The top 10 junior lightweight rankings
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From the time I started as the boxing writer at USA Today in early 2000 until leaving ESPN in April 2020, I was responsible for the divisional rankings during my time at each outlet. At USA Today, I updated them once a month until leaving in early 2005. At some point during my time at ESPN they became weekly. Now I am doing my own thing here at Fight Freaks Unite, where I publish division top 10s from time to time as results warrant. It’s been awhile since I have updated the junior lightweight rankings, but with Emanuel Navarrete’s successful title defense against Oscar Valdez in their rematch on Saturday it seemed like a good time, so here they are:
Note: Results through Dec. 10
Junior lightweights (130 pounds)
1. Emanuel Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs)
Last: W (KO6) Oscar Valdez, Dec. 7
Next: TBA
Rafael’s remark: Already having won world titles at junior featherweight, featherweight, the hard-charging, wild-swinging, always entertaining Navarrete won the WBO junior lightweight title by knockout of Liam Wilson in 2023 and has made three defenses: a wide decision in barnburner versus Oscar Valdez; a majority draw with Robson Conceicao, who he dropped twice; and a dominating sixth-round KO of Valdez in their rematch. Before that bout, Navarrete took a shot at lightweight and lost a split decision for the vacant WBO belt to unbeaten technician Denys Berinchyk. Navarrete will eventually try again at lightweight in an effort to win a title in a fourth division but he said after the Valdez rematch win he plans to stay at 130 pounds for another fight or two and there are two very logical and interesting bouts: a unification fight with Top Rank stablemate and WBC titlist O’Shaquie Foster, who was ringside for the Valdez rematch, and Mexican countryman Rafael Espinoza, the WBO featherweight titlist who won on the Navarrete-Valdez II undercard and could easily move up. That would be a terrific fight and is one Top Rank has said it would like to make.
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