For the fourth time in seventh months, Mexico’s Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete will defend his WBO junior featherweight world title. Boxing’s most active world champion will make his fourth title defense of 2019 Saturday against countryman Francisco Horta at Auditorio GNP Seguros in Puebla, Mexico on ESPN+.
“After I won the title, I told Zanfer and Top Rank that I wanted to fight as often as possible,” said Navarrete. “That’s what world champions are supposed to do. Look at the great Mexican champions that came before me. Julio Cesar Chavez, Oscar De La Hoya and Erik Morales built their names and their legacies by being active. That’s the tradition I am following. I am the Mexican ‘Iron Man’ of boxing.
“In 2020, I would love to unify titles at 122 pounds, and if any of the bantamweight champions would like to move up to 122, I am here. I want to fight the best. That’s the Mexican way.”
I give him credit for fighting 4 times a year but honestly the guy needs to step up. Beating taxie drivers and bums wont get you anywhere.
For some fighters it works. Ask Chavez jr, GGG, Hamed, and Tyson got away with fighting bums/no-names to stay in contention until a big fight presented itself. Its all about the promotion
Well, the combined record of his last 4 opponents is 88-5 and among them was Isaac Dogboe and Juan Miguel Elorde. I truly believe they are not cab driver. To step up in competition, Navarrete has two options: 1) the other champions at 122 dare to face him and 2) Go up in weight and fight Shakur Stevenson, the WBO champion at 126. What he can do in the mean time?