By: Sean Crose
It is not supposed to have happened as it did. The hard-hit Emmanuel Navarrete was supposed to easily knock out Liam Wilson in Glendale on Friday night, thus winning the junior WBO lightweight title while gearing up for a big fight with Oscar Valdez. And indeed, Navarrete has won the title and will most likely match Valdez. But he also got something else on Friday night – his battle of a lifetime with Wilson, a man who didn’t receive the memo he was supposed to be a cake eater.
Wilson established himself in the first game, moving forward and making difficult counter-attacks. Navarrete was able to work well after his stab in the second inning. However, it seems that Wilson could – “could” be the word that works – be the stronger of the two warriors. Navarrete was able to close the combined shots effectively. Although Wilson kept his head straight, he seemed tough enough in the third inning to do so, something that could be a sign of trouble for struggling Navarrete.
By the fourth round, it was clear that – although he could win the teamfight by a slight margin – Navarrete was having trouble with Wilson’s southward attacking style. That claim came true when Wilson, after a series of powerful shots, left Navarrete on the field in the last minute of the half. Luckily for Navarrete, he was able to beat the numbers and survive the chapter. However, it is clear that Wilson, who came on for the injured Ortiz at the last minute, is causing Navarrete real trouble.
Seemingly recovered in the fifth inning, Navarrete continued to hurl hard hits at Wilson, but it was clear that his punches didn’t always reach his man. They were really short. By the sixth inning, however, it was beginning to notice that Navarrete’s pressure, combined with the punches he was able to land, began to weigh on Wilson. The seventh was a grueling affair, and in the end, Wilson was injured and bleeding. The eighth round was an extremely difficult round, one that Navarrete could have made it through. It might be early February but he and Wilson are heading for an early candidate of the year matchup.
An absolute rocket of a right-hander knocked Wilson out early in the ninth minute. The slow Australian athlete got to his feet but was clearly in trouble. Wilson defeated the number, then, exhausted and running out of money, continued to fight. The war is not over yet. Navarrete was now able to reach his men with deadly blows, but Wilson stood firm and continued to fight. With Wilson on the rope, a combination finally sealed the deal for Navarrete, with the referee stepping in and stopping the fight.
Those are some wars.
