Oscar Valdez (L) and Emanuel Navarrete (R) alternate punches throughout their WBO junior light-weight title bout at Desert Diamond Enviornment in Glendale, Arizona. (Photograph by Mikey Williams/Prime Rank Inc by way of Getty Photographs)
A pair of world title rematches are set for December 7 at Footprint Middle in Phoenix, Ariz.
Emanuel Navarrete will attempt to finish a two-fight winless streak when he faces the final man he had crushed, Oscar Valdez, within the third protection of his WBO junior light-weight title, whereas Rafael Espinoza will defend his WBO featherweight title in opposition to the particular person he lifted it from final December, Robeisy Ramirez.
The Prime Rank promoted card will air reside on ESPN in the US, with the published slated to begin at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Navarrete (38-2-1, 31 KOs) is seeking to return to profitable methods after dropping a cut up choice in Could to Denys Berinchyk for the vacant WBO light-weight title, and drawing with Robson Conceicao within the struggle earlier than that. The 29-year-old Navarrete defeated Valdez by unanimous choice of their first struggle, closing Valdez’s proper eye to win 11 and 10 rounds on two of the playing cards.
Valdez (32-2, 24 KOs) earned the rematch when he gained the interim WBO 130-pound title with a seventh spherical knockout of Liam Wilson, who had beforehand given Navarrete considered one of his hardest exams.
“The followers will see the identical ‘Vaquero’ as at all times. We’re working exhausting to regain the aggressiveness that defines me and provides all of the followers the extraordinary struggle they wish to see on December 7. I nonetheless have quite a bit to do and massive objectives to perform in boxing, together with unifying my title and probably shifting again as much as 135 kilos,” Navarrete stated.
Valdez will as soon as once more have residence area benefit, having been born in Nogales, Mexico however lived for a lot of his childhood in Arizona. Their first struggle additionally happened in Arizona, just some miles down the street in Glendale.
“Though we misplaced the primary struggle, we stayed disciplined and targeted on returning stronger,” Valdez stated. “I do know it’s a tricky problem, however not not possible. With that in thoughts, we returned to the gymnasium and studied what we did mistaken within the first struggle to keep away from making the identical errors. I’m excited and assured that we’ll be victorious this time.”
Whereas Navarrete-Valdez I had a extra conclusive consequence, the primary iteration of the co-featured matchup left loads of unfinished enterprise.
Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) derailed “El Tren” Ramirez (14-2, 9 KOs) when he gained a majority choice final December, rising off the canvas within the fifth spherical to attain a knockdown of his personal within the twelfth. The struggle was named Upset of the 12 months for 2023 by The Ring.
Since then, Espinoza has defended the title as soon as, stopping Sergio Chirino in 4 rounds in June, whereas Ramirez, a two-time Olympic gold medalist from Cuba, rebounded with a seventh spherical stoppage of Brandon Benitez in June.
“I do know the followers, similar to me, have been trying ahead to this struggle. It’s a struggle that I needed. I’m very motivated and blissful, and I’m coaching at 100%. This night time of rematches might be nice for Mexico, and I’m prepared to provide it my all, similar to I at all times do,” stated Espinoza.
“Because the playing cards had been learn, my workforce and I’ve been asking for the rematch. On December 7, I’m coming to erase any doubts. I’ll reclaim my title,” stated Ramirez.
The undercard, which is able to stream reside on ESPN+, will characteristic Lindolfo Delgada (21-0, 15 KOs) in opposition to Jackson Marinez (22-3, 10 KOs) in a ten-round junior welterweight bout, plus Emiliano Vargas (12-0, 10 KOs) in opposition to Alan Ayala (11-4, 7 KOs) in an eight spherical junior welterweight bout and Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. (11-0, 10 KOs) in an eight spherical heavyweight struggle in opposition to an opponent to be named.
