Emanuel Navarrete conquered the 122-pound division. Now he’s poised to win a title at 126, although Ruben Villa might have something to say about that.
Navarrete and Villa are scheduled to meet for a vacant featherweight title in the main event Friday evening inside the MGM Grand “bubble” in Las Vegas. The card will be streamed on ESPN+.
Navarrete (31-1, 27 KOs) is coming off a sixth-round stoppage of tough, but overmatched Uriel Lopez on June 20 at the MGM, his first fight as a full-fledged featherweight. He said he’s comfortable at 126, particularly after getting one fight at that weight under his belt.
“My body is doing a lot better,” the Mexico City fighter said at the final news conference on Wednesday. “I’m growing a little bit more. I was getting a little bit difficult making 122. Now, going up to 136, I think I’m more prepared.
“… We’re ready for this weight, we’re ready for this fight.”
Villa (18-0, 5 KOs) obviously is in the biggest fight of his life. The 23-year-old has put together a string of clear victories but will be taking part in only his fourth scheduled 10-round fight. That includes his last fight, a wide decision over Alexei Collado on Jan. 31.
Navarrete is a significant step up in opposition, but Villa is confident.
“My last couple of fights, they’ve been aggressive guys who come to beat me and think they’re going to get me off my game plan but I adapted well,” he said. “We always had good game plans and stuck to game plans, and now we’re here fighting for a world title. I feel like I’m ready. I feel like he’s beatable, and my style is the one to do it.
“He’s an aggressive guy who throws 100 punches a round. I feel like it’s just going to bring the best out of me to do my job as well as I can.”
Villa has found motivation is the current state of affairs – the coronavirus pandemic, the fires near his home in Salinas, Calif., seeing workers toiling in the fields through it all. And he would be the first world champion from Salinas, which also inspires him.
“I just can’t wait to show you guys what I got,” he said. “I want to see the best Ruben Villa. I haven’t even seen him yet. … I’m just excited to perform and, like I said, show you guys what I got.
“I feel like I’ve been slept on. Maybe a lot of people think I don’t belong here, but I’m going to show everyone I’m an elite 126 fighter. Yeah, I’m coming to win and coming to fight.”
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