Body Shot Blowout: Emanuel Navarrete KOs Oscar Valdez in rematch
Rafael Espinoza TKOs Robeisy Ramirez in Co-Feature
‘The Cowboy’ Emanuel Navarrete saddled up to prove, once again, why he’s a complex puzzle to solve. “El Vaquero” stopped Oscar Valdez in round six with a left hook to the body, retaining his WBO junior lightweight world title in a highly anticipated rematch Saturday evening at Footprint Center.
Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs) bested Valdez (32-3, 24 KOs) by decision in August 2023, but this time, the fighting pride of Nogales, Mexico, did not see the final bell.
Navarrete knocked Valdez down three times, including at the end of the opening round. While Valdez succeeded in small pockets, the three-division champion landed the harder, more telling blows.
It was a return to form for Navarrete, who bounced back from May’s decision loss to Denys Berinchyk for the WBO lightweight title. He came back down to the junior lightweight ranks and used his awkward style and looping punches to once again blunt Valdez’s aggression.
“I had to work hard in each round. I had to push him back. He comes forward. I had to push him back. And that was the right strategy to take down a Valdez who is always strong,” Navarrete said. “I told everyone before that I would have a new left hand. And that’s what has happened. It felt really good. We are now starting a second stage of my career. And I plan to take advantage of it.”
Valdez said, “We tried. That’s the most important thing. We tried to get the victory. Sorry to those who came to see me.
“I wish it was a better result. Maybe next time. No excuses from me. He beat me well.”
Rafa Repeat: Espinoza TKOs Ramirez to Retain Featherweight Crown
It was an odd ending, but once again, Rafael Espinoza got the best of Robeisy Ramirez. Espinoza defended the WBO featherweight world title with a sixth-round TKO, earning the stoppage after Ramirez turned away and complained of double vision early in the round.
Espinoza (26-0, 22 KOs) dethroned Ramirez (14-3, 9 KOs) via majority decision last December in an action classic that featured a dramatic 12th round. This time around, the end came suddenly and shockingly. Ramirez led 48-47 on two cards and trailed 49-46 on the third when the fight was stopped.
“I was just doing my job. Obviously, I caught him,” Espinoza said. “I was barely getting started. Honestly, I think the pressure and the rest of the rounds were going to be very difficult for him. This means that he felt my power. He felt my hand. Perhaps he thought that he wouldn’t be able to handle it. But it happened. I won.
“I’ve said it from the start. I want to be a legend. I want to be a Mexican boxing great. I want to fight against anyone. I want the people to know that I’m here to give them great fights.”
Ramirez said, “He got me with his elbow twice in the fourth round. That’s when I started to see double. I told the referee. He did his job. He scolded him, but the damage had been done already.
“I think was the best decision. I did that instead of taking more punches, especially since I have double vision, and I couldn’t be at my best. That’s the best decision in order to take care of my health. If I can’t continue because of my vision, it’s better to stop.”
Undercard
Junior Welterweight: Mexican power puncher Lindolfo Delgado (22-0, 16 KOs) registered his most impressive win, stopping Dominican veteran Jackson Marinez (22-4, 10 KOs) in the fifth round of a scheduled 10-rounder. Delgado floored Marinez with a right uppercut in the fifth, and as soon as Marinez got to his feet, Delgado sensed the end was near. He belted Marinez with a right uppercut to the body that finished things off.
Heavyweight: U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. (12-0, 11 KOs) began a new knockout streak tonight, stopping Issac Muñoz (18-2-1, 15 KOs) in three rounds. Torrez found his rhythm by the start of the third and began landing left hands at will, both to the head and the body. Consecutive lefts to the head eventually forced referee Raul Caiz Jr. to intervene as Muñoz endured a one-sided beating against the ropes. Muñoz, Mexico’s top-rated heavyweight, suffered his first stoppage defeat. Time of stoppage: 0:59.
Featherweight: Albert “Chop Chop” Gonzalez (12-0, 7 KOs) secured an eight-round unanimous decision over Argentina’s Gerardo Antonio Perez (12-7-1, 3 KOs). Gonzalez cruised to victory by combining straight right hands, left hooks to the body, and evasive head movement. Scores: 80-72 2x and 79-73.
Junior Bantamweight: Southpaw prodigy Steven Navarro (5-0, 4 KOs) authored a second-round TKO against Gabriel Bernardi (7-2, 3 KOs). A Navarro right hook at the start of the second initiated the onslaught, followed by two knockdowns that forced referee Raul Caiz Jr. to stop the action at 2:29.
Welterweight: Giovani Santillan (33-1, 18 KOs) rebounded from his first pro loss by dispatching Fredrick Lawson (30-6, 22 KOs) in one round. Aggressive from the opening bell, Santillan pinned Lawson against the ropes, landing several unanswered shots to end the round. Lawson retired on his stool following the end of the first.
Welterweight: Unbeaten Robert Garcia-trained phenom Art Barrera Jr. (7-0, 5 KOs) earned a second-round TKO against Juan Carlos Campos Medina (4-2, 3 KOs). Barrera was relentless with hooks and right hands, battering Medina against the ropes and forcing referee Wes Melton to halt the contest at 2:58.
Lightweight: Last-minute replacement Kevin Mosquera (3-0, 1 KO) edged out Mexico’s Cesar Morales (0-1) via majority decision. The two engaged in consistent back-and-forth action, with Mosquera scoring a crucial knockdown in the final round. Scores: 38-38, 39-36, and 38-37.
Junior Lightweight: Las Vegas native DJ Zamora (15-0, 10 KOs) registered a second-round knockout over Roman Ruben Reynoso (22-6-2, 10 KOs). Time of stoppage: 1:56.
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