Oscar Valdez rematches Emanuel Navarrete this weekend in Phoenix, Arizona in a rematch from last year.
A fight in which Navarrete won in August 2023 for the WBO world super-featherweight title.
Two-time world champion Valdez has been in some absolute wars in his career but is not finished yet. A great fight in Phoenix Arizona this weekend is ahead between the two.
Speaking ahead of the fight with Top Rank Boxing they said said:
“Never stop learning in boxing. You have to look at your mistakes and try to correct them for the next fight. Let’s get this party started—this is boxing, this is top-level.
Today, we’re doing a camp visit at the House of Boxing in San Diego, California, with none other than Oscar Valdez, who returns on December 7th for a rematch against Emanuel Navarrete. The WBO junior lightweight title is on the line. It’s going great—like all the camps at TR are good, but it’s great. Training is just as hard as for all the other fights. This one is a little different because I’m facing a fighter who has already beaten me once, so I have to go in there with a clear mentality, stay focused, and stick to the game plan. Overall, I just need to win.
One of the things I hardly do is watch my fights, but I have to watch this one, especially this one. I need to see my mistakes and learn from them. Never stop learning in boxing. You have to look at your mistakes and correct them for the next fight. I’m reviewing them carefully, trying to perfect them. I usually watch them in the morning because I need to bring that energy to the gym, rather than at night when I can’t sleep. I come here, get a coffee, wrap my hands, and talk a little bit before it’s time to get to work.
Nobody likes losing; everyone hates it. When I got the call asking if I wanted a rematch, I said, “Hell yeah!” I know it’s going to be a good fight because I’ve already fought him. I know what he brings—heavy punches, awkward shots, and a relentless attitude. He doesn’t give up. He’s a true warrior, but that’s why we train. I was inspired by great champions, so I want to be one of them one day. For that, I need to win this fight. This fight literally means the world to me. It’s a comeback, and it’s going to be a dream come true. I want to prove to the world that you can fall in life, you can lose, but you’re obligated to come back. You have to come back stronger. That’s life—you win some, you lose some, but you’re obligated to come back stronger.
Fight week has kicked off here in Phoenix, Arizona, as Emanuel Navarrete has arrived from San Juan, Mexico, where he trained at high altitude. Navarrete has become a fan favorite here in Phoenix after two action-packed fights. His last victory was against Oscar Valdez in August 2023, and now it’s time for the rematch.
It’s important for Navarrete to do what he always does in order to bounce back from his last fight. Now that he’s coming back at 130 lbs, he’s at a comfortable weight. Eventually, he’ll want to move back up, but for now, he’s a natural 130-pounder with no issues making that weight.
One important factor, though, is that Navarrete wants to make sure this victory is more convincing than the last one, so he’s coming for the knockout. Today, we’re doing some technical work and working on agility with footwork drills to warm him up. Once he gets on the pads, he’s going to do his thing. You can’t do what you do in the ring if you don’t physically prepare yourself from a fitness standpoint. You have to create the fitness, the strength, and the aerobic capacity so that when it’s time to showcase your skill set, you have the ability to do so. You also need to recover in between rounds, which is something we focus on in training. We want to make sure that he’s efficient with his movement, maintaining power throughout the entire fight, and we’re going to repeat that through all 12 rounds—if it goes that far.
For us, it’s a big honor—not just for me, but for everyone here. We look at him as a leader. He’s always positive and always engaging with everyone. It doesn’t matter if you have two fights or 35 fights, or if you’re a world title contender. He’s here, always spreading his knowledge, and he’s a great guy. This fight means a lot for him, but it also means a lot for us as a gym family. He’s always doing his work while keeping an eye on the other ring, helping everyone out, correcting flaws, and giving advice. I describe him as the dean of the gym—the elder statesman. Everybody appreciates him, and he coaches everyone. He’s been looking good. I’ve had the pleasure of working with him to prepare for this fight, and he’s strong. He’s definitely hungry. He had a little mishap in his last fight, but he’s coming back for it, and he’s shown it throughout the entire camp. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing this fight.
We’re doing great. It’s been an awesome camp. Roby has done his work, and it’s so different this time. He’s emotionally stable and has been working hard before and during camp. So, we’re full steam ahead. December 7, I’m coming to get my belt back.
Focus, determination, dedication—everything you would want to see in a champion, he has. This fight will definitely be one that he can showcase for years to come. He’s going to make history, do his thing, and prove who he is.”
Both are ready to go at this point.
Not many are talking about this one this weekend but its for the WBO super-featherweight title again.
Even though Valdez lost the fight time don’t write him off in this rematch, no way.
Roll on this weekend’s scraps in Arizona.
