, Barrera, and Marquez joined forces for an on-camera panel. “The Final Word: Legendary Rematches of Mexican Boxing,” a half-hour show that delves into the rivalries and fighting spirit of Mexican fighters, premieres on ESPN2 this Saturday, Nov. 30, at 6 a.m. ET/3 a.m. PT. It will first air on ESPN Deportes on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at 6 a.m. ET/3 a.m. PT.

The program will also be available for replay on-demand on ESPN+ and Top Rank’s YouTube channel.

Navarrete (38-2-1, 31 KOs) and Valdez (32-2, 24 KOs) first fought in August 2023, with Navarrete prevailing by unanimous decision in one of the year’s best action duels. They hope to add another blood-soaked chapter to the proud and storied history of all-Mexican ring battles. “The Final Word” explores the common themes that bind Mexico’s legendary pugilists and how they prepare for a familiar opponent. During an animated afternoon in Mexico City, the six decorated combatants talked a little trash and swapped stories from their most intense showdowns.

This is what the fistic icons had to say about this first-of-its-kindpanel discussion:

Chavez: “Meeting with the legendary figures of Mexican boxing, who have provided us with so many unforgettable moments in the sport we love, has been an incredibly enjoyable experience. We all agree that the Mexican boxing style is the one that most captivates fans. When two Mexican warriors face each other in the ring, it almost guarantees an unforgettable spectacle.”

Marquez: “I had the privilege of getting together with great legends of Aztec boxing to discuss some of the iconic rematches in Mexican boxing. We explored the rivalries that arise when Mexican warriors face off with different nationalities, but it’s clear that a thrilling war is always guaranteed when two Mexican fighters battle in the ring. This will be evident on December 7 when ‘Vaquero’ Navarrete and Oscar Valdez meet in a rematch that will keep us on the edge of our seats.”

Morales: “Some of the great champions of Mexican boxing met to discuss the rematch between Valdez and Navarrete on December 7, as well as other memorable rematches in Aztec boxing history. It was a wonderful meeting, as opportunities to come together and discuss boxing are rare. The conversation was enjoyable, and even though the fans didn’t think it was possible, it happened, and I’m confident they will enjoy it.”

Barrera: “I was really happy to get together with these great champions. It has been a while since I met some of the stars of Mexican boxing like this. It felt like a reunion of the past, present, and future of Mexican boxing. I have no words to express how happy I was. The reunion was extraordinary.”

Navarrete-Valdez II and the featherweight rematch between WBO champion Rafael Espinoza and Cuban former champion Robeisy Ramirez will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT. Sky Sports will have coverage in the U.K. and Ireland.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.com.

The Final Word: Legendary Rematches of Mexican Boxing (All Times ET)

(Nov. 26, 2024) — Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza and Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez thrilled fans with a Fight of the Year contender last December, and both look to pick up where their dramatic 12th round left off in their December 7 rematch at Phoenix’s Footprint Center.

Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) edged Ramirez via majority decision to capture the WBO featherweight world title in ESPN’s Upset of the Year. From the time ring announcer Mark Shunock said “AND NEW,” a rematch appeared inevitable.

However, both men returned in June with different dance partners. Espinoza dispatched Sergio Chirino in just four rounds in his first title defense, while Ramirez (14-2, 9 KOs) returned one week later to blast out Brandon Benitez with a dazzling uppercut in the seventh round.

Espinoza, a 6-foot-1 Mexican phenom, wants to prove that his first victory was no fluke. Ramirez, a two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist, is determined to reclaim his throne after personal struggles impacted his performance in their initial encounter.

Espinoza trained at home in Guadalajara, while Ramirez held camp in Las Vegas. This is what they had to say ahead of Part II.

Rafael Espinoza

“I know it will be a war. And it’ll help that I can fight against any version of Ramirez. I’ll be ready whether he wants to fight at a close range or from a distance. Like I said before the first fight, I’m not leaving without the title.”

“I’m preparing for the best version of Ramirez because I know that’s who I’ll face on fight night. And that’s exactly what I want. I want him at his best so there won’t be doubts or excuses when I win.”

“My confidence has grown. My mentality, approach to training, and commitment have all changed. I’m three times more committed than in the first fight, and I think I showed that against Chirino. I want to prove it again against Ramirez.”

“I know I have to stay completely focused in this fight. I made a mistake the first time, and it cost me. So, we’re focusing on being 100 percent concentrated because losing focus is easy when you get comfortable in the ring. I can’t afford to lose focus for even a second. That will be a key difference in this fight.”

“My top priority is to defeat Ramirez on December 7. After that, we’ll see who I can unify with. For now, my sole focus is beating Ramirez.”

Robeisy Ramirez 

“In camp, my father got really sick. He almost passed away. That affected me a lot. My father is in Cuba, and I can’t go back. I couldn’t visit him in the hospital. So, that affected me greatly.”

“That was not the best version of me in the first fight. And despite that, I was still able to deliver a great show. So, I do not doubt the second fight will be better.”

“He didn’t surprise me in the first fight. We all know how Mexican fighters are. They never give up. But, given my personal issues, I was not in the best condition. Nevertheless, if the judges saw that he deserved the decision, that’s fine.”

“I have characterized myself as a fighter who gets up whenever he is knocked down. I have a champion mentality and will be a champion again.”

“Everyone knows that I am a warrior. And I have the Cuban school of boxing. But as the Mexicans say, I also have the huevos to stand in the center of the ring and go to war.”

“A victory would put me where I belong. We have to see how this fight will unfold, but unification showdowns and fights against the best of the division are always on the table.”

The Emanuel Navarrete-Oscar Valdez II junior lightweight world title showdown and Espinoza-Ramirez co-feature will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT. Sky Sports will have coverage in the U.K. and Ireland.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.com.  

PHOENIX, Ariz. (Nov. 7, 2024) — Nearly seven months after falling short in his first attempt at an interim world title, welterweight contender Giovani “El Gallo de Oro” Santillan is set to reignite his charge towards the top of the division.

Santillan will square off against Ghana’s Frederick Lawson in a 10-round showdown on Saturday, Dec. 7, at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Santillan-Lawson joins a stacked undercard streaming live and exclusively on ESPN+.

The ESPN-televised doubleheader (10:30 p.m. ET/ 7:30 p.m. PT) will feature a pair of world title rematches. In the main event, Emanuel “El Vaquero” Navarrete defends his WBO junior lightweight world title against Oscar Valdez in an all-Mexican duel.

In the co-feature, WBO featherweight world champion Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza defends his strap against Cuban star Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.com.  

Santillan (32-1, 17 KOs) steadily climbed the welterweight rankings during his 12-year career. He had a standout 2023, defeating longtime contender Erick Bone in July before shocking the boxing world with a six-round demolition of Alexis Rocha in October. His performance solidified his place among the welterweight elite, earning him a crack at the WBO interim title against Brian Norman Jr. in May. Santillan was knocked out in the 10th round, and Norman was later elevated to full champion. Lawson (30-5, 22 KOs) fell to Vergil Ortiz Jr. in January and Rocha in March after beating Estevan Villalobos last April.

A trio of undefeated Mexican-American talents has also been added to the ESPN+ undercard that also includes heavyweight standout Richard Torrez Jr. (11-0, 10 KOs) and junior welterweight phenom Emiliano Fernando Vargas (12-0, 10 KO) in eight-rounders:

Featherweight powerhouse Albert “Chop Chop” Gonzalez (11-0, 7 KOs) will take on Argentina’s Gerardo Antonio Perez (12-6-1, 3 KOs) in an eight-round showdown. Gonzalez, the latest hard-hitting standout from the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy, signed a long-term promotional deal with Top Rank in August. He is 4-0 with four knockouts in 2024 and returns following a third-round stoppage over Edgar de la Cruz Gonzalez in September.
 
Fast-rising junior bantamweight dynamo Steven “Kid Dynamite” Navarro (4-0, 3 KOs) makes his fifth appearance of 2024 in a six-rounder versus Puerto Rico’s Gabriel Bernardi (7-1, 3 KOs). A decorated amateur standout, Navarro made his pro debut in April and signed with Top Rank later that month. He made his Top Rank debut with a six-round unanimous decision against Juan Pablo Meza in June before notching TKO wins over Israel Camacho in August and Oscar Arroyo in September. 

Welterweight prospect Art Barrera Jr. (6-0, 4 KOs) will see action in a six-round tilt against an opponent to be named. Barrera seeks to earn his fifth triumph of the year after decisioning Javier Mayoral in July.

# # #

 
About Footprint Center

Located in downtown Phoenix, Footprint Center is a world-class sports and entertainment venue that is home to the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and the industry’s biggest and brightest concerts and shows. For more information, visit FootprintCenter.com and follow for news and updates on Instagram, Facebook and X.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (May. 18, 2024) — Well, that was quite the encore.

On the day Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usrk captured the undisputed heavyweight title, his countryman, Denys Berinchyk, stunned the boxing world. Berinchyk defeated Emanuel Navarrete by split decision to win the vacant WBO lightweight world title Saturday evening at Pechanga Arena in San Diego.

Berinchyk (19-0, 9 KOs) prevailed by scores of 116-112 and 115-113, while Navarrete won on the third card, 116-112. Navarrete (38-2-1, 31 KOs) failed in his attempt to become the sixth four-division, Mexican-born world champion.

Navarrete began as usual by launching forward with wild shots, often leading with uppercuts or left hooks from the outside. Berinchyk responded by using his footwork to find his distance and pepper the Mexican with quick counterpunches. 

Berinchyk’s offense didn’t hurt Navarrete, but they were enough to prevent him from implementing a sustained body attack in the early rounds. 

Urged by his corner, Navarrete upped his offense in the last half of the fight, but the 36-year-old Olympian continued to make him miss before connecting with compact, effective punches. 

“This is great, my friend. This is great. Great boxing,” Berinchyk said. “Great fight. Navarrete, muchas gracias.”

Navarrete said, “It was something new for me. Like I always said, it would be difficult. Denys is a great fighter. He made me struggle a lot. And you saw what happened. But I’m happy with how I fought. I know that I need to improve.

“I’m not sad. I know it was a test. I needed to do more, but I know that I can do more. So, I congratulate him on his win. I’m happy because I tried things out at 135 pounds, and I know I will be strong at this division.”

Brian’s Song

Brian Norman Jr. (26-0, 20 KOs) captured the WBO Interim welterweight world title with a 10th-round knockout over hometown favorite Giovani Santillan (32-1, 17 KOs).

Santillan was the aggressor, but Norman’s quick counters and clinching nullified his offense. Santillan tried to make the most of it by punching inside the clinch, but this provided the openings for Norman to counter.

In the eighth, Norman hurt Santillan with a left hook. This changed the tide decisively to Norman’s favor, as he rallied with combinations in the following stanza. In the 10th, Norman landed a counter uppercut that dropped Santillan, who rose off the deck to be dropped by another, more devastating uppercut that floored him and ended the fight.

Norman was ahead on all three scorecards, 89-82, 88-83 and 86-85.

Norman said, “He was pressing but not hitting s**t. I made him miss and made him pay. I like going to other people’s hometowns and taking what they have. Whoever they have next for me, I’m ready for the challenge.”

Torrez Flattens Moore in 5

U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez (10-0, 10 KOs) faces his stiffest test to date and passed with flying colors.

The 24-year-old southpaw heavyweight scored a fifth-round TKO win against the previously unbeaten Brandon Moore (14-1, 8 KOs). After an early feeling-out process, Torrez began to connect with jabs to the body before unloading his straight left. Moore tried to prevent his forward attack with footwork and a stiff jab, but Torrez often countered with a right hook and found his way in.

After dropping him early in the fifth, Torrez began to pummel Moore, forcing referee Thomas Taylor to halt the contest at 1:39.

Torrez said, “I give Moore a lot of respect. Anyone who goes toe-to-toe like that deserves my respect. I expected a lot from him, but I followed the game plan and got the job done. He took some really good shots, but at the end of the day, you can only take so much.”Junior Welterweight: Emiliano Fernando Vargas (10-0, 8 KOs) battered Angel Varela (10-3, 7 KOs) en route to a sixth-round stoppage. Vargas was much quicker, countering frequently and switching to southpaw to land even more offense. After too many unanswered shots from the 20-year-old phenom, referee Ray Corona halted the bout at 1:01.

Lightweight: Team USA standout Jonny Mansour (1-0) made a successful pro debut by outpointing Anel Dudo (3-6-1) across four rounds of action. The San Diego native won with three scores of 40-36.

Junior Welterweight: Alan “Kid Kansas” Garcia (13-0, 11 KOs) earned an eight-round points win over Wilfredo Flores (10-3-1, 5 KOs). Scores: 80-72 3x.

Junior Lightweight: Jonathan Lopez (15-0, 11 KOs) notched an eighth-round TKO win over Edgar Ortega (14-3-2, 7 KOs). The time of the stoppage was 2:39.

Welterweight: Art Barrera Jr. (5-0, 4 KOs) went the four-round distance for the first time in his pro career, defeating Levy Garcia Benitez (3-2-1, 2 KOs) via unanimous decision. Scores: 40-35 3x.