PREVIEW: Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete vs Fransisco “Panchito El Centenario” DeVaca

My favorite soap opera marches on as this Saturday August 17 th , Top Rank

Promotions returns to ESPN and ESPN Deportes. La Ciudad De Mexicos, WBO Jr.

Featherweight Champion Emanuel Navarrete (27-1 23KOs), fresh off his twice

humbling defeat of Isaac Dogboe, battles undefeated fellow Mexican Fransisco

DeVaca (20-0 6KOs). Navarrete will look to make the second defense of his title in

the location where Carlos Vela and his Los Angeles FC teammates call home: Banc

de California Stadium in LA, California. Action kicks off at 10 PM E.T.

Emanuel Navarrete burst on the scene December of 2018, when he pulled off a

massive upset defeating the heavily favored Champion Isaac Dogboe (20-2). He

proved in the rematch it wasn’t a fluke. He didn’t just defeat Dogboe, he beat the

shit out of him! Navarrete is excited for the chance to defend his belt.

“This is a great opportunity to defend my title against an exciting fighter like

DeVaca,” said Navarrete at the initial press conference, “I’ve worked hard to

prove myself as a champion, and I won’t let anyone take that away from me. It’s

going to be a great night outside in Los Angeles, and whenever you have two

Mexicans in the ring, you can expect a battle.”

Fransisco DeVaca for his part is staying composed. Having an elite trainer such as

Roberto Alcazar, who was Oscar DeLaHoyas first cornerman, helps keep you

grounded.

“This is the fight of my life,” DeVaca said recently, “I am going to show my

Mexican heart and prove to the world that I belong on the world stage. I’m not

going to talk any trash. I have a lot of respect for Emanuel Navarrete, but his reign

will end on August 17 th .”

This is a legit Championship belt title fight so per usual, the dungeon has been

abandoned and the tape has been watched. Read along as I preview the fight!

(image: Top Rank Promotions)

WBO Champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete

From: Mexico City, Mexico

Record: 27-1 23KO’s Height: 5’7’’

Reach: 72” Stance: Orthodox

STRENGTHS

Uppercuts: His favorite punch in the Dogboe fights was the left uppercut. The way

he sets it up makes it extremely more effective. He’d feint a right cross and sneak

in the uppercut with authority! Scores major damage.

Great Combination Puncher: Navarrete has very active hands and rarely just

throws one punch. Think of him as the opposite of Adrien Broner. His hands fly!

Switches Stances: Navarrete is skilled enough to shift from his normal orthodox

stance to southpaw and vice versa with ease. Usually as he walks down his

opponent. This nifty maneuver keeps opponents guessing where the jab hand is.

WEAKNESSES

Headhunter: Navarrete has 23 KOs so he can be forgiven somewhat. He tends to

zero in on any rival’s area above the shoulders. Attacking the body slows

opponents down. Had he pursued Dogobes body in the rematch, his stoppage

may have come earlier.

Drops Guard: Navarrete relaxes at times when he steps back from an exchange

with his hands dropped. Thus, creating small windows of opportunities. Losing

focus for a split second is ill advised.

Hand healed? Going into his last fight, rumblings of a damaged right thumb were

circulating. In the last round he confirmed the rumors. Navarrete clearly injured

his hand while connecting on a punch. The amazing part is he landed a sharp right

cross moments after. Navarrete has the heart of a warrior, but how healed is the

right hand?

video via Xicana Boxing

Fransisco “Panchito El Centenario” DeVaca

Born: Michoacan, Mexico Raised: Phoenix, AZ

Record: 20-0 6 KOS Height: 5’7’’

Reach: 65” Stance: Orthodox

STRENGTHS

Speed: Panchito will have the clear speed advantage in this matchup. Mainly due

to the fact his punches travel a lesser distance than Navarretes longer reach.

Panchito has a very fast jab and overall fast hands.

Footwork: In his previous fight against journeyman and tricky fighter, Ernesto

Guerrero, Panchito displayed the agility needed to keep Ernesto at bay. Very light

on his feet.

Sparring: Per Top Rank, Panchito is friends with Oscar Valdez, Joseph “JoJo” Diaz,

Ronny Rios and Rico Ramos. That friendship has translated into sparring sessions

with each. Very high-level sparring partners for Panchito.

WEAKNESSES

Lack of Power: Panchito has 20 wins and only 6 via stoppage. Versus Guerrero

and Serrano, he seemingly landed at will all night. Neither fighter seemed

bothered by his punches too much.

Weight Class: Navarrete has been at the junior featherweight division since he

defeated Martin Casillas in late 2016. Panchito is a career 118 pounder having just

recently completed his fifth bout at the 122lb weight class. Navarrete will have a

comfortable size advantage when they rehydrate on fight night.

Loves to Brawl: Panchito at times can get caught in reckless exchanges. The

boxer-puncher must resist trading with a powerful puncher like Navarrete in

order to have any success. Fighting smartly is crucial!

THE PICK!

Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete has secured 23 stoppage wins from his 27 outings.

Look for that number to increase to 24! Emanuel Navarrete will be too big and

too strong for Panchito. Navarrete will walk down Panchito and will secure a

stoppage win by no later than the 8 th round.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Zanfer Promotions and Iron Boy

Promotions, tickets priced at $100, $80, $70, $60, $45 and $25 (not including

applicable fees) tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at

800-745-3000 and in person at the Banc of California Stadium box office.

• Article written by

• Manuel “Hopper” Dominguez

• @ManuelDStayTru