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:

  • It’s in the blood
    By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 19 May 2026
  • “The fans will be the true winners” – Angel Ayala ready for IBA PRO 18 in Mexico City
    Tue, 19 May 2026
  • Rematch option for Melvin
    By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 19 May 2026
  • World-class stablemates John ‘Scrappy’ Ramirez & Darius ‘DFG’ Fulghum fighting on same card Friday night in San Jose
    Tue, 19 May 2026
  • Ignacio Defeats Malayan to Claim Title and USD 10,000 Prize
    By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 19 May 2026
  • USA Boxing Elite High Performance Squad Dominates Day One of 2026 Copa America with 11-0 Record
    Tue, 19 May 2026
  • Reina Tellez Returns to the Ring Following World Title Challenge Against Amanda Serrano
    Mon, 18 May 2026
  • Mombay, Garras top Helubong 50km Uphill Ultra Challenge
    By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 18 May 2026
  • Arijan Goricki Knocks Out Hassan Ndonga in Nairobi
    Mon, 18 May 2026
  • USA Boxing's High Performance Squad Sets Sights on Gold at 2026 Copa America
    Mon, 18 May 2026
  • Team Sugar Rush wins Sir Jessie Villasin Chess Team 2X2 Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 18 May 2026
  • Paolo Gallito, 6 others in the last 16 in Malaysia
    By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 17 May 2026
  • Keyshawn Davis Returns Home With Decision Win Over Nahir Albright
    Sun, 17 May 2026
  • Heartbreak in Johannesburg: Jerusalem Dethroned by Kuse in Bloody Rematch
    By Dong Secuya, Sun, 17 May 2026
  • Roy Jones Jr. Blasts Dana White and Zuffa’s Push to Reshape Boxing During Explosive “Boxing Primetime Show” Interview
    Sat, 16 May 2026