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Oscar Valdez says he’s studied Emanuel Navarrete’s model and feels assured that he’ll dethrone the WBO tremendous featherweight champion of their rematch this Saturday, December seventh, on the Footprint Middle in Phoenix, Arizona.
(Credit score: High Rank)
Valdez (32-2, 24 KOs) feels he is aware of what he did fallacious in his lopsided 12-round unanimous determination loss to Navarrete final yr on August twelfth, 2023, and he needs to make the corrections this time.
Oscar isn’t saying what his profession choices are if he suffers the same one-sided loss to Navarrete (38-2-1, 31 KOs) as a result of if he can’t win this battle, it’s exhausting to think about him persevering with on on this weight class. Navarrete has appeared 100% shot in three of his final 4 fights towards these fighters:
– Denys Berinchyk: 12-SD loss– Robson Conceicao: 12 Draw [*controversial should be loss].– Liam Wilson: TKO 9 [*Controversial. Saved from a knockout in the 4th round]
Saturday’s Navarrete-Valdez occasion shall be proven dwell on ESPN and ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT/
Navarrete vs. Valdez scores
119-100118-110116-112
Valdez: “I’ll Be Smarter?
“I’ve got a world title fight against Emanuel Navarrete. Knowing that I made a lot of mistakes in the first fight, I can always go back and see our mistakes and train hard in the gym,” mentioned Oscar Valdez to Sean Zittel. “I’ve been coaching good for this battle.
“Now, I do know what to anticipate. I’ve been within the ring with him. I do know he hits exhausting. I do know he’s awkward. Now, I’m going to the gymnasium and we’re coaching particularly for this battle. The primary time, i went in and never figuring out what to anticipate or pondering I knew what to anticipate till I stepped foot inside that ring with him.
“Now, that I know that, I’m going to be a smarter fighter in there. I thank the lord for having another opportunity to fight against him because I feel like a lot of fighters don’t get a second chance. I’v been one of those fighters that have another opportunity. I feel blessed and more excited than ever,” mentioned Valdez.
The previous two-division world champion Valdez claims he didn’t research Navarrete for his earlier battle, which is tough to consider. How can a 2008 and 2012 Olympian and former two-division world champion Valdez not have studied Navarrette to select areas he may capitalize on? Going into that battle, Navarrete had solely misplaced as soon as in his profession a few years in the past in 2012, and he was not the kind of fighter that anybody may overlook.
Valdez vs. Navarrete Punch Stats
– Navarrete: 216 of 1038 punches for 21%– Valdez: 140 of 436 for 32%
“This is the fight for me. This is the fight that defines my career,” mentioned Valdez about his rematch towards ‘Vaquero’ Navarrete on Saturday night time. Valdez additionally misplaced to Shakur Stevenson. So, he can’t simply say the Navarrete battle “defines” his profession as a result of the loss to Shakur appeared even worse.
“This is the first time I’m going with a rematch with somebody that has actually beat me,” mentioned Valdez. “It might probably make it extra difficult as a result of you understand you’ve been in there with them, and your thoughts can play tips on you, saying you misplaced to him.
“No, I want to be an example that you can lose, but you’re always obligated to come back. You can do it. Just because you lost, it doesn’t mean you’re out. I proved that in my last fight against Liam Wilson, but I want to make an even better impression coming back against the guy that really beat me. It wasn’t a close fight.”
Navarrete’s Vulnerability
Everybody can come again, however the way in which their earlier battle was final yr, Valdez goes want a a lot totally different method for him to win the rematch. Navarrete has appeared flabby and washed in three of his final 4 fights since final yr. The one battle he carried out nicely was towards Valdez. Aside from that, Navarrete ought to have a 1-3 report in his final 4 fights. The judges and the referee saved him in his battle with Conceicao, and Wilson.
He misplaced to Denys Berinchyk in his final battle, and even in that match, he got here near profitable regardless of it being a one-sided match. Berinchyk schooled an out-of-shape-looking Navarrete on Could 18th, beating him by a 12-round break up determination in San Diego, California.
I scored it 11-1 for Berinchyk. It was fully one-sided, however I wasn’t stunned that the judges in Southern California scored it shut. That was anticipated, however it was something however shut. Navarrete appeared like he hadn’t missed too many meals.
“It was a one-sided fight. I want to prove that you can train and you can come back and be victorious. I want to set that example. For me to set that example, I’ve first got to win this fight,” mentioned Valdez.
Of their earlier battle on August 12, 2023, it appeared like Navarrete had an excessive amount of dimension and energy for the 5’5 1/2″ Valdez. The three guys that the 5’7″ Navarete has had hassle towards within the final yr have been both taller than him or the identical dimension. Valdez and his coach, Eddy Reynoso, are going to wish a greater recreation plan as a result of he doesn’t possess the scale or the ability to get the higher of Navarrete like Wilson, Berinchyk, and Conceicao did.
