Emanuel Navarrete has been working on his technique for his title defense against Christopher Diaz on Saturday in Kissimmee, Fla. And he said during a Zoom call Tuesday that he uses his long reach to keep opponents at bay when that suits him.
Make no mistake, though: The Mexican has been successful – and popular – primarily because of his willingness to exchange punches and his effectiveness when he does.
“That’s the kind of fight I prefer,” he said through a translator. “I prefer to go toe-to-toe and exchange punches. I have the style to make a good fight. It’s going to be a war. That’s what I’m looking for.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Uzlw2j-7v8&t=25s
Navarrete (32-1, 27 KOs) has known almost nothing but success, as he hasn’t lost since the sixth fight of his career. And he became a two-division beltholder October, when he outpointed previously unbeaten Ruben Villa to win the vacant WBO 126-pound title.
Still, he wants to improve. Hence the work during training camp on such things as defense, which isn’t a word one would normally associate with Navarrete.
“For this fight we worked on defense, keeping my hands up, a little bit more technical style because we know if I’m caught with my hands down, a big shot could come in and that could be bad for us,” he said.
One thing that does come to mind when you think of Navarrete is his reach. He’s 5-foot-7 yet has a 72-inch wingspan, which is particularly long for a featherweight. Diaz, who is 5-6, has a 64-inch reach.
That advantage over virtually every opponent has served Navarrete, he said. It allows him to keep opponents away until he wants to engage. And then it’s every man for himself.
“I believe my reach has been very important in my career because I keep all the fighters at a distance where they cannot hurt me,” he said. “But when fighters … get inside my guard, I also like when they do that.
“That’s kind of fight I like. That’s when the real fight starts.”
Navarrete will try to make Diaz (26-2, 16 KOs) fight, which might take some work.
He expects the slick Puerto Rican to move as a way to avoid engaging Navarrete on the champion’s terms. Navarrete will have to cut off the ring to get into his happy zone, which has been extremely unhappy for his opponents.
And during the Zoom call he seemed to try to goad Diaz into a brawl. Navarrete was asked whether he can see this fight living up to the high standards of the celebrated Mexico vs. Puerto Rico rivalry. He responded by saying it’s up to Diaz.
Of course, Navarrete believes that he’ll catch up to Diaz one way or another.
“At one moment of the fight,” he said, “[Diaz] is going to have to stop and trade punches with me.”
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