Philippines, 23 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Press Conference Notes: Emanuel Navarrete-Oscar Valdez Sequel Headlines Night of World Championship Rematches in Phoenix

PhilBoxing.com





Navarrete-Valdez 2 & Rafael Espinoza-Robeisy Ramirez 2 will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ SATURDAY beginning at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT

PHOENIX, Ariz. (Dec. 5, 2024) — Two world title rematches are set to light up The Grand Canyon State, with legacies and redemption on the line.

Three-division champion Emanuel “El Vaquero” Navarrete (38-2-1, 31 KOs) defends his WBO junior lightweight world title against former two-division king Oscar Valdez (32-2, 24 KOs) in an all-Mexican main event this Saturday, Dec. 7, at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

Navarrete aims for a knockout in the sequel, while the Eddy Reynoso-trained Valdez believes he can turn the tables and become a three-time world champion.

In the co-feature, Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) defends his WBO featherweight world title against Cuba’s Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez (14-2, 9 KOs), the man he unseated one year ago to seize the crown.

Espinoza looks to prove that his title-winning effort was no fluke, while Ramirez is eager to show what he can do at his best after personal issues hindered his preparation for their first encounter.

Navarrete-Valdez 2 & Ramirez-Espinoza 2 will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT.

The ESPN+-streamed undercard begins at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT and includes the return of unbeaten Mexican junior welterweight contender Lindolfo Delgado (21-0, 15 KOs), who will face Jackson Marinez (22-3, 10 KOs) in a 10-round clash.

U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. (11-0, 10 KOs) makes his fourth appearance of the year in an eight-round heavyweight tilt against once-beaten Mexican Issac Muñoz (18-1-1, 15 KOs), while welterweight contender Giovani Santillan (32-1, 17 KOs) looks to bounce back from his first pro defeat in a 10-rounder versus Fredrick Lawson (30-5, 22 KOs).

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets are still available via Ticketmaster.com.

This is what the fighters had to say at Thursday's press conference.

Emanuel Navarrete

“We all know that we both plan to come out and give a war and leave everything in the ring again. And what better way to do it than by having a co-main event that's gonna eat things up?”

“The bar is gonna be set really high and so we're gonna have to try to do better than that. It's gonna be hard especially with these two great people {Espinoza and Ramirez} right next to us. It's gonna be difficult for both me and Valdez. However, we don't need much. All we need is for the bell to ring for us to go to war.”

“I'm focused 100 percent on him. I haven't thought about anything beyond Valdez. And now he's coming with a different strategy. The first fight helped us learn about each other. And now we will use the tools that we extracted from the first fight. And, aside from using our experience with each other, we will also come with the same heart as last time. And so, I can't say much, but no doubt it will be not just a fight but an epic event, especially with the co-main before us."

Oscar Valdez

“The {Liam Wilson fight} was very important for me because boxing penalizes you if you have a lot of losses. It’s not like other sports where you can lose and you can do better in the next season. In boxing, most people don’t want to see you again after a couple of losses. So, doing that fight was very important for me. That’s why there was so much emotion for me after that fight. And that fight got me the ticket for this rematch.”

“This is not an easy fight. This is a hard task. But nothing in life that is worth it is going to be easy. It’s always going to be hard. So, we trained hard. I’m excited for this. I’m excited to face the great ‘Vaquero' once again. It’s going to be a great fight.”

"I visualized this. I feel I can do a lot more in the sport. After I lost, I went back home and was obviously sad and disappointed in my performance. But then you go back to the gym, and you start to work out. Then, you start to see that you can do better. So, you have to visualize it first. And now we are here. Let’s get it on.”



Rafael Espinoza

“God's timing is perfect. We waited a bit for the rematch, but now we are here. And like I've said since the first fight, I've always wanted a rematch. because it was a war where we both gave everything. So, he deserved it, I deserved it, and the people deserved it."

“Knowing you are a champion affects you mentally. As a champion, you know that you have a big commitment, and so I've become a better person and a better fighter as a result, and I'm enjoying it.”

“Yes, we all know about my height advantage, but I also have another advantage, and that's my heart. So, I'm going to show my heart by giving everything in the ring this Saturday.”

Robeisy Ramirez

“Well, it's no secret that we're not the only fighters here. The main event will also be a war. So I'm happy to be here. I'm excited to be with these champs here. And overall, we want the public to enjoy this event.”

“I think that to mention things from the past right now is unnecessary because it sounds like excuses, and I will never give excuses in this sport. Simply put, I think that I learned how you should fight when you're not at 100% physically and mentally.”

“It was very nice to see my parents again recently. It had been six years. It's no secret that I can't return to Cuba, and so it filled me with a lot of satisfaction to be able to see them, to embrace them, to spend time with them, and I hope that after this victory, I can repeat that as soon as possible.”

Lindolfo Delgado

“{My last bout against Bryan Flores} was not easy. It was a tough fight. I’m happy with the result. I’m happy it ended that way because it took me out of my comfort zone and pushed me to be better, work harder, and prepare for what is next.”

“This is what I’ve been waiting for. I’m focused on my fight because I know it’s a tough fight. I’m looking for an opportunity at a world title. I have what it takes to fight against anyone and against any of those champs. I’m just waiting for that opportunity.”

Richard Torrez Jr.

"I was saying I don't care about {the knockout streak}, but in the Uber back to the hotel from the venue {following a DQ win in September}, the driver asked me, 'What's your record?' I was like 11-0 with, oh, 10 knockouts. So, that does kind of sting a little bit. But, at the end of the day, I'm here to win, and I'm here to put on good performances. I did that last time, and I'm looking to continue doing that."

"{Muñoz} is rated the number one heavyweight in Mexico. He's been on the amateur scene for a while, and he knows what he's doing. I'm really excited for this fight."

"Every time I train, I train for a world championship fight. I don't train for the opponent. I train to be the best boxer I can be, and on Saturday night, you will see that."

Giovani Santillan

"Losing is tough, but it's part of the sport. And that's what I signed up for, to take on the hard, tough fights. Sometimes you lose, but that one loss is not going to hold me back from getting to where I want to get to."

"Ever since I went back to camp, everyone has been supportive. They all believe in me, and since then, it's been about working on strategy and game plan for this fight. But also my preparation. A lot of it has to do with my weight cut and things like that."

"That's the way I was raised by my dad. Sometimes, you fall, but you get back up and keep going. That's the mentality I've had since {my defeat}."

Saturday, December 7

ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ (10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT)


Emanuel Navarrete vs. Oscar Valdez, 12 rounds, Navarrete's WBO Junior Lightweight World Title

Rafael Espinoza vs. Robeisy Ramirez, 12 rounds, Espinoza's WBO Featherweight World Title


ESPN+ (5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT)

Lindolfo Delgado vs. Jackson Marinez, 10 rounds, Delgado's WBO Latino Junior Welterweight Title

Richard Torrez Jr. vs. Issac Muñoz, 8 rounds, Torrez's Jr. NABF Heavyweight Title

Albert Gonzalez vs. Gerardo Antonio Perez, 8 rounds, featherweight

Steven Navarro vs. Gabriel Bernardi, 6 rounds, junior bantamweight

Giovani Santillan vs. Fredrick Lawson, 10 rounds, welterweight

Art Barrera Jr. vs. Juan Carlos Campos Medina, 6 rounds, welterweight

Cesar Morales vs. Kevin Mosquera, 4 rounds, lightweight

DJ Zamora vs. Roman Ruben Reynoso, 8 rounds, junior lightweight




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • SD FIGHT NIGHT: FAMILY BUSINESS DOUBLE MAIN EVENTS SET AS JULIUS “JUJU” BALLO SQAURES OFF AGAINST ROMAN REYES AT FRONTWAVE ARENA ON SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2026
    , Mon, 23 Mar 2026
  • "I'M A MAN OF MY WORD": GEORGE LIDDARD COMPLETES MATCHROOM BRENTWOOD HALF MARATHON FOR CHARITY – HOURS AFTER DENNY WIN
    , Mon, 23 Mar 2026
  • Lester Martinez Wins WBC Interim World Super Middleweight Championship with Unanimous Decision over Immanuwel Aleem
    , Sun, 22 Mar 2026
  • IBF Pan Pacific champion Vince Paras set to face unbeaten OPBF champion Aoi Yokoyama in Kyrgyzstan
    , Sun, 22 Mar 2026
  • King James sets NBA all-time record for most games played
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 22 Mar 2026
  • Loaded boxing schedule
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 22 Mar 2026
  • WEIGHTS, IMAGES, RUNNING ORDER AND THE LAST WORDS AHEAD OF ADAMES VS. WILLIAMS IN ORLANDO
    , Sat, 21 Mar 2026
  • COPPER BOX ARENA FIGHT NIGHT: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS LIDDARD AND DENNY FACE-OFF FOR FINAL TIME
    , Sat, 21 Mar 2026
  • Weights From ‘Martinez vs. Aleem’ Event from the NOS Event Center in San Bernardino and Broadcast live on ProBoxTV
    , Sat, 21 Mar 2026
  • Jordan Orozco Training Camp Notes
    , Sat, 21 Mar 2026
  • Towns vs. Bordin for PAT Belt; De Barbo, Nancholas, Samiei in Supporting Bouts at Brico Santig's Exciting Show in Pattaya Beach, Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • YOENIS TELLEZ TRAINING CAMP QUOTES
    , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Lebron James ties the most game played in NBA history
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Pichay supports GM Antonio's Australian chess circuit campaign
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • LIDDARD-DENNY PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES IN FULL: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AHEAD OF SATURDAY'S COPPER BOX FIGHT NIGHT
    , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: The WBC Continues the Fight for the Good of the Sport
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • AMMO: ADAMES FIGHT WILL BE EXPLOSIVE
    , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Carlos De Leon Training Camp Notes
    , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • The Highly Anticipated  Box Fan Expo Invitational 2026 Returns with A  USA Boxing Amateur Show
    , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Placibe, Sales tops Sprint Challenge
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Lester Martinez vs. Immanuwel Aleem Los Angeles Media Day Quotes
    , Thu, 19 Mar 2026
  • MAPUA, PSKAI R-10 to play in Best of Best
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 19 Mar 2026
  • IIEE Metro East dominates the 4th D’ Engineers’ Darts Cup 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 19 Mar 2026
  • LIDDARD: WHY I'M RUNNING MATCHROOM HALF MARATHON AFTER TITLE DEFENCE AGAINST DENNY
    , Thu, 19 Mar 2026
  • Press Conference Notes: DAZN and Top Rank Sign Multi-Year Rights Deal
    , Thu, 19 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.