Emanuel Navarrete vs. Oscar Valdez Fight Card, Odds, & Predictions

The first WBO World Super Featherweight title defense of Emanuel Navarrete (37-1) goes down this Saturday, Aug. 12, inside Desert Diamond Arena in Arizona, as he tries to fend off the challenge from the former WBO Featherweight and WBC Super Featherweight champion Oscar Valdez (31-1). Navarrete comes in as the betting underdog in boxing odds at +138, as Valdez takes the betting favorite role at -160.

A classic in the making 🇲🇽#NavarreteValdez | AUG 12 | @ESPN pic.twitter.com/Ieo34JFNHz

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) August 7, 2023

Despite his most recent super featherweight title victory over Liam Wilson in their title showdown in February 2023, in which he won via ninth-round TKO, Navarrete is still the underdog against Valdez, as this is only his second career bout in the 130-pound division. On the other hand, Valdez already had six previous fights in the weight class and only lost one at the hands of Shakur Stevenson.

Emanuel Navarrete Recent Fight Results

Emanuel Navarrete began his pro boxing career as a bantamweight in February 2012 and gradually moved up in weight. He needed 26 wins (including 23 TKO/KOs) and six years to earn his first major title opportunity against Isaac Dogboe in December 2018 for the WBO World Super Bantamweight title, and he made it count by beating him unanimously.

Following that title triumph, “Vaquero” made five successive defenses before moving up to the featherweight division in June 2020 and won five bouts, including another belt, the WBO World Featherweight title. Navarrete sustained this success when he moved into the super featherweight division again by beating Wilson via ninth-round TKO in February 2023 to capture the vacant WBO World Super Featherweight title.

The fighting cowboy is back 🤠#NavarreteValdez | AUG 12 | @ESPN pic.twitter.com/K3kgCNn6GA

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) August 7, 2023

Oscar Valdez Recent Fight Results

Oscar Valdez was a former Olympic boxer who competed during the 2012 edition of the international sports festival in London before transitioning to the paid ranks in November 2012. It only took 19 victories with 17 stoppages for Valdez to secure a world title shot in July 2017, where he secured the TKO victory over Matias Rueda in the second round to win the vacant WBO World Featherweight title.

The 32-year-old from Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, made six straight title defenses before relinquishing the WBO belt to compete in the super featherweight division. In February 2021, Valdez knocked out Miguel Berchelt in the 10th round to win the WBC World Super Featherweight title, then fended off the challenge from Robson Conceicao in September 2021.

Because of this incredible campaign, he was rewarded with a WBO-WBC World Super Featherweight Unification fight with Stevenson in April 2022. Unfortunately, Valdez lost via one-sided unanimous decision. 13 months after that first pro career defeat, Valdez bounced back against Adam Lopez, whom he beat via unanimous decision in May 2023.

Eyes on the prize 🏆@OscarValdez56 x #NavarreteValdez pic.twitter.com/J4siiFhZ09

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) August 8, 2023

Emanuel Navarrete vs. Oscar Valdez: Tale of the Tape

Emanuel Navarrete vs. Oscar Valdez: Fight Analysis

Emmanuel Navarrete will have two inches of height and six inches of reach advantage against Oscar Valdez in their upcoming WBO Super Featherweight clash. The former also enjoys four years of youth at 28 compared to the latter, who’s already 32. Both have one loss on their record and are fighting in an orthodox stance. Furthermore, they have a high TKO/KO rate, with Navarette boasting an 83% and Valdez not far behind with 74%.

The age gap between Navarrete and Valdez is a double-edged sword because, despite the four-year prime edge of Navarrete, he gives up a four-year experience to Valdez, which is already considered a big factor in the sport. Additionally, as mentioned earlier, Valdez is the more natural super featherweight who competed more in the 130-pound weight class than Navarrete.

Stylistically, both are aggressive boxers with a lot of power on their hands, but there is a glaring difference in the approach. The defending champion employs his attack from the outside, maximizing his reach advantage over his opponents. He also has awkward footwork that can help him sneak a quick punch in close-distance exchanges.

Navarrete swarms with combinations from different angles, often catching foes off guard. Although he doesn’t have great speed in his punches, it is enough to land them right on the money. Some of his signature power punches are the left hook, right straight, and a left uppercut.

Meanwhile, the challenger will bring the intelligent, fundamental, and technical style that made him a former champion in the division. Valdez is a more complete fighter than Navarrete because he can adjust his strategy accordingly mid-fight, depending on the approach of his opponents. However, there is a factor that the 32-year-old should be aware of.

Father time must’ve caught up with Valdez, which is evident in his last three performances. He couldn’t score a knockdown in those three fights, a very unusual sight for a Valdez fight. Although Stevenson defeated him, he should have at least scored a stoppage wins against Conceicao and Lopez.

Emanuel Navarrete vs. Oscar Valdez: Date and Start Time

August 12, 2023, 8 p.m. PT

August 12, 2023, 10 p.m. CT

August 12, 2023, 11 p.m. ET

Emanuel Navarrete vs. Oscar Valdez: Fight Prediction

Official Prediction: Unanimous decision victory for Emanuel Navarrete.

See the entire Emanuel Navarrete vs. Oscar Valdez odds and wagers here.