BN Verdict: Navarrete and Wilson combine to create another early contender for “Battle of the Year”

ONLY six days after the surprisingly competitive light-heavyweight bout between Artur Beterbiev and underdog Anthony Yarde, tonight (February 3) in Glendale, Arizona boxing fans got to witness a Another example of an underdog was overlooked when Liam Wilson gave Emanuel Navarrete everything he could handle for eight rounds of a super featherweight bout before finally succumbing in the ninth round.

It’s more like Beterbiev than Yarde, an early contender for the 2023 “Fight of the Year” and there are many dynamic changes and dangerous periods for both fighters involved. For Wilson, obviously, this was his chance to prove those doubts wrong and prove his world-class prowess, while for Navarrete, the former two-division world champion weight is competing in the super featherweight division. For the first time, this is his chance to show off his strength, a trait of his aggressive style that has kept him stuck in this new weight class.

In a sense, they both got what they wanted from the fight in Glendale. Wilson, despite the setback, went away with an enhanced reputation and perhaps it would have been better to have experience getting close to Navarrete. As for Navarrete, meanwhile, he has not only shown himself to be able to bounce back from adversity but also, with Wilson’s help, has managed to create a spectacle that has the potential to raise fame. his and perhaps secure him bigger battles in the future.

In fact, signs of the war’s potential, if not on paper, were apparent early on in the war. In the second half, for example, Navarrete, too awkward in his approach, crossed his legs and from a forepaw temporarily landed a massive left hand that seemed to mark Wilson’s face. Dissatisfied with that, Navarrete then continued this shot with a follow-up blast, which Wilson put out very well, and at that early stage, apparently thinking about an early night.

Then, in the fourth round, Navarrete would pay the price for this urgency and disrespect, with Wilson, now settled in the contest, landing a well-chosen left hook into the body, which he replenished with an even better left hook to the head just moments later. It was the second shot, shot to the head, that damaged Navarrete, causing him to freeze momentarily, and Wilson, sensing this, immediately lunged at his Mexican opponent with increasingly more Multiple punches – left hook and long right. – until Navarrete, who had been trying to stay upright for so long, finally collapsed onto the canvas.

Having done so, the focus is now on Navarrete’s survival and he has done all he can to ensure that as well. When his jaw guard came off, he was given precious time by referee Chris Flores – too much time – and with every second that passed, Wilson could see his chance quickly close with he.

Indeed, by the fifth round, Navarrete, 37-1 (33), once again stood firm and once again charged forward with his ungainly style, swinging left and right as if he were attacking a ax tree. There were headers, blocked shots and total misses, but in the end it was Navarrete’s hits that seemed to soften Wilson’s heart and break his resolve.

This became apparent in the seventh round, a round in which Wilson, now covered in blood, crouched down to shield himself from these shots and then, a moment later, found himself cornered. onto the rope and was shot. In those moments, one could see him wincing visibly after a few hits to the ground. In those moments, Navarrete could feel the end of the world was not far away.

And yet, the closer Navarrete got to the finish line, the more extravagant he became, which forever left the door open for Wilson to catch up with him with something as unexpected as the way he did in the fourth innings. . This unpredictability will ensure the fight remains watchable until the end, and it also means that Wilson will remain dangerous even if the situation favors the Mexicans.

In the end, however, the freshness Wilson enjoyed during the first third of the battle was gone by the time the final third took place. At the time, it was the ferocity of Navarrete’s attacks and body blows, Wilson’s movements were slow and his punches were now lazy, every single one of his punches lacks the shots he used earlier to cause so much trouble for Navarrete.

This has never been more true than in the ninth inning when a heavy jab from Wilson returned to his chest and Navarrete duly executed a right-handed serve with his own right hand, beating for the first time. Australians heavily in the match. A breakthrough, this right-hand man of Navarrete is proof once and for all that his strength has led him to the promotion to super featherweight and it also shows that the fight left all but the body behind. Liam Wilson’s Body and Mind, 11-2 (7). Although he was brave in the fight as well as shielding on the ropes, now it was inevitable that the referee finally intervened and separated Navarrete from Wilson, which he did at mark 1, 57 of the ninth inning.

Navarrete and Wilson both impressed tonight in Glendale (Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)