Jessie Magdaleno wants to fight Emanuel Navarrete
Former WBO Super Bantamweight champion Jessie Magdaleno (28-1, 18ko) is looking to land a fight with Top Rank stablemate WBO Featherweight champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete (33-1, 28ko). These two fighters have been linked together before, back when the WBO ordered them to fight for the vacant featherweight belt after Shakur “Fearless” Stevenson decided to move up and test the waters at junior lightweight back in 2020.
Team Magdaleno was told by the WBO they had 24 hours to acknowledge and accept a fight with Navarrete (a former WBO Super Bantamweight champion prior). When team Magdaleno never responded, the organization offered the opportunity to #2 ranked Ruben Villa in October 2020. Navarette went on to win the fight against Villa, making him a two-divisional champion.
MAGDALENO READY TO FIGHT NAVARRETE
The former champion’s decision to pass up the opportunity to fight for the title was head-scratching. Magdaleno was quoted as saying he was ready for a world title shot in June 2020.
Magdaleno, currently ranked #3 by the WBO, is now ready to challenge Vaquero for the championship. During an interview with Fight Hype, the former world champion expressed that the fans will still see them fight.
“We are still going to see that fight, and that is a fight I really want. Because a lot of people see him (Navarrete) as a bigger, tougher guy. He is knocking people out at 126 now just like I was doing at 122. I think the real fight is with me. I have all the talent, I have all the skills and…am just waiting for the right time and right opportunity. Hopefully it’s soon.”
INTERESTING FACTS
Both fighters have held the WBO Super Bantamweight title in the past. However, they also share a common foe they competed against for the title named Isaac “Royal Storm” Dogboe.
Magdaleno was given his first career loss at the hands of Royal Storm in his second defense of the title in April 2018. It was a fan-friendly fight that lived up to expectations. Fans saw Dogboe get up off the canvas in the first round, only to drop Magdaleno in the fifth round and twice in the eleventh, when the referee called for the stoppage.
Emanuel Navarrete captured the title by handing Dogboe his first professional loss via unanimous decision in their first fight in December 2018. Then, five months later in May 2019, Navarrete brutalized Dogboe, dropping in the sixth and twelve round before the corner threw in the towel.
Both fighters are part of the Top Rank umbrella. Hopefully this is a fight that fans get to see this year. Both fighters have a fan-friendly style, and if they meet in the ring, fans should get the popcorn ready to watch the fireworks.
By: Garrisson Bland
