Emanuel Navarrete and Rey Vargas might grow to be three-division champions inside an eight-day span this month.
The Mexican veterans by no means fought after they owned world titles within the 122-pound and 126-pound divisions, however Vargas thinks a title unification bout versus Navarrete is a minimum of a risk in the event that they win their upcoming fights for unclaimed 130-pound championships.
Navarrete (36-1, 30 KOs), of San Juan Zitlaltepec, Mexico, will sq. off in opposition to Australia’s Liam Wilson (11-1, 7 KOs) on Friday night time for the vacant WBO junior light-weight title. ESPN will televise Navarrete-Wilson because the 12-round major occasion of a tripleheader from Desert Diamond Enviornment in Glendale, Arizona (10 p.m. ET; 7 p.m. PT).
Navarrete was imagined to oppose Oscar Valdez for a title Shakur Stevenson misplaced on the size 4 months in the past, however Valdez suffered an undisclosed harm early in December. Mexico’s Valdez (30-1, 23 KOs), a former WBO featherweight and WBO junior light-weight champ, was changed by Wilson as a result of Wilson was the WBO’s subsequent out there main contender within the 130-pound division.
Vargas (36-0, 22 KOs), of Otumba, Mexico, will face O’Shaquie Foster (19-2, 11 KOs), of Orange, Texas, for the vacant WBC tremendous featherweight title, the opposite championship Stevenson misplaced when he got here in obese the day earlier than he beat Brazil’s Robson Conceicao by unanimous resolution of their 12-rounder September 23 at Prudential Middle in Newark, New Jersey. Showtime will televise Vargas-Foster on February 11 because the 12-round major occasion of a tripleheader from Alamodome in San Antonio.
“It in all probability might [happen], sure,” Vargas mentioned by means of a translator when requested about boxing Navarrete throughout a digital press convention not too long ago. “That’s one thing that has been talked about ever since we had been at 122, once we had been at 126. If it does occur at 130, it will be one thing that may be thrilling to Mexican followers. I’m conscious of it. However proper now, let’s deal with this battle as a result of it’s all within the current.”
Bob Arum’s Prime Rank Inc., which promotes Valdez and Navarrete, intends to reschedule Navarrete-Valdez if the closely favored Navarrete wins Friday night time. Vargas, who nonetheless holds the WBC featherweight title he gained by edging the Philippines’ Mark Magsayo (24-1, 16 KOs) in his final battle, isn’t sure he’ll stay within the 130-pound division even when he beats Foster, the WBC’s primary contender within the 130-pound division.
Caesars Sportsbook lists Vargas as a 20-1 favourite to beat Wilson. Vargas is a 3-1 favourite to defeat Foster, based on Caesars Sportsbook.
Navarrete, 28, and Vargas, 32, each will seem on the junior light-weight restrict of 130 kilos for the primary time of their upcoming championship bouts.
Keith Idec is a senior author/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He may be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.