LOS ANGELES – Two-division champion Oscar Valdez has officially earned his second shot to claim the WBO junior lightweight belt from Emanuel Navarrete, with officials confirming their rematch is set to be staged Dec. 7 in Glendale, Ariz.
Valdez’s attorney, Pat English, told BoxingScene of the bout’s date Thursday, and Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum confirmed the venue as Desert Diamond Arena, where the promotion will also stage Jaime Munguia’s Sept. 20 super-middleweight bout against Erik Bazinyan.
Valdez, 33, appeared to have lost his opportunity to become a champion again when Navarrete (38-2-1, 31 KOs) defeated Valdez (32-2, 24 KOs) by unanimous decision one year ago this month in Glendale.
Since then, Valdez has produced an emotion-packed seventh-round TKO of Liam Wilson March 29 in Glendale.
Navarrete, meanwhile, attempted to become a four-division champion on May 18, but was sluggish and aimless in an upset loss to Ukraine’s Denis Berinchyk with the WBO 135-pound belt on the line.
That sent Navarrete back to 130 pounds, and the WBO had already ruled Valdez would be the challenger.
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