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:

  • Sampson Lewkowicz: Boxing’s Picasso
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Wed, 03 Jun 2026
  • BARRY HEARN OBE TO FUND 10 BRAND NEW APPRENTICESHIP ROLES THANKS TO MATCHROOM CHARITABLE FOUNDATION AND COACH CORE
    Wed, 03 Jun 2026
  • Olongapo to host National Age Group Chess Championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 03 Jun 2026
  • JOSEPH "JOJO" DIAZ EAGER TO REVIVE CAREER AHEAD OF JUNE 19 SHOWDOWN WITH "H2O" SYLVE
    Wed, 03 Jun 2026
  • Charly Suarez is my idol - Jhon Lowie Lastimosa
    By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 03 Jun 2026
  • Josh “The Hammer” Popper: From Holy Spirit to a Heavyweight Headline at the Tropicana
    Wed, 03 Jun 2026
  • 600 athletes expected in 11th Asia-Oceania Sambo tourney
    By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 03 Jun 2026
  • Dagestan rivalry set to ignite Moscow: Khalidov and Yallyev clash on stacked IBA PRO 19 card
    Wed, 03 Jun 2026
  • Deep Waters rules inaugural WR Bughouse Championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 02 Jun 2026
  • HE TURKI ALALSHIKH: 'AJ vs PRENGA IN JEDDAH REINFORCES SAUDI ARABIA'S POSITION AS DESTINATION FOR WORLD'S LEADING EVENTS'
    Tue, 02 Jun 2026
  • ANTHONY JOSHUA VS KRISTIAN PRENGA TO TAKE PLACE IN JEDDAH ON JULY 25 – LIVE ON DAZN – AS HEAVYWEIGHTS FACE-OFF IN LONDON
    Tue, 02 Jun 2026
  • Ryan ‘The Bruiser’ Rozicki Gets a kick out of British sports fans
    Tue, 02 Jun 2026
  • GUSTAVO TRUJILLO CONTINUES HEAVYWEIGHT ASCENT WITH DEVASTATING FIRST-ROUND TKO
    Mon, 01 Jun 2026
  • Boxing Insider Promotions Brings Regional Card to Tropicana Atlantic City on Saturday, June 13
    Mon, 01 Jun 2026
  • Chess, in whatever form, is a great equalizer
    By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 01 Jun 2026