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:

  • Fundora vs Thurman: Can Keith Thurman Shake Off The Rust?
    By Chris Carlson, Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • Albert Ramirez Against Lerrone Richards for the WBA Interim Light Heavyweight World Title on June 4 in Montreal!
    Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • GM Daniel Quizon is the Favorite in 19th Kamatyas
    By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • Weights From ‘Acosta vs. Rios’ Event from Thunder Studios in Long Beach, Calif., and Broadcast live on ProBoxTV
    Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • Mauricio Sulaiman: WBC maintains priority of the defense of fighters
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • Barrière and Akdeniz win in Montreal
    By Eric Armit, Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • Jesse Espinas and Leboy Atencio Ready to Rumble in Thailand, LIVE on TrillerTV (Weigh-in Photos)
    By Carlos Costa, Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • Matchroom Boxing announces new long-term contract extensions for two top UK fighters
    Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • Thananchai Decisions "Lucky Boy" Alicaba
    By Carlos Costa, Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • Suslenkov to defend WBA continental title against Mann at IBA.PRO 16 in Serpukhov
    Fri, 27 Mar 2026
  • SBA Builds the Future of Billiards with SBA Next and Official Pool Hub Network
    By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 27 Mar 2026
  • Don King Productions Announces Challenger for Reigning WBC Cruiserweight World Champion Noel Mikaelian
    Fri, 27 Mar 2026
  • 11-0 Brooklyn heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor developing his skills at Deontay Wilder and Andrii Novytskyi
    Fri, 27 Mar 2026
  • IBA welcomes the victory of common sense in the IOC policy on protecting women
    Fri, 27 Mar 2026
  • Genetic Testing will be required in Olympic Games
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 27 Mar 2026