This Saturday live on ESPN, there is a high probability that we may see a war for the WBO super featherweight title. The champion Emanuel Navarrete (37-1, 31 KOs) takes on former WBC champion Oscar Valdez (31-1, 23 KOs) in a fight that has been flying under the radar until now. Who will be the greater warrior on Saturday night?
DOES OSCAR VALDEZ HAVE ONE MORE GREAT PERFORMANCE LEFT IN HIM?
Valdez is a tough fighter; when you think he may be down, he rises to the occasion. Whether it’s fighting with a broken jaw against Scott Quigg or beating the man of the division at the time, Miguel Berchelt, Valdez proves the doubters wrong and comes out on top. That’s where looking at this fight becomes difficult, as Navarrete is someone unlike anyone Valdez has faced in the past. Navarrete gives you angles and punches you don’t see coming, which works for him, but Valdez has the world-class experience that can often make a difference.
In this fight, Valdez has to find a way to get into Navarrete’s chest and smother his punches. He also has to make it just as ugly as Navarrete will but find enough success to win the rounds. It won’t be easy, but if anyone can do it, Valdez can with the help of his trainer Eddy Reynoso.
An all-Mexican battle.
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) August 9, 2023
May the best man win #NavarreteValdez 🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/9hQlpJIGIc
WILL NAVARRETE’S DOMINANCE COME TO A HALT ON SATURDAY NIGHT?
Navarrete has had some run, with his only loss coming from a unanimous decision in 2012 against Daniel Argueta. Since then, he’s become a three-division champion, and someone who fight fans tune in to watch. He doesn’t have the prettiest of styles, and the way he throws punches shouldn’t work, but it does. While each fight seems to be the one on paper that brings his reign to a halt, at the end of the night, Navarrete always ends up with his hand raised in victory. Valdez may be the most skilled and experienced fighter he has faced to date, and if successful, everyone will have to start talking about his impact on the sport and whether there are pound-for-pound conversations to be had.
As far as the fight is concerned, Navarrete should make it ugly but from a distance so that it forces Valdez to lunge and be open for the countershot. Navarrete cannot find himself being sucked into a battle on the inside, as this is where Valdez could catch him with some clean shots. Navarrete has shown he has the stamina to control the fight from the outside, so it’ll be interesting to see if he can do that against Valdez.
EMANUEL NAVARRETE VS. OSCAR VALDEZ PREDICTION
Although a war will break out on Saturday night, I don’t see either man being stopped as they are warriors. This one will go to the scorecards, and Navarrete will pull off the majority decision victory, forcing a rematch.
El Vaquero wants that career-defining win 🌟
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) August 9, 2023
Real Time Ep.1 ➡️ https://t.co/acVJmIxvqo pic.twitter.com/65C2y7NLJW
EMANUEL NAVARRETE VS. OSCAR VALDEZ BETTING ODDS
Per BetOnline.ag, Oscar Valdez is the favorite at -170 (Under 10 ½ rounds +220), while Emanuel Navarrete is the underdog at +140 (Over 10 ½ rounds -280).
Oscar Valdez: TKO/KO +340; Decision +135
Draw: +1200
Emanuel Navarrete: TKO/KO +375; Decision +280
Fight week is here. #NavarreteValdez
— Evan Korn (@KornerMan44) August 9, 2023
Oscar Valdez Finishes Camp With Canelo, Navarrete Wraps Up Camp With Har... https://t.co/nPpf9HuQAE via @YouTube
EMANUEL NAVARRETE VS. OSCAR VALDEZ DATE, START TIME
- Date: Saturday, August 12
- Start time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
- Main event ringwalks (approx): 12 a.m. ET / 9 p.m. PT
These timings could change due to the length of the undercard fights.
A classic in the making 🇲🇽#NavarreteValdez | AUG 12 | @ESPN pic.twitter.com/Ieo34JFNHz
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) August 7, 2023
WHAT CHANNEL/STREAM IS EMANUEL NAVARRETE VS. OSCAR VALDEZ?
- U.S.: ESPN, ESPN+ & ESPN Deportes
- UK: Sky Sports
EMANUEL NAVARRETE VS. OSCAR VALDEZ FIGHT CARD
- Emanuel Navarrete vs. Oscar Valdez, 12 rounds, for Navarrete’s WBO junior lightweight title
- Raymond Muratalla vs. Diego Torres, 10 rounds, lightweights
- Richard Torrez Jr. vs. Willie Jake Jr., 6 rounds, heavyweights
- Lindolfo Delgado vs. Jair Valtierra, 10 rounds, junior welterweights
- Emiliano Vargas vs. Jorge Marquez Alvarado, 4 rounds, lightweights
- Sergio Rodriguez vs. Eduardo Ayala, 6 rounds, super middleweights
- Ricardo Ruvalcaba vs. Adam Kipenga, 6 rounds, junior welterweights
- Antonio Mireles vs. Dajuan Calloway, 6 rounds, heavyweights
