Emanuel Navarrete won the title in the third division, as expected. However, he had to overcome dramatic adversity to do so.
The Mexican star was badly injured by a left hook from late and significantly inferior substitute Liam Wilson and fell shortly afterwards, leaving Navarrete at risk of making a mistake in a hugely disappointing Friday. in Glendale, Arizona.
However, Navarrete survived the scare, returned to work while recovering and then knocked out the Australian in Round 9 to claim the vacant 130-pound WBO belt in his first bout in the weight class.
COMEBACK IS GIVEN
Emanuel Navarrete fights back from early elimination to win TKO. #NavarreteWilson pic.twitter.com/h2Ri1sTNpn
– ESPN’s Sideline (@ESPNRingside) February 4, 2023
“This is an incredible win because it challenged me,” he said through an interpreter. “I need to know I have the ability to walk, get up and go on the pitch with a win. Now I know I have the ability to do it.”
Navarrete was said to have fought compatriot and former belt champion Oscar Valdez but Valdez withdrew due to injury, which opened up the biggest opportunity of Wilson’s relatively short career.
And Wilson (11-2, 7 KOs) from the opening bell proved he belonged in the ring with an elite opponent, battling Navarrete (37-1.31 KOs) in even proportions over three rounds. first and then cause unexpected drama in the match. Wednesday.
It started with Wilson’s signature punch, his left hook, which found Navarrete’s chin and sent him shaking about two minutes into the round. The shot failed to knock out Navarrete but a subsequent mess did.
Navarrete was able to stand up but was severely stunned, though he was still savvy enough to last a few more seconds – Wilson complained about counting too long afterwards – by spitting out his mouthpiece and then having trouble getting it out. bring it back.
Wilson, seemingly just minutes away from becoming world champion, claimed the knockout as the match resumed but Navarrete was just persistent and smart enough to survive the end of the innings and shake the cobwebs in Round 5 is difficult.
A sober Navarrete got back to his job in Round 6, punishing Wilson with his volume punch. He overtook Wilson in Rounds 7 and 8, which seemed to put the underdog down and could have set up a knockout.
The beginning of the end was a straight hit that put Wilson on the frame. He stood up but seemed both sore and tired, making him easy prey. Navarrete unleashed one powerful shot after another – connected with multiple shots – until the referee stepped in to save Wilson from the unwarranted penalty.
The official stoppage time was 1:57 of the 9th half.
“I’ll be honest,” Navarrete said. “All I have to say is that doing this for 10 years as a professional is worth it. My team and I have worked very hard to achieve this. And in the future, the sky is the limit.”
That future could include a duel with Valdez, who is currently healthy. It will be another tough matchup for Navarrete, though it couldn’t be much more demanding than the early War of the Year contender he endured on Friday.
