Navarrete Powers Way to WBO Featherweight Title

Mexico’s Emanuel Navarrete jumped on Ruben Villa early and used his relentless attack to win the vacant WBO featherweight title by unanimous decision on Friday.

Navarrete (32-1, 27 KOs) took control early with punches from all angles that Northern California’s Villa (18-1, 5 KOs) found perplexing for almost half the 12 rounds before rallying at the MGM Grand Bubble in Las Vegas.

It was too late.

If not for a left uppercut from Hell in the opening round, things might have been different. But after tasting the power of that first blow the speedy southpaw Villa needed time to figure out tactics.

Then, as he began to adapt, another left by Navarrete connected and down went Villa in the fourth round. It was more than enough to mount a large lead on the score cards that kept the former super bantamweight champion in control.

Navarrete, 25, moved up to featherweight after a lengthy stay at super bantamweight and though he was the smaller man coming up, he seemed to be the stronger fighter. Villa rallied furiously in the second half of the fight but two knockdowns were too much to overcome. Even for his speed and skill.

After 12 rounds two judges scored it 114-112 and a third judge 115-111.

“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,” said Navarrete.

Mexico City’s Navarrete wants all the belts.

“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,” said Navarrete about the undefeated IBF titlist from Great Britain.

Other Results

Kazakhstan’s Zhanibek Alimkhanuly (9-0, 5 KOs) cornered Argentina’s Gonzalo Coria (16-4) early in the middleweight fight and blasted him out with a two-punch combination at 59 seconds of the second round by knockout. Alimkhanuly fights out of Oxnard, California.

Elvis Rodriguez (10-0-1, 10 KOs) stopped local Las Vegas fighter Cameron Krael (17-17-3) with a body attack in the third round. The Dominican super lightweight has never won a fight by decision and kept that distinction intact. He is trained by Freddie Roach.

Lorenzo Simpson (9-0, 5 KOs) survived a knockdown in the fifth round to defeat Sanny Duversonne (11-1-2) by unanimous decision after eight rounds of a middleweight fight. Both entered the fight undefeated. Simpson fights out of Baltimore and Duversonne is from Florida.

Bryan Lua (7-0, 3 KOs) won by unanimous decision over Nelson Colon (4-4) in a lightweight fight.

Kahshad Elliott (1-0) won his pro debut by first round knockout over Akeem Jackson (1-2) in a super welterweight match.

Rashiem Jefferson (3-0) out-pointed Steve Garagarza (2-3-1) after four rounds in a featherweight fight.

Photo credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank

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