Mexican star Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete will defend his WBO featherweight world title in the main event against countryman Eduardo “El Fantastico” Baez on Saturday, Aug. 20 at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+. The event takes place at Pechanga Arena San Diego.
Navarrete (35-1, 29 KOs), a two-division world champion, returns to the ring for the first time in 10 months to face off against aggressive opponent Baez (21-2-2, 7 KOs).
The 10-round welterweight co-feature presents a battle between San Diego native Giovani Santillan (29-0,16 KOs) risking his unbeaten record against opponent Julio Luna (19-0-2, 10 KOs), who is making his United States debut.
In a four-round special feature, undefeated middleweight and 22-year-old prospect Nico Ali Walsh, (5-0, 4 KOs) grandson of Muhammad Ali, will fight 30-year-old Reyes Sanchez (7-2, 3 KOs) in a rematch of their December 2021 bout that Ali Walsh edged by majority decision. Walsh will fight in the historic venue that hosted one of his grandfather’s most memorable bouts. In March 1973, Ali and Ken Norton battled for 12 rounds at what was then known as San Diego Sports Arena. Ali suffered a broken jaw and lost a split decision in a major upset.
ESPN’s Joe Tessitore will call the action ringside with Hall of Famer Andre Ward and future Hall of Famer Timothy Bradley as analysts; Mark Kriegel and Bernardo Osuna will serve as reporters.
Main Card (ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN+)
Emanuel Navarrete vs. Eduardo Baez
Giovani Santillan vs. Julio Luna
Nico Ali Walsh vs. Reyes Sanchez
Austin Brooks vs. Oliver Galicia
Prelim Undercard (ESPN+)
Lindolfo Delgado vs. Omar Aguilar
Xavier Martinez vs. Alejandro Guerrero
Miguel Contreras vs. Josec Ruiz
Luis Alberto Lopez vs. Yeison Vargas
Antonio Mireles vs. Kaleel Carter
Top Rank: Emanuel Navarrete vs. Eduardo Baez Battle for WBO World Featherweight Championship
LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ on Saturday, August 20, 2022 at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT.
Giovani Santillan vs. Julio Luna in Welterweight Co-Feature, Nico Ali Walsh vs. Reyes Sanchez in Special Middleweight Feature Undercard Streams Live and Exclusively on ESPN+ at 6:30 p.m. ET/ 3:30 p.m. PT.
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Press Release from ESPN Press Room.
