The process to position Emanuel Navarrete for a shot at a second divisional title was much easier than actually getting him in the ring.
A fresh round of talks to challenge for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight title is faced with the threat of a purse bid hearing looming overhead. Navarrete and his team are currently negotiating with unbeaten featherweight contender Ruben Villa, with the title fight ordered on August 19. The sanctioning body ruling came with a ten (10) day deadline for the two sides to reach a deal.
“Navarrete/Villa negotiation period ends Saturday, August 29, 2020,” Francisco ‘Paco’ Valcárcel, president of the WBO confirmed on Wednesday. “If an agreement is not reached, WBO will order a purse bid the following week via video conference.
“All parties will be notified (date/time) accordingly.”
Navarrete is represented by Zanfer Promotions and Top Rank. Villa is co-promoted by Banner Promotions and Thompson Boxing Promotions, with recently hired adviser Rick Mirigian also involved in current talks.
Villa (18-0, 5KOs) entered the mix after former 122-pound titlist Jessie Magdaleno (28-1, 18KOs) passed on the opportunity to challenge for the vacant title due to his being displeased with the offered fight purse.
Las Vegas’ Magdaleno and Navarrete (32-1, 28KOs)—a recent 122-pound titlist from San Juan Zitlaltepec, Mexico—were ordered to contend for the title vacated by unbeaten Shakur Stevenson, who is now competing at the junior lightweight limit. With Top Rank involved on both sides—having promoted Magdaleno his entire career—it was believed that a deal would be reached.
Instead, the fight went to a purse bid hearing, which was held via Zoom conference call administered by the WBO from its headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Top Rank served as the lone bidder for the August 11 session, putting up $250,000. A normal purse split of 50/50 for a vacant title fight instead led to a 60/40 split for Navarrete since Magdaleno was due to fight in Las Vegas hometown.
The thought of going through all of that for $100,000 wasn’t enticing enough to Magdaleno (28-1, 18KOs), who bowed out of the fight.
The WBO responded by extending an offer to Villa as the next highest-rated contender. The Salinas, California native immediately agreed to enter talks with Navarrete. So far, they remain destined to head to a purse bod hearing though both sides still have until Saturday to sort that out.
Navarrete made his featherweight debut this past June, stopping countryman Uriel Lopez in the 6th round this past June in Mexico City. Navarrete entered the fight as the reigning WBO junior featherweight title, having defended the belt five times in a nine-month stretch before vacating the strap earlier this month.
Villa is coming off of a 10-round win over Alexei Collado this past January.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
