BRISBANE, Australia – Liam Wilson reiterated his desire to force a rematch with Emanuel Navarrete after stopping Rodex Piala at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.
The Australian absorbed Piala’s early aggression before landing the clinical body punch that stopped the 30-year-old Piala in the fourth round.
He had spoken, pre-fight, of wanting to again challenge the WBO junior-lightweight champion – Navarrete enters a unification contest against his fellow Mexican Eduardo Nunez, the IBF champion, on February 28 – and, to that end, may travel to be present in Glendale, Arizona to be present when Navarrete-Nunez unfolds.
“That’s a good idea,” he said. He had lost, in controversial circumstances, via stoppage when they fought in 2023.
“Three years ago I was a young kid. I had 12 fights under my belt, and I was very raw, but I didn’t shy away from the challenge.
“Man to man I think [he owes me a rematch]. If he was here right now and we had a conversation and explained the ifs, buts and maybes, I’m sure he’d come to terms and go ‘Alright, Liam – you’re right’.
“It’s a great fight. I’m really interested in it and seeing who the winner’s gonna be. I’m a fan of both fighters but I want the rematch, and I hope he does win. We have unfinished business.
“I feel like I’m truly finding my groove now. I had challenges and big tests earlier in my career and I failed ‘cause I was learning on the job. I’ve matured into a better athlete, I’ve grown into a man, and I’m ready for whatever’s next.
“We’re still chipping away. I’ve got a strong team behind me – I trust the team behind me – and we’re gonna move forward to whatever’s next.”
Wilson, 29, has also long spoken of wanting to fight his compatriot George Kambosos Jnr, whose most recent contests came at 140lbs. He again said that he would like to fight him but also that he was giving up hope on doing so, and his manager Glenn Jennings confirmed that it is Navarrete, not Kambosos Jnr, who they have in mind.
“We all plan on getting Navarrete back for our revenge tour,” said Jennings. “Whether or not that falls into place as quickly as we would like it to, or whether there’s a couple more to get Liam ready for that, but that’s our ultimate aim.”
“It’s something I want but it’s something I don’t really want to entertain anymore,” Wilson added of Kambosos Jnr. “I feel like a bit of an idiot calling his name out. It’s an all-Australian showdown – all of Australia would want it – he’s not entertaining it and there’s not much I can do about that.
“I’m happy to move up in weight. There’s not much I can do. He’s a gentleman, he’s a tough fighter, and I’m a fan. It’d be a great fight for Australia.”
