Top Rank’s Arum wasted no time lining up Navarrete September fight

Legendary Top Rank Boxing promoter Bob Arum obviously liked what he saw from WBO Super Bantamweight champion Emanuel Navarrete on Saturday night. That’s because after Navarrete’s second successful title defense ended with a third round knockout, Arum has promised to the Mexican-born champion that he’ll be part of the Top-Ranked September 14th Show in Las Vegas. That night will be headlined by Tyson Fury’s heavyweight bout with Otto Wallin in the main event.

First, to the main event fight Saturday night at the new Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, as Navarrete needed less than three rounds to destroy WBO contender Francisco DeVaca.

The win improved Navarrete to 28 – 1 with Saturday being his 23rd consecutive victory.

That’s when the 80 year old multi-milionaire Arum climbed into the ring for the post-fight celebration for Navarrete with his camp. And, he quickly made public his intention of having the Mexican born champion fight during their Independence Holiday weekend a month from now.

“Congratulations. You deserve it (a reward). He will be in Las Vegas on September 14th. He’s Mexican and the best fighter in Mexico will be there defending his title,” Arum said to ESPN and on the public address mic for the fans in attendance.

Navarrete burst on the World Championship scene with a 12 round unanimous decision win over Ghana’s Isaac Dogboe in December of 2018 to capture the WBO 122 lbs. belt. Then in May, he defeated Dogboe for a second time with a 12 round TKO to retain his championship.

Now, with the DeVaca win on Saturday on ESPN, clearly Navarrete has momentum and some name recognition for top-ranked to put him on the undercard.

The one intriguing variable is: Navarrete will have just  four weeks before he steps back through the ropes, again, And, at this point, he doesn’t even know the opponent.

However, you have to believe that Aaron has at least explored this possibility with Navarrete’s promotional  and management people. And, Arum  probably already has an opponent or two in mind for September 14th.

And, as the cliche’ goes for Navarrate, “there’s no time like the present.”

Right now? Navarrete is young (24), talented and headed to Vegas in September.