Emanuel Navarrete gets off the deck to stop Liam Wilson in thriller

In the main event, it was the WBO junior lightweight world title on the line with, Emanuel "Vaquero" Navarrete (36-1, 30 KOs) looking to become a 3-weight world champion against Australian Liam Wilson (11-1, 7 KO’s) who was looking to make the most of his stateside opportunity. Although, based on experience alone, he was in very tough.

In the semi-main, it was a 10-round junior welterweight co-feature that saw two-weight world champion Jose "Sniper" Pedraza (29-4-1, 14 KOs) looking to hand unbeaten contender Arnold Barboza Jr. (27-0, 10 KO’s) his first loss.

In the pre-fight presser, destructive, two-weight world champion, Navarrete was confident as always. However, he was not overlooking Wilson, who was coming into the bout with little to lose against a huge upside with a win.

“For me and my team, being a three-division world champion will be the culmination of yet another goal in my career. We know that it won’t be easy. But, by doing that, I’ll feel that I have done something good in my career, and I’ll be satisfied with what I have achieved in my 10 years as a professional boxer”, he said. “My team and my corner have been fundamental to my development. They are people who are very humble. My family is very humble and reserved. More than being humble, it’s a way of life. I appreciate that part of me, and I always try to be a better person.”

Wilson knew he was a huge underdog in the bout, but also knew he was being presented with the opportunity of a lifetime. While he acknowledged the great fighter in front of him, he wasn’t in awe of the moment, and he was coming with one thing on his mind – a victory. 

“This is a chance to fulfill my dream and become a world champion. I’ve done 17 years of hard work for this moment. I’ve put in a lot of hard work. I’ve fought whoever they’ve put in front of me. I’m ready,” he said. “I’ve taken one hard fight after another. I have what it takes to become world champion”, he continued. “This means everything. This is what me, my team, my promoter, my manager and my trainers have worked for. We’ve taken the risks and challenges, and I know that on fight night I have a tough fight ahead of me. Navarrete is a great champion, but I do plan on giving him the fight of his life. I’m going to win.”

Main Event

Former WBO featherweight champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete (37-1, 31 KOs) had to get up off the canvas and dig deep to finally stop Australia’s Liam Wilson (11-2, 7 KOs), by scoring a 9th-round TKO. With the win, Navarrete is now the WBO junior lightweight champion. Wilson dropped Navarrete in round 4 and then hurt him later in the fight in round 6. Navarrete got himself together in the 2nd half of the fight and started to put the heat on Wilson, finally dropping him in round 9. Navarrete poured on the punishment after Wilson rose and prompted the referee to step in. Wilson gave Navarrete a tough night and gave a good account of himself in a fight where he was a huge underdog. Navarrete is now a three-division world champion. Look for Top Rank to match Navarrete with former champion Oscar Valdez (who watched from ringside) next, in what should be a war.

After the tight, Navarrete said he wanted to “earn big fights to show the Mexican people and the world what I am capable of."

Future opponent Oscar Valdez entered the ring after the fight and said, “the fight will be made this year” and added, “let’s bring it back to Arizona”, he continued. “I miss being in the ring and can’t wait to be back in the ring. I want to congratulate him on becoming a 3-time world champion, not many people can say that”, he said. “He wants the fight and I want the fight; let’s get in the ring”.   

Co-Feature

Junior welterweight Arnold Barboza Jr. (28-0, 10 KOs) went a hard 10 with former, 2-time world champion Jose “Sniper” Pedraza (29-5-1, 14 KOs). In the end, Barboza prevailed on the cards 97-93, 96-94, 96-94 in a close, competitive fight.

Under Card

Heavyweight Richard Torrez Jr. (5-0, 5 KOs) TKO 1 James Bryant (6-3, 4 KOs)

Junior lightweight Andres “Savage” Cortes (19-0, 10 KOs) UD 10 Luis Melendez (17-3, 13 KOs).

Middleweight Nico Ali Walsh (8-0, 5 KOs) UD 6 over hometown favorite Eduardo Ayala (9-3-1, 3 KOs).

Junior welterweight Lindolfo Delgado (17-0, 13 KOs) UD 8 Clarence Booth (21-7, 13 KOs). Delgado dropped Booth in the final round to punctuate an 80-71, 79-72, 79-72 win.

Emiliano “El General” Vargas (3-0, 2 KO’s) UD 4 Francisco Duque (1-2).