SAN DIEGO, California, August 15, 2019 – While the combat sports world is focused on a big UFC event this Saturday, don’t let a solid Southern California boxing card fly under your radar. Top Rank tests a new venue for boxing, the Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, hosting a card headed by WBO Junior Featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete of Mexico (27-1, 23 KOs) taking on undefeated countryman Francisco De Vaca (20-0, 6 KOs), now a resident of Phoenix, Arizona.
The main event and undercards air on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, with all undercard fights available on ESPN+ starting at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.
No such thing as too many boxing venues in Southern California
The venue gets top billing along with the main event. The Banc of California Stadium is just over a year old, home to the LAFC Major League Soccer franchise. It hosted a public workout event for Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin last August prior to their rematch fight, and received rave reviews from boxing media in attendance.
READ MORE: Alvarez and Golovkin show Los Angeles boxing fans the love
Jessie Magdaleno takes a tour of the Banc of California Stadium prior to Saturday’s inaugural boxing card. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing
Southern California isn’t shy of quality venues for boxing, The region hosts so many fight cards in any given year, there’s really no such thing as too many options. It’s like having too much freeway capacity. And it’s no coincidence the regional soccer rivalry between the upstart LAFC and the established L-A Galaxy team to the south in Carson at Dignity Health Sports Park (AKA Stub Hub) is called “El Trafico.” For Saturday’s card, the capacity will be set up for 5,500 seats.
Navarrete: ‘I always prepare 100 percent’
Emanuel Navarrete selects his gloves for Saturday’s bout against Francisco De Vaca. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing
Navarrete first made his mark with an upset win over titleholder Isaac Dogboe of Ghana last December, then proved it wasn’t a fluke by duplicating the result in their second fight in May. Give Navarrete credit for getting back in the ring just three months later, even if his opponent isn’t at his level. De Vaca has only fought once outside Phoenix his entire boxing career, so appearing in a jewel box of a soccer stadium will be a serious change of venue.
“I feel very satisfied with the results we have achieved for the hard work we have done in recent months,” said Navarrete. “The truth is that it doesn’t matter who is my opponent. I always prepare 100 percent 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.”
Emanuel Navarrete and Francisco De Vaca face off at Friday’s weigh-in. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing
De Vaca says he’s ready for his first 12-round fight. “I wanted to fight for a world title since I was five years old, and now that we have the opportunity, we are going to make our dream come true this Saturday. 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.”
Navarrete is on the tall side for a junior featherweight at 5-7, with a 72-inch reach. De Vaca is three inches shorter and made to order. Rather than stop opponents with one-punch power, Navarrete never slows down and piles on the damage until his opponents are in such deep water they’ll never make it back to shore. Unless DeVaca makes some significant adjustments, he’ll meet the same fate as Dogboe. Fans won’t really mind.
Junior featherweight fireworks: Magdaleno vs Rivera
Jessie Magdaleno squares off against Rafael Rivera at Friday’s weigh-in. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing
In the co-feature, former junior featherweight world champion Jessie Magdaleno of Las Vegas (26-12, 18 KOs) will take on former world title challenger Rafael Rivera of Tijuana (27-3-2, 18 KOs) in a 10-round featherweight bout.
Expect both men to bring the action. This won’t be a fight of finesse; this will be a war of attrition.
“{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,” said Magdaleno of his approach.
Rivera says he won’t let the opportunity to fight on a big stage get away. “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.”
Undercard lineup features Barboza Jr. vs Sismundo
Yes, Ricky Sismundo is wearing Hulk-green body paint at Friday’s weigh-in alongside Arnold Barboza Jr. at Banc of California Stadium. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing
Los Angeles based welterweight Arnold Barboza Jr. (21-0, 8 KOs) will have plenty of fans in the seats as he faces durable Filipino veteran Ricky Sismundo (35-14-3, 17 KOs).
Chris van Heerden (27-2-1, 12 KOs), a native of South Africa recently relocated to Southern California, is best known to Americans for his 2015 loss to Errol Spence Jr. He faces Aslanbek Kozaev of Russia (33-2-1, 8 KOs) in a 10 round welterweight fight.
Janikbek Alimkhanuly and Stuart McLellan post at Friday’s weigh-in. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing
Accomplished amateur Janibek Alimkhanuly of Kazahkstan (6-0, 2 KOs) hope to keep his pro career perfect against Stuart McLellan of British Columbia (27-3-3, 11 KOs) with Alimkhanuly’s WBC Continental Americas and WBO Global middleweight titles at stake.
Norwalk native Javier Molina (19-2, 8 KOs) faces Manuel Mendez of Colton, California (16-5-3, 11 KOs), fight eight rounds at super lightweight.
Lightweight Dmitry Yun and a masked Javier Martinez pose at Friday’s weigh-in. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing
Lightweight Dmitry Yun of Uzbekistan (1-0) follows up his debut in June against vs. Javier Martinez of Austin, Texas (4-6, 3 KOs).
Welterweight Brian Mendoza of Las Vegas (17-0, 12 KOs) has only been past four rounds once. He’ll fight a scheduled eight against Rosemberg Gomez of Nicaragua (20-7-1, 16 KOs).
Gayle Lynn Falkenthal, APR, is a veteran boxing observer covering the Sweet Science for Communities from San Diego, California. Read more Ringside Seat in Communities Digital News. Follow Gayle on Facebook and on Twitter @PRProSanDiego.
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