10/9 ESPN: Emanuel Navarrete vs Ruben Villa (vacant WBO Featherweight Title)

[patscorpio]

Emanuel Navarrete and Ruben Villa will square off for the vacant WBO featherweight title on either Oct. 9 or Oct. 10. ESPN’s Mark Kriegel reported Oct. 10 on this weekend’s Ramirez-Postol broadcast, but other reports are saying Oct. 9, so it’ll be one or the other.

Navarrete (32-1, 28 KO) vacated the WBO junior featherweight title in July, choosing to move up in weight. The WBO did some fancy rankings maneuvering in order to make an all-Top Rank bout between Navarrete and Jessie Magdaleno for the vacant featherweight title, which Shakur Stevenson vacated this summer, with Michael Conlan being comically moved down to the 122-pound rankings out of his No. 1 spot at 126, and Magdaleno jumping from No. 4 to No. 2 for no particularly good reason.

But while Navarrete-Magdaleno seemed easy to make, Magdaleno turned down the original $200,000 offer from Top Rank, and the fight went to a purse bid, which Top Rank won for a measly $250,000 total. Kriegel says Top Rank again offered Magdaleno the original $200,000, but he turned it down again, and thus he was officially out, moving Villa (18-0, 5 KO) into the spot. Villa had previously been ranked No. 2 by the WBO anyway, but how and why all those rankings movements came about wasn’t really addressed.

At any rate, Navarrete-Villa is a really good fight. Most will favor Navarrete heavily, probably, because he’s had much bigger exposure, but the 23-year-old Villa is no joke whatsoever. He’s been winning handily in a series of ShoBox bouts against frankly about the same level of competition Navarrete has been facing in his title defenses at 122, and he’s a slick boxer who could be a real style test. This is really not a fight to sleep on.

 

[patscorpio]

Navarrete vs. Villa Card: Alimkhanuly-Coria, Adorno-Sparrow Added
By Random Hits

Published On Fri Oct 2, 2020, 03:49 PM EST

Undefeated southpaw middleweight phenom Janibek Alimkhanuly is set to introduce ESPN viewers to his brand of “Qazaq Style.” Alimkhanuly will fight Argentinian contender Gonzalo Coria in a 10-rounder Friday, Oct. 9 from the MGM Grand Las Vegas Conference Center.

Alimkhanuly-Coria will serve as the co-feature to the vacant WBO featherweight world title fight between Emanuel Navarrete and Ruben Villa, and both bouts will be televised LIVE on ESPN beginning at 10 p.m. ET.

Undercard action, including a 10-round lightweight showdown between Joseph “Blessed Hands” Adorno and Avery Sparrow, will stream live on ESPN+ at 7:30 p.m. ET. The ESPN+ stream will also see junior welterweight knockout sensation Elvis “The Dominican Kid” Rodriguez against veteran spoiler Cameron Krael in an eight-rounder.

“Janibek is a future world champion, and I expect him to take advantage of the ESPN platform,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Elvis Rodriguez is a born puncher and a splendid young talent, but Krael is not an easy out. Joseph Adorno can prove a lot with an impressive showing over Avery Sparrow."

Alimkhanuly (8-0, 4 KOs) turned pro in October 2016 after concluding a sterling amateur run for his native Kazakhstan, which included gold medals at both the Asian and World Championships in 2013 and a berth at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He makes his 2020 debut after going 4-0 in 2019, a year in which he won the WBC Continental Americas and WBO Global belts. Alimkhanuly last fought Nov. 9 on the Jamel Herring-Lamont Roach Jr. undercard in Fresno, Calif., and he knocked out veteran Albert Onolunose in six rounds. Coria (16-3, 6 KOs) is coming off a career-best performance last June, a 12-round unanimous decision over Marcos Reyes in Reyes’ hometown of Chihuahua, Mexico.

“I’ve been out of the ring for a long time, and I’m very anxious to return,” Alimkhanuly said. “I had a great training camp with Buddy McGirt and excellent sparring partners. This is the next step as I prepare to fight for a world title in the near future. I can’t wait for Oct. 9 to show my fans ‘Qazaq Style.’”

Adorno (14-0-1, 12 KOs) has not fought since a January draw against Hector Garcia, and he recently had his scheduled June 23 bout canceled after falling ill before the weigh-in. Adorno, who has wowed audiences with his highlight-reel knockouts, looks to regain his career momentum with an impressive showing against Sparrow (10-2, 3 KOs). A veteran of Philadelphia gym wars, Sparrow is coming off a competitive decision defeat June 25 to the unbeaten Abraham Nova. He took the Nova fight on short notice, but with a full training camp to prepare for Adorno, Sparrow hopes to graduate from prospect-tester to contender.

Rodriguez (9-0-1, 9 KOs) emerged as a “Bubble” superstar, having won three bouts by stoppage in three rounds or less. On July 2, he knocked out Danny Murray in the opening round. Nineteen days later, he stopped Dennis Okoth in the second round. In his last bout, Aug. 29 on the Jose Ramirez-Viktor Postol undercard, he knocked out Cody Wilson in the third round. Krael (17-16-3, 4 KOs) has four wins over previously undefeated prospects, four defeats by split or majority decision, and only one knockout loss. In 2016, he pushed Egidijus “Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas to the limit before losing an eight-round unanimous decision.

In other undercard bouts:

Lorenzo “Truck” Simpson (8-0, 5 KOs) vs. Sonny Duversonne (11-0-2, 8 KOs)
8 Rounds, Middleweight
Simpson, a 20-year-old phenom from Baltimore, made headlines in August when he became the first American-born fighter to sign an advisory deal with MTK Global. Simpson last fought July 11 in Biloxi Miss., where he stopped Alex Sandro Duarte in 1:45. Duversonne has won 10 straight bouts since starting his career 1-0-2.

Bryan Lua (6-0, 3 KOs) vs. Nelson Colon (4-3, 3 KOs)
6 Rounds, Lightweight
Lua, from Madera, Calif., returned Sept. 19 following a layoff of more than two years and knocked out Luis Norambuena with a left hook in the second round. Colon’s only defeats have come against undefeated prospects, and on Aug. 21, he dropped a majority decision to Ofacio Falcon.

Rashiem Jefferson (2-0) vs. Steve Garagarza (2-2-1, 1 KO)
4 Rounds, Junior Featherweight
Jefferson, a 19-year-old prospect from Philadelphia, fought inside the “Bubble” on Sept. 5 and turned back Jose Martinez via four-round unanimous decision. Garagarza, from Laredo, Texas, has never been knocked out as a pro and is coming off a March decision win over Oscar Barrera.

Kahshad Elliott (Pro Debut) vs. Akeem Jackson (1-1, 1 KO)
4 Rounds, Junior Middleweight
Elliott, from Plainfield, N.J., won 10 national titles as an amateur and will turn pro at 154 pounds after attempting to qualify for the Olympics in the 165-pound division. He finished his amateur career with a reported 117-23 record.

 

[Electric Ladyland]

Villa is pretty talented but without draining himself,

Navarrete is gonna be pretty special this night

 

[patscorpio]

yeah i think sparrow has burned some bridges...he wont be on TV anytime soon

Navarrete-Villa: Avery Sparrow Pulls Out of Fight With Joseph Adorno
By Jake Donovan

Published On Tue Oct 6, 2020, 06:29 PM EST

Avery Sparrow has again flown the nest.

An all-Pennsylvania showdown versus Joseph Adorno—which was due to take place October 9 in Las Vegas—is no longer in play for the 26-year old lightweight from Philadelphia, BoxingScene.com has learned. The fight fell apart on Tuesday, when all parties involved were informed that Sparrow is not making the trip to Las Vegas in having officially withdrawn from the contest.

The rest of Friday’s show will move forward as scheduled, headlined by a vacant featherweight title fight between Emanuel Navarrete (32-1, 28KOs) and Ruben Villa (18-0, 5KOs) which airs live on ESPN from The Bubble at the MGM Grand (Friday, 10:00 p.m. ET). Sparrow’s clash with Adorno was due to top the preliminary undercard which was to stream live on ESPN+ preceding the linear televised doubleheader.

Sparrow (10-2, 3KOs) was given a chance at redemption earlier this summer, accepting a short-notice assignment versus unbeaten junior lightweight prospect Abrahama ‘El Super’ Nova (19-0. 14KOs). Their June 25 clash—which aired live on ESPN—proved to be competitive, with Sparrow dropping a 10-round decision but offering a strong enough account of himself to where Top Rank was willing to bring him back.

This latest incident not only ruined those plans, but likely puts him on the banned list with any prominent promoter.

Sparrow became infamously known for the manner in which he was forced out of a fight with unbeaten lightweight Ryan Garcia which was to have aired on DAZN last September from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. Sparrow was apprehended by law enforcement just hours before their pre-fight weigh-in, as he was extradited back to Philadelphia on an outstanding warrant for a matter which has since been cleared up in terms of being able to proceed with his career.

The incident left Garcia without an opponent and Golden Boy Promotions without a serviceable co-feature that evening. Still, the promotional outfit was willing to bring him back two months later for a DAZN show in Indio, California, only for Sparrow to withdraw. The boxer never made it to the airport, claiming dehydration and an inability to make weight as the cause for his withdrawing from a bout with James Wilkins.

All told, Sparrow hadn’t fought in 15 months—since a March 2019 win over crosstown rival Hank Lundy—by the time he faced Nova on short notice. Sufficient time was provided to prepare for Allentown’s Adorno (14-0-1, 12KOs), although sources have informed BoxingScene.com that weight was once again an issue.

Ironically, Sparrow’s last fight came two nights after Adorno was pulled from a June 23 show over his inability to make lightweight for an eventually canceled fight with Alexis del Bosque.

The withdrawal from that fight and now this cancellation leaves Adorno—barring a late replacement secured, which is highly unlikely—out of the ring since an eight-round draw with Hector Garcia this past January in Atlantic City.

Friday’s show will now feature seven fights. Supporting Navarrrete-Villa is rising middleweight Janibek Alimkhanuly (8-0, 4KOs) as well as Bubble-friendly knockout artist Elvis Rodriguez (9-0-1, 9KOs), who fights on site for the fourth time as he faces serviceable spoiler Cameron Krael.

The card will also feature the pro debut of former amateur standout Kahshad Elliot as well as promising middleweight prospect Lorenzo ‘Truck’ Simspon (8-0, 5KOs).

 

[patscorpio]

 

[patscorpio]

Emanuel Navarrete-Ruben Villa Weigh-In Results From Las Vegas
By Keith Idec

Published On Thu Oct 8, 2020, 04:31 PM EST

Emanuel Navarrete needed to step on the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s scale twice Thursday to make weight for his featherweight title fight against Ruben Villa on Friday night.

Navarrete, of San Juan Zitlaltepec, Mexico, was 126.2 pounds the first time he got on the scale. Once the former WBO junior featherweight champ stripped naked, he weighed exactly 126 pounds, the limit for their 12-round WBO title fight.

Villa, of Salinas, California, officially weighed in at 125 pounds on his first try.

The 25-year-old Navarette (32-1, 28 KOs), the WBO’s number one featherweight contender, and the 23-year-old Villa (18-0, 5 KOs), who is ranked second, will fight for the WBO’s unclaimed featherweight championship. Shakur Stevenson (14-0, 8 KOs) gave up the WBO’s 126-pound crown when he decided over the summer to remain in the junior lightweight division.

ESPN will broadcast Navarrete-Villa as the main event of a seven-bout card at MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.

The WBO originally ordered a bout between Navarrete and Jessie Magdaleno (28-1, 18 KOs) for its vacant featherweight title. Las Vegas’ Magdaleno turned down that fight once promoter Top Rank won a purse bid and offered him $100,000 from its winning offer of $250,000.

Bob Arum’s promotional company then negotiated a deal for Navarrete and Villa to fight for that title.

Before Navarrete and Villa met their contractual obligations, Janibek Alimkhanuly and Gonzalo Coria made weight for their 10-round middleweight match Friday night. Alimkhanuly officially weighed 159.6 pounds, a pound more than Coria (158.6).

ESPN will televise the bout between Kazakhstan’s Alimkhanuly (8-0, 4 KOs) and Argentina’s Coria (16-3, 6 KOs) as the opener of its doubleheader at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

The official weights are listed below for the five fights ESPN+ will stream live as part of the Navarrete-Villa undercard Friday night, starting at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT.

Elvis Rodriguez (9-0-1, 9 KOs), Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 141.5 pounds vs. Cameron Krael (17-16-3, 4 KOs), Las Vegas, 141.2 pounds, 8 rounds, welterweights.

Lorenzo Simpson (8-0, 5 KOs), Baltimore, 156.1 pounds vs. Sonny Duversonne (11-0-2, 8 KOs), Miami, 154.8 pounds, 8 rounds, middleweights.

Bryan Lua (6-0, 3 KOs), Madera, California, 131.6 pounds vs. Nelson Colon (4-3, 3 KOs), Cayey, Puerto Rico, 131.6 pounds, 6 rounds, lightweights.

Rashiem Jefferson (2-0, 0 KOs), Philadelphia, 123.8 pounds vs. Steve Garagarza (2-2-1, 1 KO), Laredo, Texas, 123.5 pounds, 4 rounds, featherweights.

Kahshad Elliott (pro debut), Plainfield, New Jersey, 152.8 pounds vs. Akeem Jackson (1-1, 1 KO), Oxon Hill, Maryland, 151.5 pounds, 4 rounds, junior middleweights.

 

[patscorpio]

 

[Bigblackted4]

Villa by UD

 

[aceboon]

 

[aceboon]

Been rocking with Villa since I first seen him on Shobox a couple years ago, I hope he pulls it off

 

[patscorpio]

i am just really interested in seeing how a fighter with villa's power will stop a volume puncher like navarrete

 

[patscorpio]

 

[LauderdaleBoss]

Villa by competitive decision

 

[reservoirdogs]

This dude just came to lose

 

[reservoirdogs]

Jefferson walking out to Curtis Mayfield