By: Sean Crose
The vacant WBO world junior light-weight title can be on the road tonight as Emmanuel Navarrete takes on Liam Wilson on the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. The 36-1 Navarrete is seeking to win his third title in three weight courses whereas the 11-1 Wilson is seeking to shock the world. This is actually the chance of a lifetime for the Australian fighter. Navarrete was alleged to face Oscar Valdez this night, however a Valdez damage stored that combat from occurring. Wilson then discovered alternative knocking at his door. With that being mentioned, there’s been some drama afoot within the leadup to the opening bell on Friday night time.
Team Wilson was suspicious that the scales had been rigged at Thursday’s weigh in. “It all lines up for him,” Wilson mentioned to ABC sports activities, “not making weight and they’ve obviously tampered with the scales and made him make weight.” Add all this to the truth that this can be Wilson’s first bout exterior his homeland and it’s comprehensible that stress ranges are excessive. The man must be his finest within the ring, nevertheless, as Navarrete, whose solely loss occurred over ten years in the past, is aware of methods to carry the warmth. What’s extra, solely six of his 36 victories haven’t ended earlier than the ultimate bell.
Wilson claims that the incident with the size (the place he weighted in fairly mild and Navarrete simply made weight) reveals that his opponent hasn’t been taking him as significantly as he ought to. “What I take from it is,” says Wilson, “he’s either overlooked me, or he hasn’t prepared like a true champion.” One factor is for certain, it’s Navarrete who is anticipated to win on Friday. In fact, the decided Wilson could also be broadly seen as a final minute substitute, nothing extra. Of course, it’s as much as Wilson to show the naysayers incorrect. If he can.
Navarrete was final within the ring again in August, when he dusted Eduardo Baez with a physique blow. Wilson, alternatively, was final noticed two months earlier, when he decisioned Adrian Rueda in June. Should Navarrete win as he’s anticipated to this night, he can probably stay up for lastly sharing the ring with Valdez. Should Wilson pull of the upset – he’ll be the toast of the combat recreation. It’s price noting that Navarrete was himself an underdog preventing for the primary time exterior his homeland when he bested Isaac Dogboe in 2018.
