Sunday Convo: Emanuel Navarrete’s Close Call Turned No-Contest On ESPN

If you missed Friday’s weigh-in drama, Navarrete looked terrible stepping on the scale the first time and coming in at 130.3 lbs. Then he came back 90 minutes or so later and weighed in at 130.2. With minutes to spare, he tried again and came in at 130.1. His team advised him to take a deep breath and exhale fully, which allowed him to come in at 130 on the mark while being on the scale for the last time.

This was a huge red flag for Navarrete, who has had issues on the scale in the past but not to this extent and at this point in his career. The oddsmakers agreed as Navarrete went from a 5-1 favorite to a 4-1 in a matter of hours. With all of this happening and his opponent, Suarez, looking in top shape, there were questions whether Navarrete would be able to defend his title successfully on Saturday night.

There Will Be Blood

The fight started off with a bang, and although Navarrete is a slow starter, he had no choice but to begin faster than usual as Suarez was coming for it all. Navarrete was landing his standard looping combinations, but on this night, they seemed a little slower in my eyes. I guess Suarez felt the same way as he decided to punch with Navarrete, as he saw the punches coming. It was a risky gameplan, but one that was working for Suarez in spots.

As the rounds continued, the question was whether Navarrete would gas out late, given that he had a horrible time at the scales a little over 24 hours before the start of the fight. That question was never answered, as in the sixth round, Suarez hit Navarrete with a huge, grazing straight left, and that punch immediately opened up a cut over the left eye of Navarrete.

It was bad, and the blood was coming down quickly into the eyes of Navarrete. Suarez took advantage of the moment and landed bombs, but the warrior mentality in Navarrete wouldn’t allow the cut to get the best of him. He kept wiping the blood away while coming forward and trying to knock out Suarez. It was a gutsy move by the WBO champion, which was appreciated by the loud crowd inside the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, CA.

Navarrete would make it through the sixth and seventh rounds, but in the beginning of the eighth, the referee sent Navarrete to the corner to get checked out by the ringside physician. Once the doctor looked at the cut, he recommended to the referee that they stop the fight, and he did just that. The scorecards were read, and Navarrete won by unanimous technical decision. A victory that appears to have only lasted less than 24 hours if the reports are accurate about the CSAC’s decision to make it a no-decision.

What Happens Now?

Given everything that has happened, Suarez should get an immediate rematch. However, Navarrete’s team may feel they need to make the big fights now, given the level of vulnerability shown on Saturday night. If the WBO doesn’t step in and order an immediate rematch, I can see Navarrete going straight into a fight with WBO featherweight champion Rafael Espinoza. That’s a big all-Mexican showdown that fans would be eagerly anticipating.

When asked about whether the WBO will be ordering an immediate rematch, President Gustavo Olivieri, Esq. told FightsATW exclusively “Tomorrow (Monday) upon returning to the office, I will confer will all the relevant parties, including the CSAC to proceed accordingly.”

Regarding Suarez, outside of a rematch with Navarrete, maybe a fight with Raymond Ford would be good. The options are limited, so his hope is likely that they can get the rematch done for later this year.

Top Rank has had two consecutive fight cards that delivered high drama in the main event. This is what boxing needs, so let’s hope others see this and will continue that theme of putting on performances that the fans want to see.