Liam Wilson has flown midway world wide for his first main title shot however will really feel proper at residence within the ring.
On deck for the visiting Australian is a harmful showdown versus Emanuel Navarrete. The 2 will meet for the vacant WBO junior light-weight title this Friday (ESPN, 10:00 p.m. ET) at Desert Diamond Area in Glendale, Arizona.
The bout is the primary within the 130-pound division for Navarrete, a two-division and reigning WBO featherweight titlist who strikes up in weight for his newest title alternative. Wilson (11-1, 7KOs) has campaigned at junior light-weight or heavier all through his five-year profession and can a minimum of have a pure measurement benefit over Mexico’s Navarrete.
“He’s a two-weight world champion, he positively has extra expertise than me,” Wilson acknowledged to BoxingScene.com. “However he’s the one coming as much as my weight division and he’ll discover somebody who’s stronger than him for the primary time in his profession. I simply have to verify I’m match and prepared for twelve, which I’m.
However the best way I really feel, I’m coming to knock Navarrete out.”
It stays to be seen if greater is best throughout this Friday’s ESPN predominant occasion for Wilson. The 26-year-old Queensland native is listed at +650 in accordance with bet365 forward of his U.S. debut and first main title combat. In reality, he barely has extra professional fights (12) than Navarrete—a -1100 favourite—has title wins (10-0 by two weight divisions).
Wilso has completed his due diligence in making ready for the chance. He has spent the higher a part of the previous two months coaching in Washington D.C. to acclimate to the time distinction and acquire higher sparring than he’s usually afforded again residence. He enters the combat having received his final two begins, together with a second-round knockout of Philippines’ Joe Noynay final March to avenge his lone profession defeat eight months prior. He has not fought since a ten-round win over former title challenger Matias Rueda final June 29 in Brisbane, although he was already making ready for a conflict with England’s Archie Sharp earlier than getting the decision to exchange an injured Oscar Valdez (30-1, 22KOs) for Friday’s title alternative.
Most observers consider it’s a mere formality that Navarrete—who has received titles at 122- and 126-pounds—will emerge as a three-division champion this weekend. Wilson is nicely conscious of these dismissing his probabilities and the talents and intangibles he brings to this stage.
“I’m nicely conscious of his accolades,” famous Wilson. “I really feel assured in my perception that my boxing is way superior to his. I do know he’s a tricky fighter however it’s nothing that I haven’t seen earlier than.”
Jake Donovan is a senior author for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox