Oscar Valdez (L) and Emanuel Navarrete (R) alternate punches throughout their WBO junior light-weight title bout at Desert Diamond Area in Glendale, Arizona. (Picture by Mikey Williams/Prime Rank Inc by way of Getty Photos)
Emanuel Navarrete and Oscar Valdez will get an improve for his or her rematch.
The Ring has realized that the second act between the Mexican rivals is ready for Dec. 7. The probably internet hosting venue for the ESPN occasion is Footprint Heart, dwelling to the NBA’s Phoenix Suns.
Navarrete (38-2-1, 31 knockouts), No. 1 at 130, will as soon as once more danger his WBO 130-pound title. Valdez (32-2, 24 KOs), No. 3 at 130, holds an interim model of the belt and is the obligatory challenger.
The WBO ordered the title consolidation bout on June 19, one month after Navarrete’s failed bid to assert a light-weight belt.
Navarrete soundly outpointed Valdez of their all-action 130-pound title battle final August 12 at Desert Diamond Area in Glendale, Arizona. That exact venue—roughly 20-25 minutes from Footprint Heart—has performed an integral function on this rivalry. Navarrete survived a knockdown to cease Australia’s Liam Wilson within the ninth spherical of their Feb. 2020 vacant WBO 130-pound title battle.
Valdez stopped Wilson (13-3, 7 KOs) within the seventh spherical of their interim WBO title battle on March 29 at Desert Diamond Area. The standing was granted since Navarrete was scheduled to problem for the WBO light-weight title. That bid resulted in a twelve-round defeat to Denis Berinchyk (19-0, 9 KOs), No. 5 at 135.
The loss snapped a 34-fight unbeaten streak for the three-division titlist from San Juan Zitlaltepec, Mexico. Navarrete was permitted to retain his WBO 130-pound title, although with the order to subsequent face Valdez.
Navarrete has not received since his high-profile victory over Valdez. He fought to a twelve-round draw with Robson Conceicao (19-2-1, 9 KOs) final Nov. 16 in Las Vegas previous to his defeat to Berinchyk.
Valdez rose to the highest of the 130-pound division after a Feb. 2021 highlight-reel knockout of Miguel Berchelt to win the WBC title.
Only one profitable protection adopted earlier than he misplaced the belt to Shakur Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs) of their April 2022 unification bout. Stevenson, No. 4 at 135, received by way of unanimous choice to assert The Ring championship and unify the WBC and WBO belts.
Valdez struggled to regain his title battle type after the Stevenson defeat. The 2-time Mexican Olympian and former two-division titlist was out for 13 months earlier than he outpointed Adam Lopez (17-6, 6 KOs) of their rematch final Might 20 in Las Vegas. He then misplaced to Navarrete and sat out the remainder of the 12 months, permitting varied wounds—and his delight—to heal.
The win over Wilson breathed new life into Valdez’s profession. It comes at a time when Navarrete wants a win greater than ever, a reversal of roles from their first battle although Valdez nonetheless enters because the challenger.