Emanuel Navarrete vs Juan Miguel Elorde

• Navarrete vs Elorde goes Saturday, September 14th at 11:00 pm EST
• Can Navarrete make his third consecutive title defense?
• Can Elorde completely shake the foundations of the super bantamweight hierarchy?

Navarrete vs Elorde is a 12 round super bantamweight contest for the WBO world title. These 122lb’ers are slated as the co-main event on what, on paper, looks like an electric night of fights. This bout appears to pundits and fans alike to be an opportunity for Top Rank to showcase the dynamic skills of Navarrete on a big stage. But crazy upsets happen as the sweet science proves time and again. T-Mobile Arena is the venue but fans can watch at home with the broadcast on ESPN+. Peep the fight odds and the breakdown of the matchup below.

Navarrete vs Elorde Odds

*Odds taken 09/11/19

Even though he has been competing more in America than Mexico lately, Navarrete still proudly waves the Mexican flag. Navarrete is cognizant that September 14th is about his nation’s independence which seems to be galvanizing him when he goes to war on that night.

Navarrete enters the contest on a 23 fight winning streak while Elorde has gone unbeaten in his last 18 prizefights. Both impressive streaks but there’s a disparate difference in quality and the champion has a clear edge there. For Navarrete vs Elorde, I’m favoring the former over the latter.

Navarrete Retains With Style Points

This is Elorde’s first crack at a world title after winning the WBO Asia Pacific super bantamweight title and defending it successfully multiple times. Navarrete made his first foray into the world title scene in December 2018 and has been carving out his own path since.

Elorde has a 52-percent KO rate and has mostly faced unheralded Southeast Asian pugilists. I mention the KO rate because I feel Elorde’s technical skills and resume aren’t at Navarrete’s level and as already mentioned he’s not exactly a proven knockout artist.

For Navarrete, it marks a super quick turnaround between fights. He last competed less than a month ago. This quick turnaround harkens back to a bygone era of boxing and is a breath of fresh air. A champion prizefighter looking to be as active as possible and fight as many top guys as he can. Navarrete definitely did not sustain much, if any, damage in that last fight which obviously helped the quick turnaround happen.

Ringside angle of the absolute SLUGFEST from Round 3 that secured the TKO for Emanuel Navarrete! ? Round of the Year candidate? #NavarreteDeVaca pic.twitter.com/QGdT3ZjZUh

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) August 18, 2019

Elorde is ranked #2 by the WBO but this reads like a mismatch on paper. Juan Miguel Elorde has only once fought out of the Philippines and his lone career loss is from that overseas effort in Las Vegas. Elorde is also 32 and he’s facing a 24-year-old phenom of a champion with an 83-percent KO rate.

The number one ranked, per Box Rec, Navarrete is taking on an opponent who is ranked #70 by the same outlet. Elorde has a bit of a lankier frame than Navarrete is generally used to. The one-inch height advantage that Elorde has is one variable that could possibly prove interesting though I doubt it.

Navarrete vs Elorde Tale of the Tape

Juan Miguel Elorde is the grandson of the legendary super featherweight titlist and Boxing Hall of Famer Gabriel Elorde. I don’t see Juan Miguel replicating the successes of his grandfather Gabriel. At least not with Navarrete being his opponent. I think Navarrete cracks Elorde and puts him out on the canvas inside of six rounds.

Pick: Navarrete (-2500)