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Navarrete Drops Villa Twice,
Grabs WBO Featherweight Belt
By William Trillo
Photos: Mikey Williams - Top Rank
If you are looking for a fighter who would fail every
test The Marques of Queensbury has to offer, then you
need look no further than featherweight Emanuel
Navarrete (32-1, 27 KO’s). On the contrary, if you seek
a fighter with an extensive and pedigreed amateur
career, take a look at Ruben Villa (18-1, 5 KO’s). Now
throw everything you know out with yesterday’s news.
That’s right the awkward Navarrete manhandled Villa,
dropped him twice and left The Bubble with the vacant
World Boxing Organization World Feather Title in his
possession.
Navarrete is an anomaly. He throws and lands punches
that come from strange and ill-advised angles and
somehow makes it all work. He hit Villa with shots in
the first and fourth rounds that Villa never saw coming.
There is really no way to prepare for a fighter like
Navarrte and it’s even more difficult to del with him
once you step inside his office.
Credit to Villa who was game and went the distance. He
did his best but, in all honesty, the light fisted
puncher never really stood a chance.
On his fight Navarrete remarked, "I knew that Villa was
a fighter that moved a lot and I knew that he was going
to move even more once he felt my power. I didn't get
the knockout, but I got the victory. I'm very happy with
this championship. It's a reflection of all the
sacrifices and all the hard work I put in. I conquered
my second weight class because of all that hard work. I
have my sights set on all the world champions at 126. I
would love to face {Josh} Warrington. I think that our
styles will make for a great fight.”
Middleweight Zhanibek Alimkhanuly (9-0, 5 KO’s)
demolished Gonzalo Gaston Coria (16-4, 6 KO’s) in the
second round of a bout that had the vacant World Boxing
Organization Global Middle Title up for grabs.
Alimkhanulyhit Coria with a sharp right hand and then
followed that up with a crushing left that sent Coria
into the ropes and down for the count. Officially this
one came to a grinding halt at the 59 second mark of
round two.
Asked what’s next for him Zhanibek stated, “I want to
fight a world champion soon, like Demetrius Andrade and
Jermall Charlo. Canelo, of course. Top Rank promotes
Ryota Murata 160. I want to fight him as well. Whoever
the top guys are 160, I want them next.”
Super lightweight Light Elvis Rodriguez (10-0-1, 10
KO’s) had no problem with Cameron Krael (17-17-3, 4
KO’s). Elvis hurt Krael to the body with a wicked right
hook in round two. In round three Elvis moved that same
hook upstairs and at the 53 second mark Krael hit the
deck and decided it was best to take the ten count. Keep
an eye on Rodriguez this kid is a sure-fire hit. Just
know that a slew of stupid Elvis (Presley) puns are sure
to follow. Consider yourselves warned.
After his performance Elvis said, "I feel very happy
with this performance. This was my first eight-round
fight, and things went way better than expected. I knew
that I was facing a tough opponent who had only been
stopped once, but I also knew that I had put all the
hard work in the gym. My goal is to keep bringing up the
flag of the Dominican Republic. That's what I sacrifice
for. I do it for my people. This was a big win, and
there will be more to come."
It was a battle of undefeated Middleweights as Lorenzo
Simpson (7-0, 5 KO’s) took on Sanny Duversonne (11-1-2,
8 KO’s) in an eight-round attraction. The fight turned
out to be a yawner. Simpson showed good skills but he
could have done more against an overmatched foe. Final
scores all in favor of Simpson read 79-73 and 78-73 x 2.
Lightweight Bryan Lua (7-0, 3 KO’s) got in six good
rounds of work against a punch stingy Nelson Colon (4-4,
3 KO’s). Lua who looked sharp in his first six rounder
appears ready to take the next step in his promising
career. Scores of 60-54 from all the judges gave Lua an
impressive unanimous decision victory.
Featherweight Rashiem Jefferson (3-0) opened a cut on
the left eye of Steve Garagarza (2-3-1, 1 KO) in round
three of a fight Jefferson was in complete control of.
Scores of 40-36 across the board were indicative of a
one-sided fight.
Super Welterweight Kahshad Elliott had an impressive pro
debut as he KO’d Akeem Jackson (1-2, 1 KO) ay the 70
second mark of round one. Body shots from Elliot were
too much for Jackson.
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