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Mike Coppinger, ESPN Boxing Insider
A pair of title-fight rematches will take place Dec. 7 in Phoenix, sources told ESPN: Emanuel Navarrete-Oscar Valdez and Rafael Espinoza-Robeisy Ramirez.
Navarrete dominated Valdez in an August 2023 fight that didn’t beg for a rematch, while Espinoza scored ESPN’s 2023 Upset of the Year when he floored Ramirez in the final round of their rousing December bout.
Navarrete (38-2-1, 31 KOs) will return to 130 pounds for his third defense of the WBO junior lightweight title. The 29-year-old from Mexico moved up to 135 pounds for a May title fight vs. Denys Berinchyk but dropped a split decision in a lackluster performance.
Navarrete was attempting to become a four-division champion. Prior to the loss, his previous fight was a November draw with Robson Conceicao. Navarrete’s most recent win came via unanimous decision over Valdez.
Valdez (32-2, 24 KOs) has competed once since the lopsided loss to his countryman, a seventh-round TKO over Liam Wilson in March. Valdez, 33, is a former 126- and 130-pound titleholder. He’s ESPN’s No. 4 junior lightweight while Navarrete is No. 1.
Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) has fought once since he captured the WBO title from Ramirez, a fourth-round TKO victory over Sergio Chirino in July. The 30-year-old Espinoza, from Mexico, is ESPN’s No. 2 featherweight.
Ramirez, 30, a two-time Olympic gold medalist from Cuba, rebounded from the loss with a seventh-round TKO in June vs. Brandon Benitez. Ramirez (14-2, 9 KOs) is ESPN’s No. 8 boxer at 126 pounds.