BRISBANE, Australia – Liam Wilson is hoping to use victory on Friday over Rodex Piala to secure a rematch with Emanuel Navarrete later in 2026.
Navarrete enters an all-Mexican contest with Eduardo Nunez for the IBF and WBO junior-lightweight titles on February 28, and having fought back tears after, to his mind, being “robbed” in defeat by Navarrete in 2023, the Australian is determined to fight him again.
Wilson, 29, dropped Navarette in the fourth round of their fight but continues to insist that the Mexican was given considerably longer to recover. His team launched a protest after he was later stopped in the ninth, but a rematch between them is still to happen and he is therefore also again targeting another chance to win the same title, that of the WBO.
The Filipino underdog Rodex Piala represents an opponent he recognises can end his ambitions. In 13 professional contests Piala has lost once, when in June 2024 losing to the Japanese southpaw Kenji Fujita in Japan.
Wilson has won six of seven fights since the defeat by Navarette – the loss came to Oscar Valdez, who as a consequence fought and lost to Navarette again – but victory over Piala at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre would be his fifth in succession and, he hopes, secure the date and opponent he wants above all else.
“I want the rematch with Navarrete,” he told BoxingScene. “I think I deserve it. I said many years ago when I lost the fight, if he doesn’t wanna give me the rematch I’ll work my way back into a position, and that’s what I’m doing. Time waits for nobody – I’m getting older – and I need to make the most of it.
“I’m in a good position. I’m ranked third in the world with the WBO. The big opportunities are on my doorstep. I’m not too sure what the team has mapped out for me – all I know is I have to win Friday night.
“[Piala’s] handy. He’s got good credentials for a reason. He’s beat some good opponents, and it’s put him in this position. He’s earned his spot. It’s an interesting match-up, because it’s a good fight for the fans because he has everything to gain, and I have everything to lose, and ultimately we want the same thing – we want to be champions.
“He’s a good boxer. He’s a calculated guy. His general boxing IQ is pretty superb, and we have to remember he’s from the Philippines – they idolise Manny Pacquiao. It’s a boxing nation. I’m well aware of that. I’ve been thinking of that for 10 weeks. This guy’s hungry; determined. It’s almost in his blood.
“He’s a little bit mysterious. But we’ve got a good gym of fighters who can provide the same variation as him. We’ve been getting good work in all training camp. I’m ready.”
Wilson-Piala features on the undercard of Nikita Tszyu-Michael Zerafa, the third pay-per-view fight in Australia in under six weeks. The Tszyu brothers and Jai Opetaia represent Australia’s highest-profile fighters; Tim Tszyu is on course to fight again by no later than early April, and Wilson is aware that the opportunities that therefore exist for he and his compatriots mean that Australian boxing is in the finest health it has ever been.
“Ten years, seven years ago, it was pretty dull – we’ve gotta thank [the retired] Jeff Horn for that,” he said. “Jeff Horn really put it in the spotlight [in 2019 when he defeated Manny Pacquiao], and now these different promoters are coming in. Luckily I’m with the best one, No Limit Boxing, and it’s booming. It’s a time to be alive in Australian boxing. I’m so glad that I’m in my prime in such a boom for boxing in Australia. I think we’re on the path to becoming a forefront sport, very soon.
“If I was the level I’m at seven years ago it’d be a whole different ballgame. My career wouldn’t be where it is. I have to thank my promoters for giving me these positions – backing me through wins and losses. I’m still here, and I’m on the home stretch to fighting for another [world-title] opportunity.”
