Emanuel Navarrete-Oscar Valdez Rematch Eyed For Dec. 7 in Phoenix

Emanuel Navarrete and Oscar Valdez will get an upgrade for their rematch.

The Ring has learned that the second act between the Mexican rivals is set for Dec. 7. The likely hosting venue for the ESPN event is Footprint Center, home to the NBA’s Phoenix Suns.

Navarrete (38-2-1, 31 knockouts), No. 1 at 130, will once again risk his WBO 130-pound title. Valdez (32-2, 24 KOs), No. 3 at 130, holds an interim version of the belt and is the mandatory challenger.

The WBO ordered the title consolidation bout on June 19, one month after Navarrete’s failed bid to claim a lightweight belt.

Navarrete soundly outpointed Valdez in their all-action 130-pound title fight last August 12 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. That particular venue—roughly 20-25 minutes from Footprint Center—has played an integral role in this rivalry. Navarrete survived a knockdown to stop Australia’s Liam Wilson in the ninth round of their Feb. 2020 vacant WBO 130-pound title fight.

Valdez stopped Wilson (13-3, 7 KOs) in the seventh round of their interim WBO title fight on March 29 at Desert Diamond Arena. The status was granted since Navarrete was scheduled to challenge for the WBO lightweight title. That bid ended in a twelve-round defeat to Denis Berinchyk (19-0, 9 KOs), No. 5 at 135.

The loss snapped a 34-fight unbeaten streak for the three-division titlist from San Juan Zitlaltepec, Mexico. Navarrete was permitted to retain his WBO 130-pound title, though with the order to next face Valdez.

Navarrete has not won since his high-profile victory over Valdez. He fought to a twelve-round draw with Robson Conceicao (19-2-1, 9 KOs) last Nov. 16 in Las Vegas prior to his defeat to Berinchyk.

Valdez rose to the top of the 130-pound division after a Feb. 2021 highlight-reel knockout of Miguel Berchelt to win the WBC title.

Just one successful defense followed before he lost the belt to Shakur Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs) in their April 2022 unification bout. Stevenson, No. 4 at 135, won via unanimous decision to claim The Ring championship and unify the WBC and WBO belts.

Valdez struggled to regain his title fight form after the Stevenson defeat. The two-time Mexican Olympian and former two-division titlist was out for 13 months before he outpointed Adam Lopez (17-6, 6 KOs) in their rematch last May 20 in Las Vegas. He then lost to Navarrete and sat out the rest of the year, allowing various wounds—and his pride—to heal.

The win over Wilson breathed new life into Valdez’s career. It comes at a time when Navarrete needs a win more than ever, a reversal of roles from their first fight though Valdez still enters as the challenger.

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