At the beginning of 2023, the vacant WBO (or WBC) super flyweight title (up to 59 kg) will go to the winner of a tough Mexican cabal. According to
ESPNthe fight between Emanuel Navarrete (36-1, 30 KOs) and Oscar Valdes (30-1, 23 KOs) is almost agreed.
Last month, American unified world champion Shakur Stevenson lost his WBC and WBO belts at the weigh-ins, after which he announced a move to lightweight. Earlier, however, it was already reported that another Mexican featherweight champion would fight for the vacated WBC belt: Vargas was going to conquer the third weight division.
Navarrete and Valdez have two conquered weight categories each. Both stand for Top Rank Bob Arum, a promoter with excellent connections to the WBO – it is almost certain that the Mexicans will play this particular “Stevenson Belt”. Arum himself confirmed that “the contract for the fight has not yet been signed, but this is a matter of time.”
Navarrete had never competed in 59 kg before. But in terms of anthropometry, he is much taller and handier than Valdez. Oscar is a former WBC champion at 59 kg. In April of this year, he lost the belt in unification with Stevenson.
There is, however, one problem. A fighter from Britain claims for the WBO belt. He dreams of playing this title against Valdez.
How will the WBO solve this problem? Apparently, first Navarrete will be transferred to the “super champions” at 57.2 kg – then he will receive the first right to fight for the title of a division higher in the status of a mandatory challenger.
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