TUCSON, Ariz. -- There will be a pair of high-level rematches on May 11 on ESPN. The main event of that card will be a junior lightweight title fight between champion Miguel Berchelt and challenger Francisco Vargas. The co-feature will pit recently crowned WBO junior featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete against the man who he took that title from, Isaac Dogboe.
Junior featherweights don't come much bigger than Navarrete (26-1, 22 KOs). He stands at 5-feet, 7-inches and has a reach of 72-inches. That height and reach is one reason he beat Dogboe in their first fight. It doesn't hurt that Navarrete also happens to have a ton of power, especially for the lower weight divisions. Navarrete's size allows him to control the distance from the outside with his jab, especially against a smaller fighter like Dogboe. Along with that jab the champion also has a good left hook and a right hand he will throw from various angles, including throwing it as an uppercut that often catches opponents by surprise. Navarrete isn't without flaws though. He tends to fall in with his punches and often backs straight up to avoid return fire but with his size he can afford to do that more than most fighters.
Navarrete hails from Mexico and until he stepped in the ring with Dogboe in New York he had never once fought outside of his home country. After starting his professional career in 2012 Navarrete went 5-0 with five knockouts before dropping a unanimous decision for his first defeat. Since that loss he has been a perfect 21-0 with 17 knockouts but during that stretch he hasn't exactly faced an elite, or even all that great level of opposition. Dogboe was by far the best opponent he's been in the ring with and he rose to the occasion on his way to a clear unanimous decision victory. Now Navarrete finds himself in the unfamiliar position of having to defend a world title and he will have to defend it against the man he took it from.
Dogboe (20-1, 14 KOs) gives up 5-inches in height and 6-inches in reach to Navarrete and that difference in size played a role in their first fight. He is the type of fighter who loves to come forward and mix things up on the inside. While Dogboe's left hook is a good punch it is his right hand that does the serious damage. He throws that punch with a lot on it and always looks to do damage with it whether he is throwing it upstairs or to the body. Against Navarrete it will be difficult for Dogboe to find much success from the outside. He will need to slip the jab of the bigger man, get inside, and do damage to the body. However, if Dogboe lets Navarrete once again control the distance he could find himself at the wrong end of another decision loss.
Although Dogboe began his professional career in 2013 it wasn't really until 2018 that most fans took notice. The Ghanaian started that year by beating the always tough Cesar Juarez but really made a name for himself later that year when he rallied back from a first round knockdown to stop Jessie Magdaleno in the 11th round. He followed that victory up by demolishing veteran fighter Hidenori Otake, stopping him in the first round. Then came the loss to Navarrete and now comes his chance for redemption.
Whoever controls the distance and pace of this fight will come out on top. Naverrete is much bigger and that size and strength helped him win their first fight. If Navarrete can keep Dogboe at the end of his jab and tag him with enough power punches, he will find plenty of success. He should also look to catch Dogboe with uppercuts as the smaller fighter tries to work his way inside. Dogboe is going to need to consistently slip Navarrete's jab if he wants to win this fight. If he gets caught at the end of the jab all night he won't be able to do much work of his own. However, if he can slip that punch and get inside he can start working the body of the bigger man, bring his hands down, and start to land significant punches upstairs. While Navarrete needs to have a repeat performance from their first fight it will be Dogboe who will have to have made adjustments if he wants his title back.
PREDICTION: Isaac Dogboe seemed ill-prepared for the size and strength of Emanuel Navarrete in their first fight. In the rematch he will have learned from his past mistakes and make enough adjustments to win by the way of unanimous decision, taking back his WBO title.
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| Navarrete celebrating his victory over Isaac Dogboe |
Navarrete hails from Mexico and until he stepped in the ring with Dogboe in New York he had never once fought outside of his home country. After starting his professional career in 2012 Navarrete went 5-0 with five knockouts before dropping a unanimous decision for his first defeat. Since that loss he has been a perfect 21-0 with 17 knockouts but during that stretch he hasn't exactly faced an elite, or even all that great level of opposition. Dogboe was by far the best opponent he's been in the ring with and he rose to the occasion on his way to a clear unanimous decision victory. Now Navarrete finds himself in the unfamiliar position of having to defend a world title and he will have to defend it against the man he took it from.
Dogboe (20-1, 14 KOs) gives up 5-inches in height and 6-inches in reach to Navarrete and that difference in size played a role in their first fight. He is the type of fighter who loves to come forward and mix things up on the inside. While Dogboe's left hook is a good punch it is his right hand that does the serious damage. He throws that punch with a lot on it and always looks to do damage with it whether he is throwing it upstairs or to the body. Against Navarrete it will be difficult for Dogboe to find much success from the outside. He will need to slip the jab of the bigger man, get inside, and do damage to the body. However, if Dogboe lets Navarrete once again control the distance he could find himself at the wrong end of another decision loss.
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| Dogboe shooting a jab against Emanuel Navarrete |
Whoever controls the distance and pace of this fight will come out on top. Naverrete is much bigger and that size and strength helped him win their first fight. If Navarrete can keep Dogboe at the end of his jab and tag him with enough power punches, he will find plenty of success. He should also look to catch Dogboe with uppercuts as the smaller fighter tries to work his way inside. Dogboe is going to need to consistently slip Navarrete's jab if he wants to win this fight. If he gets caught at the end of the jab all night he won't be able to do much work of his own. However, if he can slip that punch and get inside he can start working the body of the bigger man, bring his hands down, and start to land significant punches upstairs. While Navarrete needs to have a repeat performance from their first fight it will be Dogboe who will have to have made adjustments if he wants his title back.
PREDICTION: Isaac Dogboe seemed ill-prepared for the size and strength of Emanuel Navarrete in their first fight. In the rematch he will have learned from his past mistakes and make enough adjustments to win by the way of unanimous decision, taking back his WBO title.
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