KISSIMMEE, Fla. (April 22, 2021) — Central Florida will turn into Northern Puerto Rico on Saturday evening when two of the island’s favorite boxers look to make emphatic statements.

In the main event from a sold-out Silver Spurs Arena, two-weight Mexican WBO world champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete will make the first defense of his WBO featherweight world title against Puerto Rican challenger Christopher “Pitufo” Diaz. The co-feature will see Edgar “The Chosen One” Berlanga, 16-0 with 16 first-round knockouts, test himself against veteran contender Demond Nicholson in an eight-round super middleweight tilt.

Navarrete-Diaz and Berlanga-Nicholson will air live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, with undercard action set to stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT. At the final presser, this is what the fighters had to say.

Emanuel Navarrete

“I know he has been fighting at 126 and even at 130. I think it will be tough to hurt a fighter that has fought at higher divisions, but I believe I have the punching power to knock him out.”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve fought in front of fans. I miss the vibes of having the fans in the arena. Even though 90 percent of the fans will be cheering for ‘Pitufo,’ I feel like the pressure is going to be on him because he needs to perform for his people, for his fans. I’ve always been a fighter that’s been on the road, fighting away from home. I feel like the pressure is on him.”

“I started training camp in Mexico. Things were not as tough there, and the hard part of training camp I did in Tijuana. I want to thank my co-promoter Zanfer for the help they’ve given me. This camp has been very good, unlike the last camp for {Ruben} Villa, where everything was closed. So it was really tough to train for that fight.”

Christopher Diaz

“I’ve been in the big arenas a lot of times {against} Shakur Stevenson, Masayuki Ito in front of 8,00 people. Sold out against Navarrete. I think I have the experience to become world champion Saturday night.”

“If you’ve seen my last two fights, I’ve been a different fighter. I go to the ring to perform, to show the people I can be a star. Navarrete is a great champion. It’s a pleasure for me to share the ring with him. We’re going to be in the history books as part of Puerto Rico versus Mexico, but again, there are levels to this. Navarrete has been in a lot of title fights, but this is my second one, and I can say my third one because the Shakur Stevenson was that level a fight.”

“{After the Stevenson fight}, when I came home and I saw my babies…I have three daughters and a beautiful wife. As a leader in my house, I have to bring the food to the table, and this is the easiest way. I mean, it’s not easy because you get hit, but at the end of the day, I go back to the gym with that mentality. I work hard.”

“I want to tell Navarrete that I respect him as a person. He’s a humble guy, a family man like myself. It’s tough to become a one-time champion. I had my opportunity already, and I just hope he brings his best so we can give the fans a great fight.”

“We’re fighting a 50-50 fight. I’m happy because he knows I’m the most dangerous fighter he’s fought to this day. I’m just comfortable. I got confidence in myself. My team believes in me. My family believes in me. That means a lot to me because it’s my family. That’s my team. That’s my daughters yelling to me. That’s the most important thing. I don’t think about Navarrete’s fans who are against me because he deserves that, he’s a two-time world champion.”

Photos by M. Williams / Top Rank

WATCH PRESS CONFERENCE

RUBEN VILLA IV TRAINING CAMP QUOTES AND PHOTOS

Undefeated World Ranked Contender Ruben Villa IV Battles Emanuel Navarrete for the Vacant WBO Featherweight World Title October 9 Live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes From the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas

SALINAS, CA (October 6, 2020) – The highly anticipated world title fight between Ruben Villa IV (18-0, 5KOs), who is promoted by Thompson Boxing and Banner Promotions, and Emanuel Navarrete (32-1, 28 KOs) will happen this Friday, October 9th, 2020 on ESPN with the vacant WBO featherweight world title on the line.

The fight is being promoted by Top Rank, in association with Thompson Boxing Promotions and Banner Promotions, taking place at “The Bubble” inside the MGM Grand Conference Center, televised live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes (10 PM ET / 7 PM PT).

Prior to being in the professional ranks, Villa was largely considered as one of the greatest amateurs in recent years in USA Boxing. He is now looking to make a childhood dream come true by bringing a world title back to his hometown of Salinas, California.

Here is what Villa had to say about his upcoming fight world title fight.

On his recent training camp
“This camp has been the best camp of my life. I turned off all social media, I took a ‘Mamba Mentality’, and focused strictly on training. I’ve had great sparring partners preparing for this fight like Manny Jaimes, Javier Padilla, Andy Vences and Xavier Martinez, and they all gave me tough rounds, and I am ready for whatever Navarrete will bring, whether it is boxing or pressure.

On his matchup with Emanuel Navarrete
“Navarrete is a good fighter, but I will be honest, I feel largely disrespected coming into this fight. I am a southpaw who is the bigger man, and had a better amateur career, but am being viewed as an underdog. I have a chip on my shoulder, and though I respect Navarrete’s skills, I am looking to prove a point.”

On bringing a world title back to Salinas, California.
“I love my hometown of Salinas, California, and I want to bring home a world title to all the fans here that have supported me over the years. I have told my trainers Max Garcia and Sam Garcia that this has been a childhood dream of mine since I first laced up a pair of gloves. We’re working as a team to accomplish this goal.”

On what people expect when he steps in the ring.
“People will see someone who started boxing at a young age, show his skills and poise in accomplishing a childhood dream. I have been very focused, I am giving this my all, and I am ready. Everyone should tune in Friday, October 9th, on ESPN, because this will be a great fight for the fans.”

Photo from Brett Ostrowski

“Sería como un reality show, con el número de personas que permitan las restricciones sanitarias gubernamentales”, explica Fernando Beltrán

La empresa Zanfer se encuentra analizando varias formas de poder hacer boxeo profesional en estos tiempos, donde la pandemia de la enfermedad del coronavirus está afectando a todos los sectores.

Entre los planes está hacer veladas a puerta cerrada, es decir, sin público, y hasta un reality show, donde sólo habría el número de personas que permitan las restricciones sanitarias indicadas por el gobierno.

Una vez que se pueda hacer boxeo profesional, con esas estrategias, se tiene pensado hasta hacer funciones en días consecutivos.

«Con nuestro aliado estratégico, que es TV Azteca, siempre hemos sido muy inquietos, muy creativos y, sinceramente, sí hemos pensado en hacer boxeo sin audiencia», reveló Fernando Beltrán, tras unos cuestionamientos hechos por reporteros de un medio de comunicación regional.

«También pensamos en darle a la gente, ahora que está en sus casas, no sé, concentrar a dos contendientes del mismo peso, a lo mejor, no que peleen, pero sí hacer un cuatro comparativo de la forma de trabajar de cada uno», agregó.

Fernando Beltrán recordó que no se había organizado peleas de boxeo profesional, debido a las restricciones del gobierno, pero, si este, en su momento accede a realizar eventos con determinada cantidad de personas, la empresa se adaptaría.

«Vamos a concentrarlo en las mismas instalaciones de Tv Azteca, y darle al público una especial de reality show, breve, de lo que come un boxeador, lo que se cuida, las sesiones de entrenamiento, preparación física, y eso viene a darle el conocimiento al aficionado y nos ayudaría a todos», enfatizó.

Los boxeadores que estén listos, primeros en regresar

Una vez que las autoridades de salud den “luz verde” para hacer eventos profesionales de boxeo, Zanfer estará regresando de inmediato con los boxeadores que estén listo para pelear, así lo adelantó Fernando Beltrán.

«El boxeo es un deporte de hambre de todo tipo, como siempre lo hemos dicho. Yo creo que los boxeadores que estén listos, serán los mayores beneficiados en cuanto termine esto de la pandemia de la enfermedad del coronavirus», comentó el CEO de Zanfer.

«Yo estoy seguro de que muchos boxeadores están entrenando en sus casas, se están preparando y, sinceramente, en cuanto las autoridades consideren que ya se pueden hacer eventos masivos, todo mundo vamos estar programando, y vamos a tener filas de boxeadores tratando de programar», agregó.

La Temporada 2020 de Zanfer arrancó el 11 de enero en San Antonio, Texas, donde el tijuanense Jaime Munguía demostró que no sólo fue un sólido campeón mundial Superwelter, sino que es un serio contendiente en la división de los pesos Medios, al hacer su presentación en las 160 libras y noquear en 11 rounds a Gary O´Sullivan.

Y su última velada, antes del paro de funciones, por órdenes del sector salud, fue en Tijuana, teniendo como pelea estelar la victoria de Omar Aguilar, por nocaut, ante David Alegría.

Por Balun Canan / http://semanariobaluncanan.com/