Emanuel Navarrete-Oscar Valdez 2 & Rafael Espinoza-Robeisy Ramirez 2 Head To Phoenix

Boxing returns to the Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ, on December 7 as it will be a night with a rematch doubleheader streaming live on ESPN, ESPN+ & ESPN Deportes.

The main event will feature WBO junior lightweight champion Emanuel Navarrete (38-2-1, 31 KOs) defending his title against Oscar Valdez (32-2, 24 KOs). This will be a rematch of their action-filled August 2023 battle, in which Navarrete won unanimously. Since then, Navarrete moved up to lightweight for a title opportunity but came up short against Denys Berinchyk. On the other hand, Valdez beat Liam Wilson in March to earn the WBO interim title, setting up this rematch with Navarrete.

Top Rank’s Bob Arum weighed in on the card via press release. “December 7 is going to be a special night in Phoenix, as we have two 50/50 rematches of incredible fights,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “Navarrete and Valdez are two of the greatest Mexican warriors the sport has seen, and I expect another toe-to-toe battle. I thought the first Espinoza-Ramirez fight was the 2023 Fight of the Year, and I expect the 13^th round to pick up where the dramatic 12^th left off.”

The co-main event will have WBO featherweight champion Rafael Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) defending his title against Robeisy Ramirez (14-2, 9 KOs). This will be a rematch of their razor-thin December 2023 fight, in which Espinoza edged it by a majority decision. It was a highly entertaining contest, and the rematch looks to have similar entertainment value.

Ramirez knows how close the first fight was, and he desperately wants to get his title back, as the winner will have bigger fights on the horizon. “Our first fight was extremely close, action-packed, and regarded by many as ‘Fight of the Year,’” Ramirez said. “Since the cards were read, my team and I have been asking for the rematch. On December 7, I’m coming to erase any doubts. I will reclaim my title.”

With regard to the undercard, Top Rank looks to continue having their young up-and-coming talent on there to stay busy until it’s their time on the main telecast in the future.

The ESPN+—streamed undercard will feature Mexican junior welterweight contender Lindolfo Delgado (21-0, 15 KOs) in a 10-rounder versus Jackson Marinez (22-3, 10 KOs). Delgado made his mark in August 2022, stunning previously unbeaten Omar Aguilar by unanimous decision in an eight-round slugfest. He carried that momentum into 2023, going 3-0 in 2023. Delgado is 2-0 thus far in 2024. He stopped Carlos Sanchez in seven rounds in March before securing a gritty split decision win over Bryan Flores in August. Marinez has fallen short against Rolando Romero, Richard Commey, and Frank Martin. He has won three straight by knockout in two rounds or less.

Emiliano Fernando Vargas (12-0, 10 KOs) targets his fifth win of the year in an eight-round junior welterweight clash against Alan Ayala (11-4, 7 KOs). In his latest performance, Vargas overwhelmed Larry Fryers in September via fifth-round TKO.

Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. (11-0, 10 KOs) returns in an eight-round heavyweight tilt against an opponent to be named. Torrez knocked out Don Haynesworth in one round in March before a statement fifth-round stoppage over then-unbeaten Brandon Moore in May. In September, he faced veteran Joey Dawejko, who was disqualified for repeatedly spitting out his mouthpiece.