Boxing fans from both sides of the border can look forward to an all-action lineup featuring Mexico’s fighting cowboy at his home away from home and one of San Diego’s top talents as part of a full lineup Saturday at Pechanga Arena.WBO Super Featherweight world champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs) will defend his title against veteran Charly Suarez of the Philippines (18-0, 10 KOs) in the 12-round main event.
It is Navarrete’s third main event appearance in front of his many local fans.
Navarrete suffered an upset loss to Denys Berinchyk of Ukraine in his last appearance in San Diego one year ago. Navarrete has since returned to the super featherweight division and scored an impressive knockout win against former world champion Oscar Valdez in December, the first ever by any opponent.
“What we did in that night against Valdez is demonstrate we are at 100 percent,” said Navarrete at a Thursday news conference.
He promises San Diego fans a winning effort on Saturday. “Obviously we know the last time out in San Diego, we did not get the victory. We want to first of all show the people and let them know with a good performance I’m ready to continue moving forward with my career.
“We know Suarez is coming for the title. We want it to be a good card, and we want it to be a good fight to let all the people know I’m ready to retake the path to victories here in San Diego with a win.”
Suarez said this is the championship fight he has waited for nearly half his career. “I pray for this fight, and this is it,” said Suarez, who represented the Philippines in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. He is also a private first class in the Philippines Army.
The 2016 Olympian said he brings his amateur success to his pro career. “This is a good opportunity for me to represent my country and to show the world Filipinos are good at boxing, and show Filipinos and Mexicans are good at boxing and put on good fights, great fights.”
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Also hoping to rebound from a loss in front of his San Diego fans is Giovani Santillan (33-1, 18 KOs), who will square off in a matchup of welterweight southpaws that includes Angel Beltran of Mexicali, Mexico (18-2, 11 KOs), scheduled for 10 rounds.
Santillan suffered his first loss – in the same event as Navarrete one year ago – by 10th-round TKO to current WBO World Welterweight champion Brian Norman, Jr.
Santillan returned to the ring in December and won a first-round knockout. It was a bittersweet victory, taking place shortly after the death in October of Santillan’s brother, Gerson, at age 31. He behind a wife and two young children.
“I know my brother always believed in me, so every time I step into the ring, he’s right there with me in my corner no matter what,” said Santillan.
A revitalized Santillan said the loss and reflection led him to make changes in his training. He hired a nutritionist for the first time. Now, Santillan appears strong and healthier and says he believes it will make a “drastic” difference.
“I’m excited to be back here in San Diego. You know, every time I come to San Diego, I give everything I have, I leave it on in the ring,” said Santillan.
“We had some hard moments last year,” agreed Santillan. “But I’m resilient, and my dad raised me to always work hard and always have faith and hope. So, I’m back here, and I’m ready.
“Right now, I’m on the climb back up to the next world title shot. I gotta focus on this weekend first, and then I hope I can get that soon.”
Additional matchups of note among Saturday’s eight fights:
Undefeated Southern California fan favorite Raymond Muratalla of Fontana (22-0, 17 KOs) facing Zaur Abdullaev of Russia (20-1, 12 KOs) competing for the vacant IBF interim lightweight world title in the co-main event. The return of junior lightweight contender Andres Cortes of Los Vegas (22-0, 12 KOs), who takes on Spain’s Salvador Jimenez (14-1-1, 6 KOs). Newly-signed 19-year-old junior bantamweight prodigy Perla Bazaldua of Los Angeles (1-0, 1 KO) making her Top Rank debut in a four-round bout against Mona Ward of St. Louis (0-1).Navarrete vs. Suarez and Muratalla vs. Abdullaev will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 7 p.m. PT. The undercard, streamed on ESPN+, will begin at 2:30 p.m. PT. Limited tickets are on sale, via AXS.com, for the night, promoted by Top Rank.
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