Mobile Home | Desktop Version




Navarrete Battles Villa for WBO Featherweight World Title Friday in Las Vegas

By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 06 Oct 2020



Mexican former super bantam world champ Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete – the warrior who overpowered Masbateño Jeo “Santino” Santísima last February – is set to battle unbeaten Mexican-American southpaw Rubén Villa this Friday, October 9, @ the MGM Grand’s Bubble in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

After 5 successful defenses of his WBO súperbantam belt, “Vaquero” Navarrete now wants to conquer the featherweight division. Can he do that?

The 25-year-old from San Juan Zitaltlepec, a fighter also known as “The Mexican Iron Man,” has been boxing's most active world champion, waging 6 world title fights in just over 14 months (from December 2018 to February 2020). How about that?

The last time he fought in a non-title rumble was against Uriel López last June 20 in Ciudad de México, a fight “Vaquero” won via 6th round TKO.


Navarrete in action against the Philippines' Santisima.

Currently ranked as the WBO #1 featherweight, Navarrete (31-1, 27 KO’s), has won 27 consecutive bouts, including 14 of his last 15 by way of KO, and the target for this Friday is Rubén Villa.

Meanwhile, the 23-year-old Villa (18-0, 5 KO’s) from Salinas, California – promoted by Thompson Boxing – comes from defeating Alexei Collado, José Enrique Vivas and Luis Alberto López in his last three rumbles to earn this world title shot.

Will Rubén Villa make the best of it by stunning, shocking and defeating Navarrete?

Does this California boxer pack enough firepower to damage the strong “Vaquero?”

Or will “Vaquero” Navarrete brutally ravage Villa to claim the WBO feather belt?

That we’ll find out soon enough.

The show is promoted by Bob Arum live on ESPN.

Navarrete vs Villa in Featherweight action. May the Best Man Win..!!

The author boxing writer Carlos Costa lives in Cebu, can be reached at carlos512@hotmail.com and WhatsApp +639184538152.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.

Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Sanman Boxing present Yeerken vs. Carcedo WBA Asia South Title Clash in General Santos City on Feb 9
    Fri, 09 Jan 2026
  • Hardstone adds 2 more title fights on January 26
    By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 09 Jan 2026
  • Panamerican Boxing Confederation Partners with Xempower for Digital and AI-Driven Transformation
    Fri, 09 Jan 2026
  • IGMOB TALENT GROUP Launches www.IGMOBTalent.com to Represent Fighters, Entertainers, and Rising Talent Across Sports & Media
    Fri, 09 Jan 2026
  • SEAG Davao-based athletes eye International stints
    By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 09 Jan 2026
  • Canoy banking on his ring experience against Kuse
    By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 08 Jan 2026
  • Undefeated Kansas Middleweight Prospect Marco “El Tiburon” Romero finished 2025 with 7th triumphs, all by knockout, & 11-0 record
    Thu, 08 Jan 2026
  • Kinetix Sports aims for bigger events in 2026
    By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 08 Jan 2026
  • 2026 Santa Maria Town Fiesta Chess Challenge on January 26
    By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 08 Jan 2026
  • World Ranked Heavyweight Dainier Pero Headlines on Saturday, January 17th at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia
    Wed, 07 Jan 2026
  • Jahyae Brown to Battle Arnold Gonzalez in Exciting Co-Feature on Thursday, January 15th at The War Memorial in Trenton, New Jersey
    Wed, 07 Jan 2026
  • Hendri Cedeno Seeks Monumental Victory Against Alfredo Santiago for NABO Title January 10 at Barclays Center
    Tue, 06 Jan 2026
  • Kingsley Ibeh learned from his Loss 5 years ago to Jared Anderson
    Tue, 06 Jan 2026
  • Unified World Cruiserweight Champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez returning to Corpus Christi…as a promoter!
    Tue, 06 Jan 2026
  • Ocum to fight Ballesteros on January 26
    By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 05 Jan 2026