Emanuel Navarrete will make the third defense of this WBO junior featherweight title

Emanuel Navarrete will make the third defense of this WBO junior featherweight title against Juan Miguel Elorde, grandson of the late Filipino boxing icon “Flash” Elorde. Navarrete last fought August 17, knocking out Francisco De Vaca in the third round.

Former two-division world champion Jose Pedraza will make his 140-pound debut against former world title challenger Jose Zepeda in a 10-rounder, former super flyweight world champion Carlos Cuadras will battle the upset-minded Jose Maria Cardenas, and 19-year-old lightweight sensation Gabriel Flores Jr. will face Miguel Angel Aispuro in a bout scheduled for eight or six rounds.

This is what the fighters had to say.

Bob Arum

On Navarrete

“If you’re a fighter, you want to fight as much as possible. This kid here, if he could, {if it wasn’t for} injuries and so forth, would fight eight times a year and be happy.”

Emanuel Navarrete

“I was very surprised {to get the offer to fight on short notice}, but I knew it was a great opportunity so we took it. My mentality was I had to train harder and not take a long break because we knew the opportunity that was in front of us.”

“I want to thank Bob Arum. He gave me the opportunity to fight for the title against {Isaac} Dogboe, then the rematch, then De Vaca. Now I’m here, a big card. I just want to tell {Bob}, if he lets me, I want to fight in December, too. I will give it my all and show everyone I’m doing things the right way.”

“I want to do my best at 122 {pounds}, and the biggest thing in the division is to unify titles. If my body permits it, I’m going to stay here and unify titles. But if not, I am going to move up, and I have a great career in front of me.”

Juan Miguel Elorde

“It’s a big opportunity, a great experience for me. I’d like to thank everyone for giving me this chance.”

On taking the fight on short notice

“We’re ready because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. When they called, we accepted the challenge because every boxer wants to be a world champion.”

“This is my dream, to become a world champion. I think it’s coming to reality. Thank you, Mr. Bob Arum.”