Navarrete vs De Vaca Weights & Photos

By Boxing News - 08/16/2019 - Comments

Image: Navarrete vs De Vaca Weights & Photos

LIVE on ESPN at 10 pm ET/7 pm PT – Undercard Streaming on ESPN+ at 6:30 pm ET/3:30 pm PT

Emanuel Navarrete 122 lbs vs. Francisco De Vaca 122 lbs
(Navarrete’s WBO Junior Featherweight title – 12 Rounds).

Jessie Magdaleno 125.4 lbs vs. Rafael Rivera 125.6 lbs
(Magdaleno’s WBC USNBC Featherweight title – 10 Rounds)

ESPN+ (6:30 p.m. ET)

Arnold Barboza Jr. 141.6 lbs vs. Ricky Sismundo 141.4 lbs
(Super Lightweight – 10 Rounds)

Janibek Alimkhanuly 159.8 lbs vs. Stuart McLellan 159.2 lbs
(Alimkhanuly’s WBC Continental Americas and WBO Global Middleweight titles – 10 Rounds)

Chris van Heerden 146.4 lbs vs. Aslanbek Kozaev 147 lbs
(Welterweight – 10/8 Rounds)

Javier Molina 140.2 lbs vs. Manuel Mendez 141 lbs
(Super Lightweight – 8 Rounds)

Dmitry Yun 135.4 lbs vs. Javier Martinez 134.6 lbs
(Lightweight – 6 Rounds)

The press conference overlooked the new crown jewel of Los Angeles soccer, the year-old Banc of California Stadium, home to Major League Soccer’s LAFC. In two days, the inaugural boxing card will take place at the stadium, headlined by Emanuel Navarrete’s WBO junior featherweight title defense against unbeaten challenger Francisco De Vaca (ESPN, 10 p.m. ET).

In the co-feature, former junior featherweight world champion Jessie Magdaleno will take on former world title challenger Rafael Rivera in a 10-round featherweight bout expected to produce fireworks.

At the Banc of California Stadium’s Founders Club, this is what the fighters had to say.

Emanuel Navarrete

“The reality is that my life has changed a lot in these last eight months. The fact that I have become world champion and that I have won over a wide margin to Isaac Dogboe, who came from beating Jessie Magdaleno, makes me very happy. I feel very satisfied with the results we have achieved for the hard work we have done in recent months.”

“The truth is that it doesn’t matter who is my opponent. I always prepare 100% for each of my fights, and this was no exception. We already did the hard work in the gym, and we are ready for a great fight. If De Vaca comes to fight hard, I am prepared to go even harder. I’m ready to give a great battle to all the fans.”

“I’ve said it several times already: If the other champions of the division don’t want to accept the challenge of unifying titles, I will be moving up to the featherweight division. If everything goes well on Saturday, maybe I will make another fight in the super bantamweight division, but if I don’t get a unification fight, I would go up to 126 pounds.”

Francisco De Vaca

“I’m grateful for this opportunity. I’m ready! I wanted to fight for a world title since I was 5 years old, and now that we have the opportunity, we are going to make our dream come true this Saturday. Come Saturday, there will be a new world champ for Phoenix and Michoacán. I’m coming for that world title.”

On his first 12-round fight

“I feel like I’m debuting all over again. We are ready! I’m going to give everyone a great show. I’ve focused on preparing very well mentally because physically I’m always ready. You will see that come Saturday night.”

Jessie Magdaleno

“{Fans can expect} the same Jessie Magdaleno that always brings a fight to the table, the Magdaleno that comes to fight and puts on a show for the fans. That’s what I’m always aiming for, to please the fans and show everyone what Jessie Magdaleno is capable of.”

YouTube video

“I don’t take none of these guys lightly. Every opponent is difficult. He’s fought great fighters. He’s been in there with great fighters and done a hell of a job. I can’t overlook him because he’s here to put on a great show as well. He throws a lot of punches, and he’s quick. That’s what I am, and that’s what is going to make a hell of a fight for this fight card.”

“I’m hoping once this fight goes through, everything goes well, God willing we come out with the victory, I’m hoping it puts me at the top of the spots in all the rankings, all the titles, so I can come back and be a two-time world champion.”

Rafael Rivera

“I’m very grateful and happy for the opportunity that Top Rank has given me. Fighting on the first card here is a big opportunity on a big stage, and I’m going to take advantage of it.”

“Jessie is a good fighter. I’ve seen him fight before. He’s an aggressive fighter, but I’m just here to do my work.”

“I’ve been fighting against top-level fighters for a long time, so I feel confident and secure that whether it’s against a world champion or a former champion, I’ll put up a good fight.”

ESPN and ESPN Deportes, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT

Emanuel Navarrete vs. Francisco De Vaca, 12 rounds, Navarrete’s WBO junior featherweight world title

Jessie Magdaleno vs. Rafael Rivera, 10 rounds, featherweight

ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT

Arnold Barboza Jr. vs. Ricky Sismundo, 10 rounds, super lightweight

Janibek Alimkhanuly vs. Stuart McLellan, 10 rounds, Alimkhanuly’s WBC Continental Americas and WBO Global titles

Chris van Heerden vs. Aslanbek Kozaev, 10 rounds, welterweight

Javier Molina vs. Manuel Mendez, 8 rounds, super lightweight

Dmitry Yun vs. Javier Martinez, 6 rounds, lightweight

Brian Mendoza vs. Rosemberg Gomez, 8 rounds, welterweight

Elvis Rodriguez vs. Jesus Gonzales, 6 rounds, super lightweight

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Zanfer Promotions and Iron Boy Promotions, tickets priced at $100, $80, $70, $60, $45 and $25 (not including applicable fees) are on sale now and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 800-745-3000 and in person at the Banc of California Stadium box office.

Use the hashtags #NavarreteDeVaca and #MagdalenoRivera to join the conversation on social media.