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Mike Coppinger, ESPN
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Emanuel Navarrete showcased his signature punches from perplexing angles, while Oscar Valdez, with his right eye grotesquely swollen shut, sought an opportunity for a fight-changing left hook.
That counterpunch made its mark several times throughout the thrilling 130-pound title bout between Mexican boxers on Saturday night, but it failed to shake Navarrete. Navarrete, known for his high punch volume, unleashed relentless combinations of four, five, and even six punches, while Valdez bravely held his ground.
In a exhilarating slugfest broadcasted on ESPN, Navarrete (38-1, 31 KOs) successfully defended his WBO junior lightweight title via unanimous decision, with scores of 116-112, 118-110, and 119-109. ESPN scored it 116-112.
“I am happy to have played a part in the next legendary chapter of Mexican boxing history,” expressed 28-year-old Navarrete through an interpreter. “I am grateful to Oscar for the incredible fight we delivered.”
“Thank God I won,” he added. “I admire what he did in the ring. He is a true Mexican warrior. If a rematch is desired, the fans will demand it.”
Round after round, Navarrete launched punches from unconventional angles, rarely staying still. His looping right hands and unpredictable lefts were delivered while constantly in motion. He astonishingly threw a staggering 1,038 punches throughout the fight, more than double the output of Valdez, who only threw 436.
Valdez (31-2, 23 KOs) opted to move forward and exchange blows with Navarrete, a strategy that rarely paid off. Whenever he stepped back and swung for the fences, his punches frequently missed their mark. However, he did manage to land several powerful left hooks, the same punch that brutally knocked out Miguel Berchelt in 2021 and earned him the WBC junior lightweight title.
When Valdez connected with the counter left hook in Round 2, and Navarrete barely flinched, it became apparent that trouble was looming for the challenger.
Gradually, Valdez’s right eye closed and turned purple due to Navarrete’s punishing and unrelenting assault. Even when Navarrete indicated that his right hand was injured late in the fight, he continued to unleash powerful punches with it.
“I had a minor inflammation in my right hand,” revealed Navarrete. “But hitting with it made it feel tougher. I had to overcome the pain.”
Navarrete entered the fight as the No. 2 ranked junior lightweight by ESPN, after defeating Australia’s Liam Wilson for the vacant title in February. Wilson stepped in last minute six months ago to replace an injured Valdez and nearly pulled off an upset. Although Wilson scored a knockdown in the fourth round, Navarrete rallied back and stopped him in the ninth round.
On Saturday night, Navarrete not only secured his second victory at 130 pounds but also achieved the greatest triumph of his career.
“He is a true warrior,” praised Valdez, who spent part of his childhood in Tucson, Arizona. “I gave it my all. We fought with all our heart. He is a true champion.”
“I apologize for disappointing everyone,” Valdez added. “I feel awful. My intention was to provide an exceptional fight. I hope you enjoyed it. I promise to come back stronger.”
Valdez emerged from the bout with severe bruising and swelling, courtesy of Navarrete’s powerful punches. However, he is no stranger to overcoming challenging circumstances.
In a 2018 featherweight title defense against Scott Quigg, Valdez persevered through a broken jaw and secured a victory. Following the fight, his jaw had to be wired shut.
While he has been knocked down multiple times in his career, Valdez has always managed to bounce back and secure wins outside of his loss to pound-for-pound talent Shakur Stevenson last year. Now, for the second time in three fights, Valdez will look to regain his footing.
Meanwhile, Navarrete seems to be continually improving with each fight and progressing through different weight classes. He made his professional debut in 2012 at 112 pounds and clinched his first title in 2018 when he upset Isaac Dogboe. Navarrete then defeated Dogboe again in their rematch before successfully defending his title four more times against less formidable opponents.
At 126 pounds, Navarrete triumphed over Ruben Villa in 2020 to claim a vacant title and went on to secure notable victories against strong contenders like Joet Gonzalez and Eduardo Baez.
Not only has he defeated the top-ranked boxer in ESPN’s 130-pound rankings, but Navarrete also consistently delivers thrilling and action-packed fights, solidifying his status as a champion in his weight class and adding his name to Mexico’s long legacy of brave fighters.
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