The super bantamweight champion of the World Boxing Organization (WBO), Mexico's Emanuel 'Vaquero' Navarrete will make the fourth defense of his belt on December 7 on Mexican soil against Francisco 'Panchito' Horta, according to ESPN Deportes.
Navarrete has had a very busy 2019, with big victories over Isaac Dogboe in a rematch, Francisco De Vaca and Miguel Elorde, to establish himself as one of the best boxers in Mexico.
Emanuel, 24, will return to the ring a day before his first year as world champion. It was on December 8, 2018 when he surprised the world by beating Ghana's Dogboe with real authority. He ended Dogboe's unbeaten streak and walked away with the WBO world title.
There was a lot of talk about the possibility that Navarrete (29-1, 25 KO's) would pursue a unification with either Rey Vargas or Daniel Roman, but neither fight came around - so Navarrette is staying busy with a clash against Horta, a fighter from Campeche in Cancun with a professional record of 20-3-1 and 10 fights.
Details about the location of the contest are yet to be defined; However, a couple of sources confirmed that the state of Puebla is the main candidate to receive Navarrete's next defense.
ESPN will likely carry the contest. The day will be loaded, as DAZN is showcasing the rematch between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz, while Showtime will air Jermall Charlo's defense against Dennis Hogan.
The rising star would like to unify or move up in weight in 2020. His next move will depend on what's available to him.
