Emanuel Navarrete defends his WBO featherweight world title against Christopher Diaz in the main event of a Top Rank card at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, Florida, on Saturday (ESPN and ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET).
Navarrete (32-1, 27 KOs), 26, of Mexico, a former junior featherweight titlist, has won 28 consecutive fights, 23 by stoppage, including a decision victory over Ruben Villa to win the 126-pound belt.
“I know he has been fighting at 126 and even at 130. I think it will be tough to hurt a fighter that has fought at higher divisions, but I believe I have the punching power to knock him out,” Navarrete said at a news conference on Thursday.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve fought in front of fans. I miss the vibes of having the fans in the arena. Even though 90 percent of the fans will be cheering for [Diaz] I feel like the pressure is going to be on him because he needs to perform for his people, for his fans. I’ve always been a fighter that’s been on the road, fighting away from home. I feel like the pressure is on him.”
Diaz (26-2, 16 KOs), 26, of Puerto Rico, lost a decision when he challenged Masayuki Ito for the WBO junior lightweight world title in 2018, but he has won two consecutive fights, including a dominant unanimous decision over Jason Sanchez in June.
“We’re fighting a 50-50 fight. I’m happy because he knows I’m the most dangerous fighter he’s fought to this day,” said Diaz. “I’ve been in the big arenas a lot of times [against] Shakur Stevenson, Masayuki Ito in front of 8,00 people … I think I have the experience to become world champion Saturday night.
“If you’ve seen my last two fights, I’ve been a different fighter. I go to the ring to perform, to show the people I can be a star. Navarrete is a great champion. It’s a pleasure for me to share the ring with him.”
In the co-main event, super middleweight sensation Edgar Berlanga meets Demond Nicholson in an eight-round battle. But the chances the fight goes long are very slim.
Berlanga (16-0, 16 KOs), 23, of New York, has won all of his fights in the first round. Four of those victories have been inside the first minute (Jose Antonio Leos Nery, Saadiq Muhammad, Samir dos Santos Barbosa and Gyorgy Varju).
Nicholson (23-3-1, 20 KOs), 28, of Maryland, has won five bouts in a row since losing to Jesse Hart in 2018, including three by stoppage.
Stay here for live undercard results and analysis.
Fight in progress: Jeremy Adorno vs. Ramiro Martinez, 4 rounds, junior featherweights
Results:
Gomez demolishes Villegas in one round
Junior lightweight Jaycob Gomez set the tone for Saturday’s card with a quick first-round knockout over Mobley Villegas. Gomez (2-0, 2 KOs), 19, of Caguas, Puerto Rico, was clearly superior to Villeags from the opening bell. He dropped Villeags, 28, of Amarillo, Texas, twice, with the second knockdown coming after a barrage while Villegas was on the ropes. Villegas wisely opted not to get up for the 10-count with just 22 seconds left in the opening round.
Still to come:
-
Emanuel Navarrete vs. Christopher Diaz, 12 rounds, for Navarrete’s WBO featherweight title
-
Edgar Berlanga vs. Demond Nicholson, 8 rounds, super middleweights
-
Josue Vargas vs. Willie Shaw, 10 rounds, junior welterweights
-
Joseph Adorno vs. Jamaine Ortiz, 8 rounds, lightweights
-
Orlando Gonzalez vs. Juan Antonio Lopez, 8 rounds, featherweights
-
Xander Zayas vs. Demarcus Layton, 6 rounds, welterweights