Emanuel Navarrete is on a hell of a run.
All but one of the 130-pound titleholder’s last 12 fights have had a major belt on the line – first at 126 and then 130 — and he has won them all, nine by knockout. He has performed as consistently as anyone in the sport.
The problem, his critics might argue, is that he has yet to face an elite opponent.
That will change this Saturday, when Navarrete is scheduled to take on former two-division champion and fellow Mexican Oscar Valdez at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, outside of Phoenix (ESPN, ESPN+).
A victory would lift Navarrete to a new level of respect.
“Winning this fight would boost my career significantly,” he said recently. “Personally, I would feel complete. What has been missing in my career is precisely a victory against someone like Valdez.
“It would fill me with pride to be part of such an iconic fight between Mexicans and come out victorious.”
Navarrete (37-1, 31 KOs) is known as a relentless volume puncher, which is the product of unusual fitness. He generally overwhelms his opponents with his work rate.
The 28-year-old old from Mexio City is taking nothing for granted against Valdez, however. He went cutting edge this training camp, hiring a fitness coach to join longtime head trainer Pedro Moran.
If Navarrete steps into the ring in better shape than he typically is, it could mean trouble for Valdez (31-1, 23 KOs).
“The training camp has been intense,” Navarrete said. “The preparation was very tough. Fortunately, we were able to carry it out quite well. I had always done things in a conventional way, but now we have included a physical trainer, Francisco Javier Orozco.
“This fight with Valdez merited that change, and I will come into this fight much better physically.”
Of course, Valdez isn’t shy about letting his hands go, either. That’s why this matchup could produce an entertaining fight.
That suits Navarrete. He’s confident he’ll inflict more punishment than he takes, which he believes will lead to the result he wants.
“People know that I throw a lot of punches and that I’m always in attractive fights,” he said. “Now, with Valdez, I believe it will be twice as spectacular. Valdez is a fighter who doesn’t hold back. We always see him moving forward and throwing punches.”
“He says he’s going to knock my head off, but let’s see whose head comes off first. Let’s see what Valdez has to offer, and let’s see how much he can endure and how much I can endure, too.”
