Navarrete to defend title in Puebla, Mexico

Press Release

17/11/2019

Navarrete to defend title in Puebla, Mexico

WBO junior featherweight king Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete will make his fourth world title defense in less than seven months against Francisco “Panchito” Horta Saturday, Dec. 7th at Auditorio GNP Seguros in Puebla, Mexico. In the co-feature, Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas will make the eighth defense of his IBF junior bantamweight world title against Chile's Miguel “Aguja” Gonzalez. The opening bout will showcase former Olympian Miguel Marriaga against Alfredo Mejia Vargas in an eight-round featherweight bout. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Zanfer Promotions, the show will stream live on ESPN+, the leading multi-sport streaming service, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
 
Navarrete, from Mexico City, will fight in his home country for the first time since before he won the world title from Isaac “Royal Storm” Dogboe last December.
 
“Emanuel Navarrete is one of Mexico’s great young champions, and he’s only getting started,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “At 24 years of age, he is wise beyond his years and hungry to challenge himself against the very best. He’ll have defended his belt four times in 2019, and 2020 is shaping up to be another spectacular year for Vaquero.”
 
“I am very excited to close the year by defending my world title in my beloved Mexico,” Navarrete said. “This will be another dream that will be fulfilled, and I assure you another exciting fight. I always go for the knockout. I think it is best to win by knockout, and on Dec. 7th, the fans in Puebla will see another action-packed fight from 'El Vaquero.'”
 
“On Dec. 7th, the fans will get to know who I am. This will be guaranteed war because we are both Mexican warriors,” Horta said. “This is a golden opportunity. Definitely a dream that will come true sooner than expected. I will dispute the world title against the best 122-pounder in the world, Emanuel Navarrete. I will win the title at any cost.” Horta (20-3-1, 10 KOs), from Campeche, Mexico, is unbeaten in 13 fights dating back to 2014.
 
Navarrete (29-1, 25 KOs) made his United States debut last December against Dogboe, but in 2019, he has crisscrossed the western part of the country knocking out top opposition. He repeated the deed in May against Dogboe in Tucson, Ariz., scoring a twelfth-round stoppage. In August, headlining the inaugural fight card at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, he stopped the then-unbeaten Francisco De Vaca in three rounds. Four weeks later, he knocked out Filipino contender Juan Miguel Elorde in four. The 
 
Ancajas (31-1-2, 21 KOs), one of boxing’s longest-reigning world champions, was scheduled to fight Jonathan Rodriguez on Nov. 2nd in Carson, Calif., but Rodriguez had to withdraw on Thursday of fight week due to visa issues. Ancajas, the Filipino star who won his world title in September 2016, remained in America to prepare for Gonzalez. Ancajas last fought May 4th in Stockton, Calif., knocking out Japanese challenger Ryuichi Funai in six rounds. This will be Ancajas’ first professional bout in Mexico. Gonzalez (31-2, 8 KOs), from Santiago, Chile, has fought only once outside of his home country. He has won two in a row since dropping a WBA title eliminator earlier this year to Australian standout Andrew Moloney. 
 
“I am ready to defend my world title in front of the great Mexican fans,” Ancajas said. “Since my fight against Rodriguez was canceled, I’ve stayed in America to train, and I am in fantastic shape. Gonzalez is a worthy challenger and has beaten good opposition to earn this title shot.”
 
“This is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for,” Gonzalez said. “Ancajas is a great champion, but this is my time.”