Emanuel Navarrete and Jessie Magdaleno could be on a collision course.
The WBO is planning to order a fight between No. 1-ranked Navarrete and No. 2 Magdaleno for its vacant featherweight title, BoxingScene.com is reporting.
WBO president Francisco Valcarcel said No. 3 Ruben Villa would step in if either Navarrete or Magdaleno can’t or won’t take part in the title fight. Travel restrictions can be a complicating factor during the coronavirus pandemic.
Valcarcel seems to be assuming that the title fight would take place in the U.S. Navarrete is in Mexico.
“We will touch base with Top Rank since both Navarrete and Magdaleno are promoted by them. We’ll then order the fight,” Valcarcel told BoxingScene.com.
He went on: “I know Ruben Villa is available. I already talked to Banner Promotions head Artie Pelullo. We will for sure announce it by the end of the week. Top Rank is busy right now with the shows in the bubble in Las Vegas. I don’t want to disturb them right now.”
Magdaleno’s manager, Frank Espinoza, told BoxingScene.com that his client wants the Navarrete fight.
“That’s a fight we want,” he said. “It will be a great battle. It will be interesting to see if the fight happens in the bubble or not, but I would like the fight to take place no later than September and October.
“It’s not going to be an easy fight, but we’re really motivated. My guy can prevail.”
Shakur Stevenson recently vacated the WBO 126-pound title and moved up to 130. Navarrete did the same recently, giving up his 122-pound belt. Magdaleno lost his junior featherweight title to Issac Dogboe in April 2018.
Navarette (31-1, 27 KOs) and Magdaleno (28-1, 18 KOs) have both fought during the pandemic. Navarette stopped Uriel Lopez in six rounds in Mexico on June 20, and Magdaleno defeated Yenifel Vicente by disqualification on June 11 in the MGM Grand bubble in Las Vegas.
Villa (18-0, 5 KOs) is coming off a unanimous-decision victory over Alexei Collado on Jan. 31.