10/15 ESPN+: Emanuel Navarrete vs Joet Gonzalez (WBO Featherweight Title)

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Mexico’s fighting cowboy is ready to roll into San Diego. Two-division kingpin Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete will defend his WBO featherweight world title against mandatory challenger Joet Gonzalez on Friday, Oct. 15 at Pechanga Arena San Diego.

In the 10-round welterweight co-feature, San Diego native Giovani Santillan makes his first hometown appearance in more than seven years against Angel “Relampago” Ruiz, the southpaw windmill from Culiacán, Mexico.

Navarrete-Gonzalez and Santillan-Ruiz will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ starting at approximately 11:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. PT. The undercard — also streaming live and exclusively on ESPN+ — will feature middleweight prospect Javier “Milwaukee Made” Martinez (4-0, 2 KOs) in a six-rounder, undefeated 2016 Mexican Olympian Lindolfo Delgado (13-0, 12 KOs) in an eight-rounder at junior welterweight, and an eight-round junior lightweight battle between rising Puerto Rican prospect Henry “Moncho” Lebron (13-0, 9 KOs) and noted spoiler Manuel Rey Rojas (21-5, 6 KOs).

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets starting at $55 go on sale Wednesday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m. PT and can be purchased by visiting AXS.com.

“Emanuel Navarrete never disappoints, as he’s a true Mexican warrior who fights in a crowd-pleasing style,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Joet Gonzalez earned his position as the mandatory challenger, and he has everything it takes to give Navarrete a formidable challenge. I am also thrilled that Giovani Santillan will get an opportunity to fight in front of the hometown fans in an excellent fight against Angel Ruiz.”

Navarrete (34-1, 29 KOs) is 8-0 with six knockouts in world title fights, a busy championship run that began in December 2018 with his dominant decision over Isaac Dogboe to win the WBO junior featherweight world title. Following five title defenses in nine months, Navarrete moved up to featherweight and bested Ruben Villa by unanimous decision last October to win the WBO world title. He defended that title in April and knocked out Christopher Diaz in the 12th round. Gonzalez (24-1, 14 KOs) fell short in his first world title opportunity in October 2019, losing a decision to pound-for-pound star Shakur Stevenson. He returned last September and handed a one-sided beating to three-time world title challenger Miguel Marriaga to earn his WBO No. 1 ranking.

"I am focused on winning this fight and defending my world title for the second time. I know that Joet Gonzalez is a good fighter. I respect him and he is also my mandatory challenger, but I am the champion, and I will show him why. This belt isn't going anywhere,” Navarrete said. "I hope that my Mexican fans will support me in San Diego, and my fans from Tijuana can also come to the fight. I will give them a great fight, and it will be a great victory for all my Mexican people.”

Gonzalez said, “I am excited and thankful to receive a second world title opportunity, this time against a great Mexican warrior like Navarrete. I know I have what it takes to become a world champion, and I will show the world that on Oct. 15. No disrespect to Navarrete, but this is my time.”

Santillan (27-0, 15 KOs), born and raised in San Diego, first picked up a pair of gloves at 8 years old and fought nearly 80 amateur bouts before turning pro in 2012 in Temecula, California. Santillan rose the ranks fighting mostly in Southern California, but he’s made only one pro appearance in his hometown, a 2014 TKO over Osenohan Vazquez. In June 2020, he survived a razor-thin majority decision against former lightweight world champion Antonio DeMarco. After a year-long layoff, he returned June 26 with a one-sided decision over Cecil McCalla. Ruiz (17-1, 12 KOs), a six-year pro, won the first 16 fights of his career before suffering a shocking second-round knockout loss to Javier Flores in October 2019. He came back in April 2021 and bullied the previously unbeaten Bobirzhan Mominov en route to an eight-round decision on a nationally televised card.

“As soon as I got the call, I was excited because this is something my dad and I talked about for a long time, being part of a big show in San Diego,” Santillan said. “Ruiz is a good fighter, a hungry guy, but I’m hungry as well. We actually sparred a few years back and did some rounds. It was good work. I can’t wait for Oct. 15. I’m going to perform for my family, my friends, and my city. This is an incredible opportunity.”

Lebron (13-0, 9 KOs), a southpaw who won Puerto Rican amateur national titles in 2015 and 2016 before turning pro, is coming off last August’s near-shutout decision over veteran Luis Porozo. One of his island nation’s most promising prospects, the 23-year-old has six knockouts in two rounds or less. Rojas (21-5, 6 KOs) has only been knocked out once as a pro and most recently won a one-sided decision over Tyler McCreary in June on a Top Rank card.
 

Derek Lee

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EMANUEL NAVARRETE READY FOR WAR AGAINST JOET GONZALEZ, TARGETS UNIFICATIONS AND POSSIBLE MOVE TO 130
IMG-20210922-WA0001-770x577.jpg

PHOTO COURTESY OF ZANFER BOXING.
11
OCT

BY ANSON WAINWRIGHT
Heavy-handed WBO featherweight titleholder Emanuel Navarrete will put his belt on the line for the second time when he meets once-beaten Joet Gonzalez at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego on Friday.

Navarrete, who is rated No. 1 by The Ring at 126 pounds, expects a tough test from the 26-year-old Californian.

“He has his record in this division, he earned the right to be the mandatory challenger and has all my respect,” Navarrete (34-1, 29 knockouts) told The Ring through his manager Memo Brito. “We all look for an opportunity, like I had [when I became world champion.] I like to be a champion who fulfills his commitments.

“[Gonzalez] is a good boxer, he has good qualities, he has the Mexican style of always going to attack. I like that and I know that the styles of the two [of us] will give a great show for the fans.”

Navarrete, also 26, beat Ruben Villa (UD 12) to secure the vacant title in October 2020 and turned back the challenge of Christopher Diaz (TKO 12) in his maiden defense.

The Mexican star also had six world title wins at 122 pounds and with experience comes confidence.

“I really do not like to see my rivals on video a lot,” Navarrete said. “I prefer to bring my own fight plan. My coaches analyze my rivals very well and they tell me what we will do.

“I know he will seek to beat me and I’m ready to go to war with Joet.”

Emanuel_Navarrete_vs_Christopher_Diaz_action12-1024x747.jpg

Navarrete lands his “money” punch — a long-range left uppercut against Christopher Diaz. Photo by Mikey Williams/ Top Rank Inc via Getty Images

Navarrete intends to use Gonzalez’s strengths against him.

“His desire to want to win [against] me and to go with everything will be better for me,” he explained. “I like that type of fight, I can connect my best blows. I can also box at a distance, but seeing his style, he will want to fight up-close, and without a doubt I will have an advantage because of my punch. I always look for the KO. People always want to see wars in the ring, I hope we both achieve that. I am going to go with everything to show why I am the champion.”

The fight takes place not far from Navarrete’s training base in Tijuana.

“It is like fighting in Mexico,” he said gleefully. “Besides avoiding taking a flight, being only 20 minutes from San Diego is much better. I can better plan my weight loss, and I will not lose a day in airports.

“Unfortunately, with the border closed because of Covid, only some [fans] will be able to go from Tijuana. But from San Diego and Los Angeles, I am sure many people will support me. I am going to give them a great fight and I will look for the KO from the first round.”

This will be Navarrete’s 10th world title fight in less than three years, making him one of the most active world champions in the sport today.

However, while he has become a two-weight world titleholder, Navarrete hasn’t been able to secure a big-name opponent or unification. He has aspirations of achieving both in the not-too-distant future.

“First of all, I have a lot of respect for Joet, but after fulfilling this mandatory challenge, I would have the possibility of looking for a unification or a fight with a top boxer,” Navarrete stated. “I would not mind moving up a division. When they give me the chance to face a big challenge, I want to show that I can beat the best in the world.”

Brito, who has guided eight fighters to world titles, hopes he can deliver for his client.

“Emanuel always wants to face the best,” said the manager. “After overcoming this great challenge, we want a unification. Top Rank have several interesting names up at junior lightweight. We could go looking for an opportunity, and I think Emanuel can put up a great fight with any of those big names.”

Gonzalez, who is rated No. 10 by The Ring at 126 pounds, turned professional in 2012. He defeated Rafael Rivera (SD 10), Rodrigo Guerrero (KO 5) and Manuel Avila (KO 6) before losing his unbeaten record to Shakur Stevenson (UD 12) for the then-vacant WBO 126-pound title. Gonzalez (24-1, 14 KOs) has rebounded by impressively besting Miguel Marriaga (UD 10) in his most recent outing.
 

Mr. Leonidas

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Navarrete, I don't think he's a P4P quality fighter, but he's fun to watch. Would still like to see how his style fares against the upper echelon fighters, like a fight with Gary Russell would be great.

He's def not and he's not supposed to be. TR just building him up to be a quality opponent for one of their other fighters in and around the weight.
 

patscorpio

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Navarrete gonna leave Gonzalez bloody
im looking forward to this fight

fukk joet gonzalez...him and his pops couldn't hide their racism for anything during that buildup with his fight with shakur cuz shakur was dating his sister...while it was cool shakur sweet scienced him and all but he wasn't physically punished for it...thats where navarrete comes in..we hope for a real ass kicking tonight :ohlawd:
 
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