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Real. Valdez will have to overcome Navarrete’s size and power with better movement than he showed in their first meeting if he wants to become a three-time world champion. But you can do it.
Navarrete, the weight champion superpluma of the WBO, handed Valdez a second professional defeat when he defended the WBO title. OMB with a unanimous decision over his fellow Mexican in August 2023. Navarrete used his two-inch height and six-inch reach advantages in their first fight to keep Valdez at bay, so Valdez must adopt a smart game plan to prevent the rematch from becoming another punishing defeat.
“I was a little disappointed with my performance against Navarrete,” Valdez told ESPN earlier this year. “He’s a weird fighter, a volume puncher… I made some mistakes and I would change some things looking back, but you learn from your mistakes.”
And Valdez has the technique and movement to avoid making the same mistakes in the rematch.
The 2012 Olympian responded by defeating Liam Wilson by knockout in the seventh round in March. If Valdez, who had a reign with six defenses as champion of featherweight of WBO (2016-2019) and made a defense as WBC super featherweight champion, takes a more patient approach to boxing and moving, can nullify Navarrete’s threat and win a decision.
Much will also depend on how comfortable Navarrete feels dropping to 130 pounds after last boxing at 135 against. Denys Berinchyk. Navarrete is also not in convincing shape, having lost a split decision to Berinchyk for the WBO belt in May. In his last defense of the title, Navarrete had a majority tie with Robson Conceicao a year ago. Navarrete’s work rate was lower than usual against Berinchyk, and losing weight could affect his energy levels. — Parkinson
Real. There is too much money at stake and too much interest in a third fight for it not to happen.
A trilogy fight could be the biggest prize possible for Taylor and Serrano after they delivered another classic encounter earlier this month. Due to the unprecedented exposure that her second fight received for women’s boxing, as main support for the victory of Jake Paul on Mike Tyson On November 15, the potential income of Taylor vs. Serrano 3along with controversial results in its first two fights, make it likely to be one of the biggest boxing events, whether men’s or women’s, in 2025.
Serrano complained about the judges’ decision in the rematch (95-94 on all three scorecards), and also about Taylor’s use of the head early in the fight, which left the Puerto Rican based in New York with a gruesome cut over his right eye. The striking statistics certainly suggest that Serrano was more accurate with a higher work rate, but the rounds were close and Taylor landed harder punches late in the fight. “I’m 100% interested,” Serrano said after the fight about a third fight. Many thought he also deserved to get the decision in the first fight in April 2022, which was awarded to Taylor via split decision.
Taylor, the undisputed champion of super light weightmight have a 2-0 record against Serrano, but due to the debate surrounding both decisions, there is a real appetite for a third fight. It also makes financial sense, as both fighters reportedly received more than $6 million in prize money at the largest women’s boxing event in history, broadcast to approximately 74 million live viewers worldwide on Netflix.
Serrano, 36, is already trying to persuade Taylor for a longer fight (three-minute rounds instead of the two-minute rounds established for women’s boxing, and 12 rounds instead of 10). If Serrano gets his wish, the trilogy fight will take place at a slower pace, which Serrano believes suits him.
But Serrano might have to travel to Taylor’s native Ireland to make this happen. Taylor, 38, has little time left in the sport, and one of the few things left for him to do is fight at the outdoor Croke Park in Dublin. Previous attempts to organize a Taylor fight in the Croke Parkwith a capacity of 82,300, have not been successful, but there is plenty of time for Taylor’s promoter in Matchroom, Eddie Hearntry again. Their first two fights took place at New York’s Madison Square Garden and AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, respectively, but the venue for a third fight will likely be outside the United States, with Dublin and Saudi Arabia the main contenders. .
“I would love a fight in the Croke Park“But we’ll see what happens,” Taylor said. “If she wants a third fight, I can give it to her without hesitation.” — Parkinson
Real or not: William Zepeda will be Shakur Stevenson’s toughest test yet
Real. When the fight will materialize is another question, after Zepeda’s trainer revealed that the fighter suffered an arm injury in his most recent fight and will not be available for the proposed February 22 showdown in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
There were originally talks to face Stevenson in a title defense. lightweight of the WBC against Zepeda in October, but the Mexican was unavailable due to the birth of his son. Zepeda finished with a split decision victory earlier this month over Tevin Farmer in his toughest test yet, as Farmer surprisingly floored Zepeda with a strong right counter during the fight.
Farmer was selected because, like Stevenson, he is a defensive-minded lefty. Zepeda’s difficulties have led to doubts that he can present the more talented Stevenson with a difficult test.
Unlike Stevenson, Farmer will stay on the short end and keep fighting; He was able to hold his own against Zepeda, a pressure fighter, and even pushed him back.
While Stevenson was able to limit Zepeda’s blistering production using his excellent footwork and jab, Zepeda’s roughing tactics, non-stop pressure and top-notch body shots should present Stevenson with a formidable challenge. Of course, considering that Stevenson has easily bested every opponent he has faced, as well as Edwin Delos Santosthat doesn’t say much.— Coppinger
Real or not: Vergil Ortiz Jr. to face Terence Crawford on February card in Riyadh
It’s not real. Ortiz will likely fight Jaron “Boots” Ennis, the welterweight champion who would move up to super welterweight for his first real test.
Ortiz is coming off his best win yet, a disputed decision victory over Serhii Bohachuk in a give and take in August. Ennis, for his part, scored a unanimous decision victory earlier this month over Karen Chukhadjian.
Both fighters have their flaws, and this fight would represent a true toss-up showdown between two rising stars in their prime. Ortiz and Ennis are there to take hits and are also among the best offensive fighters in the sport, making this a can’t-miss matchup if it comes to fruition for the proposed February 22 supercard in Riyadh.
And the winner would be well positioned in the suddenly talent-packed 154-pound division, headlined by Crawford, who won a title in his division debut in August over Israil Madrimov. Madrimov is scheduled to fight Bohachuk on the preliminary card of Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury on December 21, and a fight between the winners of both matchups is a natural for later in 2025.— Coppinger