Navarrete to defend junior lightweight title vs. unbeaten Suarez
Muratalla, Abdullaev square off for interim lightweight belt in co-feature
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WBO junior lightweight titlist Emanuel Navarrete will make his fourth defense against Charly Suarez in the main event of a Top Rank Boxing on ESPN card on May 10 (ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET) at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, Top Rank announced on Tuesday, confirming a Fight Freaks Unite report.
“I’m at a new stage of my career, and I’m fired up for another defense of my world title,” Navarrete said. “This fight motivates me. Suarez is undefeated and dangerous. He’s ranked No. 1 in the world for a reason. He’s exactly the kind of challenge that fuels me.”
Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs), 30, of Mexico, will fight in the arena for the fourth time, although in his previous bout there last May he lost a split decision to Denys Berinchyk for the vacant WBO lightweight title when he moved up to in weight seeking a title in a fourth weight class. Navarrete returned to junior lightweight and stopped Oscar Valdez in the sixth round of their rematch in December.
“I owe the fans in San Diego a win, and on May 10, I’ll settle that debt with a dominant victory,” Navarrete said.
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Suarez (18-0, 10 KOs), 36, of the Philippines, will be taking a big step up in opposition in his fourth consecutive fight in the United States.
“When I enter the ring, I will show the world I have what it takes,” Suarez said. “I won’t waste this opportunity. Navarrete is a monster in the ring, but I know I am better.”
In the co-feature, Raymond Muratalla (22-0, 17 KOs), 28, of Fontana, California, and Zaur Abdullaev (20-1, 12 KOs), 30, of Russia, will vie for the vacant IBF interim lightweight title, also confirming an FFU report. The interim belt is available because titleholder Vasiliy Lomachenko is sidelined for several months while recovering from a back injury.
“I’ve been working toward this my whole life,” Muratalla said. “Every fighter dreams of becoming a world champion, and on May 10, I take a big step toward making that a reality. Zaur Abdullaev is a good fighter. He’s beaten tough opponents, including former world champions, but I’m done waiting. I’m highly ranked and have put in the work. It’s my time now. When I take that interim title, the Raymond Muratalla era begins.”
Abdullaev has won nine fights in a row since his only loss, a fourth-round knockout to Devin Haney in a WBC interim title bout in 2019.
“I’m coming to America ready to take this belt,” Abdullaev said. “Muratalla is a top contender, but I have the skills and experience needed to emerge victorious.”
In the one ESPN+ preliminary bout announced, San Diego welterweight contender Giovani Santillan (33-1, 18 KOs), 33, will face fellow southpaw Angel Beltran (18-2-1, 11 KOs), 29, of Mexico, in a 10-rounder.
Santillan suffered his first loss at Pechanga Arena last May when Brian Norman knocked him out in the 10th round of an upset to win the vacant WBO interim welterweight title. Santillan has won his only fight since, a first-round knockout of Fredrick Lawson in December.
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