GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Emanuel Navarrete prowled with his characteristic punches from bewildering angles, while Oscar Valdez, with his right eye grotesquely swollen shut, sought a left hook that would alter the fight.
That counterpunch landed several times during the 130-pound title fight between Mexican boxers on Saturday night, but the punches never forced Navarrete to waver. Navarrete's punch volume found its mark in combinations of four, five, and even six punches while Valdez stood firm during the shootout.
In a brutal battle, Navarrete (38-1, 31 KOs) retained his WBO super featherweight title by unanimous decision with scores of 116-112, 118-110, and 119-109. ESPN Digital scored it 117-111.
"I feel happy to have been part of this...next great chapter in Mexican boxing history," Navarrete, 28, said after the fight. "I'm happy and I appreciate Oscar for the great fight we gave."
"Thank God I won," he added. "I appreciate what he did in the ring. He's a Mexican warrior. If people want a rematch, they'll demand it."
Round after round, Navarrete unleashed punches from awkward angles, rarely planting his feet. He uncorked looping right and left hands with strange trajectories while constantly on the move. He totaled the dizzying amount of 1,038 punches thrown for the fight, more than double the output of Valdez, who only threw 436.
Valdez (31-2, 23 KOs) was content to advance and exchange with Navarrete, a strategy that rarely worked. When he stepped back, he often wildly missed with swings. However, he landed frequently with his left hook, the same punch that brutally knocked out Miguel Berchelt in 2021 to win the WBC's 130-pound title.
When Valdez drilled Navarrete with a counter left hook in the second round and the champion didn't even flinch, it was clear that trouble awaited the challenger.
Navarrete's volume, control of distance & chin ruled the night, as he landed 18 of 87 punches thrown per rnd to 12 of 36 for Valdez. Navarrete's 216 landed punches were the most by a Valdez opponent, as was his 34 punches landed (all power shots) in round 12. #NavarreteValdez pic.twitter.com/mrhNlZBzBu
— CompuBox (@CompuBox) August 13, 2023
Slow but steady, Valdez's right eye closed and turned purple under the pressure of Navarrete's whirlwind attack. Even when Navarrete showed signs that his right hand was injured, he continued to throw it without hesitation.
"It was a slight inflammation in my right hand," Navarrete said. "But the more you hit, the harder it becomes. But I had to push through."
Navarrete entered the fight ranked No. 2 by ESPN at super featherweight after he defeated Australian Liam Wilson to win the vacant title in February. Wilson stepped in to replace Valdez, who was injured six months ago and nearly pulled off the upset. Wilson scored a knockdown in the fourth round of Navarrete's super featherweight debut but the Mexican recovered to stop him in the ninth round.
On Saturday night, Navarrete not only gained a second win at 130 pounds but also secured the biggest victory of his career.
"He's a warrior," Valdez said, who lived in Tucson, Arizona, during part of his childhood. "I did the best I could. We gave it our all. He's a warrior. He's a true champion."
"I'm sorry I disappointed everyone," Valdez added. "I feel terrible. I wanted to give everyone a great fight. I hope you enjoyed the fight. I hope to come back strong."
Two-time Olympian Valdez, 32, emerged with a battered and swollen face from the punches of Navarrete. Of course, he is no stranger to fighting under difficult circumstances.
In a 2018 featherweight title defense against Scott Quigg, Valdez fought with a broken jaw to win a decision. His jaw was wired shut afterward.
He has been knocked down several times in his career but always managed to come back and win, except in his fight last year against pound-for-pound talent Shakur Stevenson. And now, for the second time in three outings, Valdez will look to bounce back from a disappointment.
Meanwhile, Navarrete seems to be improving with each fight and each new weight class. He has defeated the top boxer in ESPN's 130-pound rankings and once again was able to overwhelm his opponent not only with volume but also with power.
Both will continue to be in demand; a champion at the top of his weight class who consistently delivers action-packed fights. And the other is placed among a long list of brave Mexican fighters.
Results from the August 12 fight card in Glendale, Arizona
• Emanuel Navarrete W UD-12/12 Oscar Valdez, Navarrete retains WBO super featherweight title
• Lindolfo Delgado W UD-10/10 Jair Valtierra, super lightweight
• Richard Torrez Jr. W TKO-1/10 Willie Jake Jr., heavyweight
• Antonio Mireles W TKO-6/6 Dajuan Calloway, heavyweight
• Emiliano Vargas W TKO-2/4 Jorge Luis Marquez Alvarado, lightweight
• Sergio Leon Rodriguez W TKO-2/6 Eduardo Ayala, super middleweight
• Ricardo Ruvalcaba W TKO-2/6 Adrian Orban, super lightweight