In a brutal performance in their rematch, Emanuel Navarrete smashed Oscar Valdez to the canvas three times for a sixth-round knockout triumph to retain his WBO super featherweight title at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday. The official time was 2:42.
WATCH: Emanuel Navarrete vs. Oscar Valdez 2 live on ESPN+
Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs) scored knockdowns in the first and fourth rounds before closing out with a devastating left hook to the body in the sixth. Valdez, who had never been stopped, had no chance of beating the count.
A NAVARRETE BEATDOWN.
EL VAQUERO DOES IT AGAIN 🇲🇽👑 pic.twitter.com/5J3JEZyVSn
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) December 8, 2024
Mimicking the first fight, Valdez was sharper and more technically sound, but while Navarrete was crude by comparison, his strength and aggression posed the same problems as the first fight which he won on points in August of last year.
“Valdez was strong and kept coming forward, but I had to push him backwards,” said Navarrete during his post-fight interview with ESPN. “I told you once my left hand was healed, I was going to throw it in different ways. In this second phase [of my career] you’re going to see great things.
“[That body shot] was all about continuing the legacy of Julio Cesar Chavez.”
With seconds remaining in the opening round, Navarrete followed a left with a right hook at mid-range that dropped the former champ to his knees. Valdez appeared to indicate that he’d been struck on the back of the head, but it was a clean and authentic knockdown.
Valdez opened up with gusto in the first minute of round two, but while his fighting heart was admirable, he looked out of his depth physically and absorbed serious punishment in return. Another powerful attack from the champion had Valdez under fire and disorganized late in the session.
The action was repetitive in each round and the writing was on the wall. A wild and swarming attack by Navarrete was punctuated by a right uppercut that dropped Valdez again in the fourth. The challenger claimed that he slipped but it was another 10-8 round against him.
Again, Valdez came back blazing in round five and landed flush shots to the chin of the champion. However, as hard as he tried, there was just no way for him to put a dent in Navarrete. Even in his best round of the fight, his mouthpiece was knocked out by a ferocious left hand just before the bell.
Navarrete was on top again in the sixth and the body shot was a legitimate finisher.
“We tried to get the victory and trained very hard,” said a forlorn Valdez during his post-fight interview. “I wish I could have got a better result. There’s no excuse, he beat me well. I slipped and it messed up my ankle a little, but he’s the champion.
“I’m willing to come back stronger.”
Valdez falls to 32-3 (24 KOs) and has had a magnificent career. At 33 years old, with a lot of punishing wars behind him, it’s perhaps time to consider his future.
Emanuel Navarrete vs. Oscar Valdez 2 fight card
- Emanuel Navarrete (c) def. Oscar Valdez via TKO 6 for the WBO super featherweight title
- Rafael Espinoza (c) def. Robeisy Ramirez via TKO 6 (0:12) for the WBO featherweight title
- Lindolfo Delgado def. Jackson Marinez via TKO 5; Super Lightweights
- Giovani Santillan def. Fredrick Lawson via TKO 1; Welterweights
- Richard Torrez Jr. def. Isaac Munoz Gutierrez via TKO 3; Heavyweights
- Demler Zamora def. Roman Ruben Reynoso via TKO 2; Super Featherweights
- Albert Gonzalez def. Gerardo Antonio Perez via UD 8 (80-72, 80-72, 79-73); Super Featherweights
- Art Barrera Jr. def. Juan Carlos Campos Medina via TKO 2; Welterweights
- Steven Navarro def. Gabriel Bernardi Cruz via TKO 2; Super Flyweights
