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:

  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 17 MARCH 2026: Collazo Stops Haro; Fundora KO Ruiz; Barboza Outpoints Sims; Cacace UD Dickens
    By Eric Armit, Wed, 18 Mar 2026
  • Tapales Near Peak Form Ahead of April 3 Tokyo Showdown with Oguni
    Wed, 18 Mar 2026
  • MILLER AND PERO CLASH IN HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN IN LAS VEGAS ON APRIL 25
    Wed, 18 Mar 2026
  • Middleweight Championship Battle Between (C) Khamzat Chimaev and (#3) Sean Strickland Headlines UFC® 328 at Prudential Center Live on Paramount+
    Wed, 18 Mar 2026
  • Sampson Lewkowicz & TM Boxing Sign Undefeated Mexican Prospect José Ángel Guerrero to Co-Promotional Deal
    Wed, 18 Mar 2026
  • 12-Time World Champion & Hall of Famer James Toney Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
    Wed, 18 Mar 2026
  • Five stitches for Donaire’s cut
    By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • Roberto Gomez Training Camp Notes
    Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • Esneth Domingo Trains at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles Ahead of His US Debut
    Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • Tatay Digong Birthday Run on March 28
    By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • 12-0 prospect Marco Romero to headline This Friday in Independence, Missouri
    Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • 700 athletes on March 21-22 at UM
    By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • United States Earns Four Gold Medals on Final Day of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    Mon, 16 Mar 2026
  • Mexico wins 2 bronze medals at World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, Mon, 16 Mar 2026
  • Arnold Barboza Jr. Shines in Welterweight Debut, Defeats Kenneth Sims Jr. to Claim Wbo Global Welterweight Title
    Sun, 15 Mar 2026