Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images
Another weekend, more winners, more wondering what’s next. And another weekend where there’s no clear answer in really any case, but a lot of possibilities, some of which could even be interesting!
Emanuel Navarrete
Navarrete’s win over Christopher Diaz saw him retain the WBO featherweight title, but also considering the possibility that he might have to move up to 130 to get a big fight, which is what he says he wants.
He does sound like he’d rather stay at 126, unifying with WBC titlist Gary Russell Jr or WBA titlist Leo Santa Cruz. Neither is likely; both are PBC fighters. Santa Cruz is a deep Haymon loyalist, and despite what Russell has ever said about being a promotional free agent, he just keeps fighting only on PBC cards.
Top Rank returned with Navarrete vs Diaz this weekend.
Emmanuel Navarrete defended his WBO Featherweight title for the first time, as he finally broke down the tough as nails Christopher Diaz to score a final round stoppage win.
The fight topped a card in front of a partisan crowd at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, Florida, on a Top Rank promoted bill. Navarrete was coming off a tougher than expected points win against Ruben Villa to win the vacant title in October 2020, while Diaz was challenging for a world title for a second time.
The brave Diaz took a lot of punishment here, but was spirited and competitive, down four times in all before being rescued by his corner with just eleven seconds of the contest remaining.
Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images
Stevenson (15-0, 8 KO) is the former WBO featherweight titlist, winning that belt in Oct. 2019 by beating Joet Gonzalez. He didn’t defend it though he was meant to before COVID wrecked plans last year and instead moved up to 130, chasing the man he felt avoided him at 126, Oscar Valdez.
Valdez, of course, is now considered the top dog at 130 after his upset win over Miguel Berchelt. And Stevenson also has eyes on WBO titleholder Jamel Herring. If Herring doesn’t sign a contract to fight the winner of Stevenson’s interim title fight with Jeremiah Nakathila on June 12, that will be for the vacant WBO belt.
Posted on 04/19/2021
By: Hans Themistode
It was a mixed bag of reactions when Showtime Boxing unveiled their summer schedule. Although there were plenty of important and interesting contests, much of the boxing world was fixated on the ring return of Gervonta Davis. The hard-hitting Baltimore native is officially set to move up in weight to take on WBA “Regular” super lightweight belt holder Mario Barrios.
By and large, the overwhelming sentiment surrounding their showdown is that despite the weight discrepancy, Barrios (26-0, 17 KOs) will be another knockout victim. In the mind of someone who has been on the other end of said knockout, he can understand the predictions. However, he simply doesn’t agree.
Regis Prograis Looks To Steal The Show On The Jake Paul-Ben Askren Undercard forbes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from forbes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.