Saturday night at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona sees a real intriguing clash that is almost guaranteed fireworks, as Emanuel Navarrete defends his WBO super featherweight title for the first time against former champion Oscar Valdez in a Mexican Derby.
Bob Arum‘s Top Rank promote Navarrete vs Valdez and the card is televised on Sky Sports in the UK, and ESPN in the USA.
Navarrete (37-1, 31 KOs) is a big puncher, and reigned as WBO super bantamweight champion from December 2018, where he outpointed Isaac Dogboe, and scored a final round stoppage in a rematch, which began a run of five stoppage defences.
The Mexican then took the vacant WBO featherweight crown in October 2020, taking a points win against Ruben Villa which included two knockdowns, and after three defences of that belt, a move up to super featherweight saw a crack at the vacant WBO strap there.
Liam Wilson gave the 28-year-old all he could handle, scoring a fourth round knockdown, but eventually ‘Vaquero’ halted the Aussie in nine.
That win was for the title previously owned by Valdez (31-1, 23 KOs), and the 32-year-old was also WBO featherweight champion from 2016 to 2019.
He then moved up in weight, claiming the WBC super featherweight title with a superb knockout of Miguel Berchelt, but after one defence, Valdez suffered defeat for the first time, dropped in the sixth on the way to a clear points loss to Shakur Stevenson, who defended the WBO bauble that he vacated to allow Navarrete to become a three-weight world champion.
The Mexican was last out in May, taking a wide ten round decision win in a rematch against Adam Lopez.
Prediction: I think Navarrete could just be catching Valdez at the right time here, and I feel he has the edge in this one. It could be a real war, and I lean towards Navarrete taking a stoppage late on.
Delgado battles Valtierra
Following an injury to Raymond Muratalla, the super lightweight clash between Lindolfo Delgado and Jair Valtierra has been elevated to the co-feature.
Prediction: Delgado (17-0, 13 KOs) can preserve his undefeated streak with a points win against Valtierra (16-2, 8 KOs), who lost an eight round decision to Muratalla last year.
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Remaining Undercard
In six rounders, heavyweight hope Richard Torrez Jr (5-0, 5 KOs) should take an early win against Willie Jake Jr (11-3-2, 3 KOs), and Antonio Mireles (7-0, 6 KOs) can do the same, also at heavyweight against Dajuan Calloway (7-2, 7 KOs).
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At super middleweight, Sergio Leon Rodriguez (7-0-1, 6 KOs) should deal with Eduardo Ayala (9-3-1, 3 KOs) inside schedule, and Ricardo Ruvalcaba (9-0-1, 8 KOs) can also win early against Hungary’s Adrian Orban (6-3, 4 KOs).
The sole four rounder comes at lightweight, where Emiliano Vargas (5-0, 4 KOs) can get the better of Jorge Luis Marquez Alvarado (3-5-1, 2 KOs) on the cards.
