Emanuel Navarette put Ruben Villa down twice en route to a unanimous-decision victory to claim a featherweight title Friday in Las Vegas.
Emanuel Navarette put Ruben Villa down twice en route to a unanimous-decision victory to claim a featherweight title Friday inside the MGM Grand “bubble” in Las Vegas.
The scores were 114-112, 114-112 and 115-111.
Naverette (32-1, 27 KOs) is now a two division world titleholder. Villa (18-1, 5 KOs) was fighting for his first major belt.
Navarrete missed a lot punches but most the punches that found the mark were power shots. Villa, an elusive target, moved well and outboxed Navarrete much of the fight but didn’t land enough of his own shots to win the fight.
Emanuel Navarette put Ruben Villa down twice en route to a unanimous-decision victory to claim a featherweight title Friday in Las Vegas.
Emanuel Navarette put Ruben Villa down twice en route to a unanimous-decision victory to claim a featherweight title Friday inside the MGM Grand “bubble” in Las Vegas.
The scores were 114-112, 114-112 and 115-111.
Naverette (32-1, 27 KOs) is now a two division world titleholder. Villa (18-1, 5 KOs) was fighting for his first major belt.
Navarrete missed a lot punches but most the punches that found the mark were power shots. Villa, an elusive target, moved well and outboxed Navarrete much of the fight but didn’t land enough of his own shots to win the fight.
Emanuel Navarrete and Ruben Villa made weight for their featherweight title fight Friday in Las Vegas.
Emanuel Navarrete and Ruben Villa made weight for their featherweight title fight Friday inside the MGM Grand “bubble” in Las Vegas.
Navarrete weighed 126.2 pounds on his first try — . 2 over the limit — but registered exactly 126 after stripping down. Villa weighed 125 the first time he stepped onto the scale.
They are fighting for the vacant WBO title.
The big-punching Navarrete (31-1, 27 KOs) is a former junior featherweight titleholder. This will be the Mexican’s second fight as a full-fledged featherweight.
Villa (18-0, 5 KOs) will be fighting for a major title for the first time. He’s from Salinas, Calif.
The main event and a middleweight bout between Janibek Alimkhanuly and Gonzalo Coria will be televised on ESPN. The remainder of the card will be streamed on ESPN+.
Emanuel Navarrete (left) made weight on his second try for his title fight against Ruben Villa. Mikey Williams / Top Rank
Here are the weights for the other fights on the card:
Janibek Alimkhanuly (159.6) vs. Gonzalo Coria (158.6), middleweights.
Elvis Rodriguez (141.5) vs. Cameron Krael (141.2), junior welterweights.
Lorenzo Simpson (156) vs. Sonny Duversonne (154.8), middleweights.
Bryan Lua (131.6) vs. Nelson Colon (131.6), lightweights.
Rashiem Jefferson (123.8) vs. Steven Garagarza (123.5), junior featherweights.
Kahshad Elliott (152.8) vs. Akeem Jackson (151.5), junior middleweights.
Emanuel Navarrete and Ruben Villa made weight for their featherweight title fight Friday in Las Vegas.
Emanuel Navarrete and Ruben Villa made weight for their featherweight title fight Friday inside the MGM Grand “bubble” in Las Vegas.
Navarrete weighed 126.2 pounds on his first try — . 2 over the limit — but registered exactly 126 after stripping down. Villa weighed 125 the first time he stepped onto the scale.
They are fighting for the vacant WBO title.
The big-punching Navarrete (31-1, 27 KOs) is a former junior featherweight titleholder. This will be the Mexican’s second fight as a full-fledged featherweight.
Villa (18-0, 5 KOs) will be fighting for a major title for the first time. He’s from Salinas, Calif.
The main event and a middleweight bout between Janibek Alimkhanuly and Gonzalo Coria will be televised on ESPN. The remainder of the card will be streamed on ESPN+.
Emanuel Navarrete (left) made weight on his second try for his title fight against Ruben Villa. Mikey Williams / Top Rank
Here are the weights for the other fights on the card:
Janibek Alimkhanuly (159.6) vs. Gonzalo Coria (158.6), middleweights.
Elvis Rodriguez (141.5) vs. Cameron Krael (141.2), junior welterweights.
Lorenzo Simpson (156) vs. Sonny Duversonne (154.8), middleweights.
Bryan Lua (131.6) vs. Nelson Colon (131.6), lightweights.
Rashiem Jefferson (123.8) vs. Steven Garagarza (123.5), junior featherweights.
Kahshad Elliott (152.8) vs. Akeem Jackson (151.5), junior middleweights.
Emanuel Navarrete and Ruben Villa will fight for a vacant featherweight title Friday in Las Vegas.
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.”
Emanuel Navarrete (left) and Ruben Villa will fight for a vacant 126-pound title Saturday. Mikey Williams / Top Rank
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.”
Emanuel Navarrete and Ruben Villa will fight for a vacant featherweight title Friday in Las Vegas.
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.”
Emanuel Navarrete (left) and Ruben Villa will fight for a vacant 126-pound title Saturday. Mikey Williams / Top Rank
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.”
Emanuel Navarrete faces Ruben Villa for a vacant 126-pound title on Friday.
FIGHT WEEK
A look at the coming week in boxing in capsules.
FIGHT WEEK
A look at the coming week in boxing in capsules.
***
CHARLES CONWELL (12-0, 9 KOs)
VS. WENDY TOUSSAINT (12-0, 5 KOs)
Charles Conwell (pictured) hopes to beat Wendy Toussaint on Wednesday and then fight once more before the end of the year. Photo courtesy of Showtime
When: Wednesday, Oct. 7 Where: Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Conn. TV: Showtime (ShoBox) Division: Junior middleweight At stake: Nothing Odds: NA Also on the card: Isaiah Steen vs. Kalvin Henderson, super middleweights; Janelson Figueroa Bocachica vs. Nicklaus Flaz, welterweights; Brandun Lee vs. Jimmy Williams, welterweights Prediction: Conwell UD Background: Conwell, a junior middleweight contender from Cleveland, is coming off a fourth-round knockout of Ramses Agaton on Feb. 8. That was four months after his tragic meeting with Patrick Day, who died from a brain injury four days after Conwell stopped him. The 2016 U.S. Olympian, a talented boxer-puncher, had hoped to take a major step in his career this year but the coronavirus changed his timetable. He plans to fight again before the end of the year and then target the top 154-pounders next year. Toussaint is arguably Conwell toughest test. The Haitian-American isn’t a big puncher but he can box. A lack of experience could be a problem for Toussaint. He and Conwell have the same number of pro fights but Conwell had a much more extensive amateur career. And Toussaint will be fighting in his first scheduled 10-rounder when he faces Conwell.
***
EMANUEL NAVARRETE (32-1, 28 KOs)
VS. RUBEN VILLA (18-0, 5 KOs)
Emanuel Navarette will be fighting for a title in second division when he faces Ruben Villa on Friday. Mikey Williams / Top Rank
When: Friday, Oct. 9 Where: MGM Grand, Las Vegas TV: ESPN+ Division: Featherweight At stake: Vacant WBO title Odds: NA Also on the card: Joseph Adorno vs. Avery Sparrow, lightweights Prediction: Navarrete KO 6 Background: Navarrete, a volume puncher with significant power, will be fighting for a title in a second weight class. The Mexican, ranked No. 1 by the WB0, last fought on June 20, when he stopped tough, but overmatched Uriel Lopez in six rounds in his first featherweight fight. He made his breakthrough with back-to-back victories over Issac Dogoe in 2018 and last year. The first was a unanimous-decision victory that gave him is 122-pound title. He won second by 12th-round KO. Navarrete has won 27 consecutive fights since his only setback, a four-round decision to Daniel Argueta in his sixth fight. Villa, ranked No. 2, is a solid opponent. The Salinas, Calif., resident has a strong amateur background and has looked good as a pro. He is stepping up in opposition for this fight, which will be a challenge. However, he might have a size advantage. He has been a 126-pounder his entire career. He is coming off a one-sided decision over Alexei Collado on Jan. 31, which earned him his ranking.
***
LIAM WILLIAMS (22-2-1, 17 KOs)
VS. ANDREW ROBINSON (24-4-1, 7 KOs)
When: Saturday, Oct. 10 Where: BT Sports Studios, London TV: ESPN+ (BT Sport in U.K.) Division: Middleweight At stake: Williams’ British title Odds: Williams 30-1 Also on the card: James Metcalf vs. Jack Flatley, super welterweights (for Commonwealth title); Nathan Gorman vs. Richard Lartey, heavyweights; Willy Hutchinson vs. Jose Miguel Fandino, super middleweight Prediction: Williams KO 9 Background: Williams has been on a roll since losing back-to-back fights to Liam Smith, winning each of his subsequent six fights by knockout. He’s coming off a fifth-round TKO over Alantez Fox in December, which was his biggest post-Liam Smith test. The Welshman is ranked by two of the major sanctioning bodies, No. 2 by the WBO and No. 3 by the WBC, meaning a world title shot is within reach if he continues to win. Robinson is facing by far the biggest challenge of his career, one reason he’s a big underdog. He’s a solid boxer but has minimal punching power. He’s coming off a second-round TKO over Eric Nwankwo in September of last year, his third consecutive victory since he was stopped in six rounds by Mark Heffron in 2018. A victory by the Englishman would be a major upset.
Emanuel Navarrete faces Ruben Villa for a vacant 126-pound title on Friday.
FIGHT WEEK
A look at the coming week in boxing in capsules.
FIGHT WEEK
A look at the coming week in boxing in capsules.
***
CHARLES CONWELL (12-0, 9 KOs)
VS. WENDY TOUSSAINT (12-0, 5 KOs)
Charles Conwell (pictured) hopes to beat Wendy Toussaint on Wednesday and then fight once more before the end of the year. Photo courtesy of Showtime
When: Wednesday, Oct. 7 Where: Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Conn. TV: Showtime (ShoBox) Division: Junior middleweight At stake: Nothing Odds: NA Also on the card: Isaiah Steen vs. Kalvin Henderson, super middleweights; Janelson Figueroa Bocachica vs. Nicklaus Flaz, welterweights; Brandun Lee vs. Jimmy Williams, welterweights Prediction: Conwell UD Background: Conwell, a junior middleweight contender from Cleveland, is coming off a fourth-round knockout of Ramses Agaton on Feb. 8. That was four months after his tragic meeting with Patrick Day, who died from a brain injury four days after Conwell stopped him. The 2016 U.S. Olympian, a talented boxer-puncher, had hoped to take a major step in his career this year but the coronavirus changed his timetable. He plans to fight again before the end of the year and then target the top 154-pounders next year. Toussaint is arguably Conwell toughest test. The Haitian-American isn’t a big puncher but he can box. A lack of experience could be a problem for Toussaint. He and Conwell have the same number of pro fights but Conwell had a much more extensive amateur career. And Toussaint will be fighting in his first scheduled 10-rounder when he faces Conwell.
***
EMANUEL NAVARRETE (32-1, 28 KOs)
VS. RUBEN VILLA (18-0, 5 KOs)
Emanuel Navarette will be fighting for a title in second division when he faces Ruben Villa on Friday. Mikey Williams / Top Rank
When: Friday, Oct. 9 Where: MGM Grand, Las Vegas TV: ESPN+ Division: Featherweight At stake: Vacant WBO title Odds: NA Also on the card: Joseph Adorno vs. Avery Sparrow, lightweights Prediction: Navarrete KO 6 Background: Navarrete, a volume puncher with significant power, will be fighting for a title in a second weight class. The Mexican, ranked No. 1 by the WB0, last fought on June 20, when he stopped tough, but overmatched Uriel Lopez in six rounds in his first featherweight fight. He made his breakthrough with back-to-back victories over Issac Dogoe in 2018 and last year. The first was a unanimous-decision victory that gave him is 122-pound title. He won second by 12th-round KO. Navarrete has won 27 consecutive fights since his only setback, a four-round decision to Daniel Argueta in his sixth fight. Villa, ranked No. 2, is a solid opponent. The Salinas, Calif., resident has a strong amateur background and has looked good as a pro. He is stepping up in opposition for this fight, which will be a challenge. However, he might have a size advantage. He has been a 126-pounder his entire career. He is coming off a one-sided decision over Alexei Collado on Jan. 31, which earned him his ranking.
***
LIAM WILLIAMS (22-2-1, 17 KOs)
VS. ANDREW ROBINSON (24-4-1, 7 KOs)
When: Saturday, Oct. 10 Where: BT Sports Studios, London TV: ESPN+ (BT Sport in U.K.) Division: Middleweight At stake: Williams’ British title Odds: Williams 30-1 Also on the card: James Metcalf vs. Jack Flatley, super welterweights (for Commonwealth title); Nathan Gorman vs. Richard Lartey, heavyweights; Willy Hutchinson vs. Jose Miguel Fandino, super middleweight Prediction: Williams KO 9 Background: Williams has been on a roll since losing back-to-back fights to Liam Smith, winning each of his subsequent six fights by knockout. He’s coming off a fifth-round TKO over Alantez Fox in December, which was his biggest post-Liam Smith test. The Welshman is ranked by two of the major sanctioning bodies, No. 2 by the WBO and No. 3 by the WBC, meaning a world title shot is within reach if he continues to win. Robinson is facing by far the biggest challenge of his career, one reason he’s a big underdog. He’s a solid boxer but has minimal punching power. He’s coming off a second-round TKO over Eric Nwankwo in September of last year, his third consecutive victory since he was stopped in six rounds by Mark Heffron in 2018. A victory by the Englishman would be a major upset.
Emanuel Navarrete and Ruben Villa have agreed to fight for the vacant WBO featherweight title on Oct. 9, according to ESPN.
Emanuel Navarrete and Ruben Villa have agreed to fight for the vacant WBO featherweight title on Oct. 9, according to ESPN.
No. 1-ranked Navarrete (32-1, 28KOs) was expected to fight No. 2 Jessie Magdaleno for the belt but Magdaleno, reportedly not satisfied with the amount of money offered to him, pulled out of talks.
Villa (18-0, 5 KOs) was next in line at No. 3 in the WBO rankings. The Salinas, Calif., fighter is coming off a unanimous-decision victory over Alexei Collado on Jan. 31. Villa will be fighting for a major title for the first time.
Navarrete stopped Uriel Lopez in six rounds on June 20, Navarrete’s first fight as a full-fledged 126-pounder. The Mexican is a former 122-pound titleholder.
Shakur Stevenson vacated the WBO 126-pound title in early July and moved up to 130.
Emanuel Navarrete and Ruben Villa have agreed to fight for the vacant WBO featherweight title on Oct. 9, according to ESPN.
Emanuel Navarrete and Ruben Villa have agreed to fight for the vacant WBO featherweight title on Oct. 9, according to ESPN.
No. 1-ranked Navarrete (32-1, 28KOs) was expected to fight No. 2 Jessie Magdaleno for the belt but Magdaleno, reportedly not satisfied with the amount of money offered to him, pulled out of talks.
Villa (18-0, 5 KOs) was next in line at No. 3 in the WBO rankings. The Salinas, Calif., fighter is coming off a unanimous-decision victory over Alexei Collado on Jan. 31. Villa will be fighting for a major title for the first time.
Navarrete stopped Uriel Lopez in six rounds on June 20, Navarrete’s first fight as a full-fledged 126-pounder. The Mexican is a former 122-pound titleholder.
Shakur Stevenson vacated the WBO 126-pound title in early July and moved up to 130.
