Emanuel Navarrete has secured his status as a three-division champion, outlasting Australia's Liam Wilson in a brutal and thrilling contest in Arizona.
The pair clashed for the vacant WBO super-featherweight title on February 3 (Feb. 4 in Australia) and after a knockdwon from Wilson in the fourth round, Navarrete was able to regain the momentum and stop the tenacious underdog in the ninth.
Wilson's loss didn't come without some controversy however, with Navarrete allowed an extended period to recover from the fourth-round knockdown.
Was Liam Wilson robbed by this mouthpiece debacle?
— MAIN EVENT (@MainEventTV) February 4, 2023
Full Story: https://t.co/VN91cJOtNK pic.twitter.com/NDU1XJ2qYW
The Sporting News had all the action live throughout the card below.
MORE: Liam Wilson sensationally accuses Emanuel Navarrete camp of cheating amid scale tampering drama
Emanuel Navarrete vs. Liam Wilson results and highlights
Emanuel Navarrete def. Liam Wilson via KO/TKO
Round 9: IT'S ALL OVER! Navarrete drops Wilson early in the ninth round but the Aussie gets up and continues. Navarrete continues to mount the pressure and lands some massive bombs with Wilson up against the ropes. The referee steps in and calls the fight as Navarrete continued to get the better of Wilson.
Round 8: Wilson scores with a few solid shots, but they don't seem to faze his opponent. Navarette's body shots continue to land and he backs Wilson up in the corner, landing a quick flurry of punches to the head. Wilson cops a straight left to end the round, with Navarrete clearly back in control.
Round 7: Navarette is the aggressor but Wilson is defending well and remaining composed. Navarrete throws a flurry of shots but Wilson is able to mostly evade. Blood begins to spill from the nose of the Aussie and the Mexican star launches a stunning attack to finish the round. Wilson survives a tough round.
Round 6: Navarrete continues to act as the aggressor but Wilson hangs with him. Navarrete hurts him with some good body shots and a right hook to the chin. Wilson clips Navarrete and staggers him again late in the round! This fight doesn't look like it will be going the distance, one way or the other.
Round 5: Navarrete looks shaky and Wilson can smell blood in the water. Wilson lands with a straight left and a couple of body shots. Navarrete punches his way through the second-half of the round to regain some momentum, landing some aggressive shots.
Round 4: Wilson comes out of the blocks hard in the fourth round, but Navarrete is able to weather the storm early. WILSON LANDS A BRUTAL COMBINATION AND DROPS NAVARRETE!!! The official allows it to continue and the bell saves the two-division champion. What a round for the Aussie underdog!
WILSON KNOCKS NAVARRETE DOWN IN ROUND 4!
Can he secure the world title?
📺 WATCH #NavarreteWilson on Ch. 505 or stream via@kayosports https://t.co/JF6CTPVicd
✍️ BLOG https://t.co/q4f9mmWXR1 pic.twitter.com/YAfQfpRiDe — MAIN EVENT (@MainEventTV) February 4, 2023
Round 3: Navarrete goes on the attack but Wilson manages to evade reasonably well. Navarrete lands an uppercut late in the round.
Round 2: Both men miss wildly, before Navarrete boxes his way out of the corner and forces Wilson back. Navarrate scores nicely on the inside with Wilson up against the ropes. Wilson swings aggressively and misses, allowing Navarrete to capitalise with a strong combination of shots. Wilson slips but regains his composure, before finishing the round on the receiving end of some hard punches in the corner.
Round 1: Wilson looks to press forward early in the opening round. The Aussie scores with a left hook, before the pair trade blows in the clinch. The official steps in to warn both fighters. Solid first round from both men as they test he waters.
It's time for the main event! Liam Wilson steps out of Australia for the first time and will go into the fight as a massive underdog. Wilson comes out to 'Eye Of The Tiger' with little fanfare, while Navarrete walks out to some traditional Mexican music with his entire crew behind him.
HERE WE GO!
The Liam Wilson fight is now live!
📺 WATCH #NavarreteWilson on Ch. 505 or stream via@kayosports https://t.co/JF6CTPVicd
✍️ BLOG https://t.co/q4f9mmWXR1 pic.twitter.com/gTNtvu3z7L — MAIN EVENT (@MainEventTV) February 4, 2023
Arnold Barboza Jr. def. Jose Pedraza via unanimous decision (97-93 96-94 96-94)
Barboza managed to dictate terms throughout the the majority of the 10 rounds. Pedraza refused to give in but was outclassed in a tight contest by his younger opponent.
Richard Torrez Jr. def. James Bryant via KO/TKO
Torrez landed a big shot late in the opening round that dropped his opponent. Bryant was saved by the bell, but his corner intervened in between rounds and called the fight.
Prelims
- Andres Cortes def. Luis Melendez via unanimous decision (100-90 100-90 100-90)
- Nico Ali Walsh def. Eduardo Ayala via unanimous decision (60-53 59-55 59-55)
- Lindolfo Delgado def. Clarence Booth via unanimous decision (80-71 79-72 79-72)
- Emiliano Vargas def. Francisco Duque via unanimous decision (40-36 40-36 40-36)
Navarrete vs. Wilson start time
- Date: Friday, February 3 | Saturday, February 4
- Main card: 10 p.m. ET | 3 a.m. GMT | 2 p.m. AEDT
- Main event: 12 a.m. ET | 5 a.m. GMT | 4 p.m. AEDT (approx.)
How to watch Navarrete vs. Wilson
| Country | Date | Channel + Live Stream (main card) |
| United States | Sat. Feb 4 | ESPN+ |
| United Kingdom | Sat. Feb 5 | BT Sport |
| Australia | Sun. Feb 5 | Kayo, Fox Sports 505 |
In the United States, Navarrete vs. Wilson is available on ESPN+.
BT Sport will host the fight in the U.K. while Fox Sports 505 and Kayo will support the fight in Australia.
Navarrete vs. Wilson fight card
- Emanuel Navarrete vs. Liam Wilson for the vacant WBO super-featherweight title
- Jose Pedraza vs. Arnold Barboza Jr.
- Andres Cortes vs. Luis Melendez
- Xavier Martinez vs. Yohan Vasquez
- Nico Ali Walsh vs. Eduardo Ayala
- Lindolfo Delgado vs. Clarence Booth
- Richard Torrez Jr. vs. James Bryant
- Emiliano Vargas vs. Francisco Duque
- Yves Ulysse Jr. vs. Javier Molina
