Emanuel Navarrete Welcomes Unique Style Challenge Ahead of Title Defense
Emanuel Navarrete, who thrives on the excitement of captivating fights, has taken his career to new heights with a career-best victory against Oscar Valdez. Now, he's gearing up for a different kind of challenge in his upcoming WBO junior lightweight title defense against Olympic Gold medalist and veteran contender Robson Conceicao. "What I find intriguing about this fight is that Robson Conceicao brings a unique style to the table, unlike anyone I've faced before," Navarrete shared with BoxingScene.com. "True champions learn to adapt to various styles, so I eagerly anticipate this challenge." Navarrete's bout against Conceicao will be televised live on ESPN, serving as the lead-in to the Shakur Stevenson-Edwin De Los Santos WBC lightweight title bout on November 16. This doubleheader event will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. This fight marks the third clash for Mexico's Navarrete (38-1, 30 KOs) in 2023, each against significantly different opponents. The year kicked off with a spectacular ninth-round knockout of Australia's Liam Wilson, a victory that earned Navarrete the WBO junior lightweight title and made him a three-division champion. The renowned fighter then secured a clear-cut decision win over Oscar Valdez, a two-time Olympian and former two-division champion, in a fight hosted at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. Now, Navarrete faces Brazil's Conceicao (17-2, 8 KOs), a three-time Olympian and the first boxer from his nation to claim a Gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Conceicao's only two defeats have come on the championship stage, with a competitive loss to Valdez and a less competitive decision loss to Stevenson, who missed weight ahead of their WBC/WBO title clash last September. Navarrete, riding a 33-fight winning streak, with a perfect 12-0 record in title fights spanning three weight divisions, views the victory over Valdez as the start of a career-defining journey. The pairing of the Stevenson-De Los Santos fight with his own contest could pave the way for a future bout between Navarrete and Stevenson, both under Top Rank. Navarrete harbors long-term dreams of capturing titles in a fourth, and possibly fifth, division. For now, his immediate focus is to further unify the division, and he has his sights set on the skillful WBC junior lightweight titlist O'Shaquie Foster (21-2, 12 KOs) as a potential next opponent. The preparation for Conceicao brings unique challenges and opportunities for Navarrete. "In some sense, this is good preparation for the fighters I could face in 2024," he admitted. "Obviously, how I prepare for this fight will be slightly different than how I train for someone like O'Shaquie Foster. There are certain similarities, but it's not like we can have the exact same training camp for every opponent." Navarrete and his team approach every opponent with the utmost seriousness, tailoring their techniques to match the specific style of their adversary. This training camp has been no exception, given the distinctive style that Conceicao brings to the table. Navarrete's dedication to honing his skills and adapting to new challenges continues to drive his success in the ring.
