Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete and Joet Gonzalez engaged in a border war for the ages.
Navarrete (35-1, 29 KOs) retained his WBO featherweight world title with a bloody unanimous decision (118-110 and 116-112 2x) over Joet Gonzalez (24-2, 14 KOs) on Friday evening at Pechanga Arena San Diego. It was the second successful title defense for Navarrete, who moved up to the featherweight ranks last year after defending his junior featherweight crown five times.
“Without a doubt, I hurt him, but every single time he came back, and he also hurt me. A couple shots he landed hurt me during the fight,” Navarrete said. “It has been an exciting ride so far, and from now on, I want the bigger fights.”
The bigger fights could include an eventual move up to 130 pounds, where a match with WBC champion Oscar Valdez would be one of the biggest all-Mexican showdowns in the sport.
But on this night, Navarrete had to contend with the stubborn Gonzalez, who hung in tough despite swollen right eye in the early rounds. Navarrete threw 979 punches, including 104 in the 12th round to close the show in style.
Gonzalez said, “I thought I had it seven rounds to five, eight rounds to four. I was really surprised by that score of 118-110, I believe. But it is what it is, and I did my best.”
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 15: Giovani Santillan is victorious as he defeats Angel Ruiz at Pechanga Arena on October 15, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)
Santillan Thrills Hometown Crowd
Welterweight contender Giovani Santillan had not fought in his hometown in more than seven years. In front of a partisan crowd that broke out into frequent “Gio” chants, the San Diego native improved to 28-0 with a 10-round unanimous decision over Angel Ruiz (17-2, 12 KOs). The scores — 100-90 2x and 99-91 — did not reflect the game effort of Ruiz, who gave nearly as good as he received for much of the fight.
Buoyed by the local faithful, Santillan prevailed in the phone both affair and edged closer to a title shot.
Santillan said, “This is what it’s all about, a great fight in front of my amazing hometown fans. They were cheering for me all night, and it was an honor to perform for my people in San Diego.
“My father and I always wanted to fight here. It was a dream come true, and credit to Angel Ruiz for going to battle for 10 rounds. He’s a true Mexican warrior. I have nothing but respect for him.”
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 15: Henry Lebron is victorious as he defeats Manuel Rey Rojas at Pechanga Arena on October 15, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)
In other action:
Puerto Rican southpaw junior lightweight Henry “Moncho” Lebron (14-0, 9 KOs) notched the most significant win of his young career, turning back the hard-charging Dallas native Manuel Rey Rojas(21-6, 6 KOs) by eight-round unanimous decision. All three judges scored the fight 80-72.
Junior welterweight prospect Lindolfo Delgado(14-0, 12 KOs) won his second bout in six weeks, shutting out Juan Garcia Mendez (21-5-2, 13 KOs) over eight rounds (80-71 3x). Delgado floored Mendez with a two-punch combination in the closing stages of the eighth round.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 15: Javier Martinez is victorious as he defeats Darryl Jones at Pechanga Arena on October 15, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)
Middleweight upstart Javier “Milwaukee Made” Martinez(5-0, 2 KOs) did not give any of that famous Midwest hospitality to Daryl Jones (4-3-1, 2 KOs), as he bested the Florida resident over six one-sided rounds by scores of 60-54 and 60-53 2x. After a second round that saw Jones nearly stopped against the ropes, the two battled the rest of the way, trading punches in the waning seconds of the sixth round.
Bantamweight prospect Floyd “Cashflow” Diaz(3-0) dominated former amateur rival Jose Ramirez(1-1, 1 KO) via four-round unanimous decision, knocking Ramirez down in the opening round and cruising to a points win by scores of 39-36 and 40-35 2x.
The newest heavyweight on the block showed out. Antonio “El Gigante” Mireles, from Des Moines, Iowa, shined in his professional debut, knocking out Demonte Randle (2-2, 2 KOs) in the opening round. Mireles, a southpaw, knocked down Randle early in the first round with a right hook. Following two more knockdowns, the referee called a halt to the fight at 2:07.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 15: Juan Garcia Mendez (L) and Lindolfo Delgado (R) exchange punches during their fight at Pechanga Arena on October 15, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 15: Lindolfo Delgado is victorious as he defeats Juan Garcia Mendez at Pechanga Arena on October 15, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 15: Joet Gonzalez in between rounds during his fight against Emanuel Navarrete WBO featherweight championship at Pechanga Arena Hotel on October 15, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 15: Darryl Jones (L) and Javier Martinez (R) exchange punches during their fight at Pechanga Arena on October 15, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 15: Manuel Rey Rojas (L) and Henry Lebron (R) exchange punches during their fight at Pechanga Arena on October 15, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 15: A general view of fight night between Emanuel Navarrete and Joet Gonzalez for the WBO featherweight championship at Pechanga Arena on October 15, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 15: Floyd Diaz (L) and Jose Ramirez (R) exchange punches during their fight at Pechanga Arena on October 15, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 15: Emanuel Navarrete (L) and Joet Gonzalez (R) exchange punches during their fight for the WBO featherweight championship at Pechanga Arena on October 15, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 15: Antonio Mireles is victorious as he defeats Demonte Randle at Pechanga Arena on October 15, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 15: Demonte Randle (L) and Antonio Mireles (R) exchange punches during their fight at Pechanga Arena on October 15, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)
Credit: Top Rank
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