BOXXER Fight Night in Newcastle on Saturday night is live on Sky Sports Main Event and Arena from 7.30pm - Hughie Fury, Chris Eubank Jr and Savannah Marshall feature
Friday 15 October 2021 09:42, UK
Emanuel Navarrete and Joet Gonzalez were in peak condition before a tense stare-down at the weigh-in ahead of their world championship encounter.
Navarrete's WBO featherweight title is up for grabs in San Diego, live on Sky Sports Arena, from 4am on Saturday morning.
"I feel very strong," said Mexico's Navarrete, who has won 34 of his 35 fights.
"I've seen changes in my body for the best, and I think this division is the best for me.
"I think this is going to be a tough fight. He is a tough opponent. We are basically fighting in his hometown, closer to where he lives. Without a doubt, he's a great fighter. He always comes forward. I expect a tough fight.
"Moving up [in weight] is not something that I'm considering now. I'm just focused on the fight with Joet. What I've heard is comments, but I'm not really thinking about moving up."
California's Gonzalez, who has won 24 of 25, reflected on his unsuccessful world title challenge against Shakur Stevenson: "Sometimes it's just not your night. I work hard and train hard for every fight.
"I don't take nobody lightly. It just simply wasn't my night. I rebounded with a win over Miguel Marriaga, and I think I showed the public I'm here to fight the best out there.
"It's not an easy fight. It's a tough fight. Navarrete has a style that's very unique, very hard to figure out, and that's why he's a champion. I trained really hard, and I'm coming with everything. I'm planning on leaving with that belt.
"It means everything. It's my childhood dream. I always wanted to be a world champion. That's why I started boxing in the beginning. That's the plan, to bring that belt back home."
October 16 - Top Rank in San Diego
Emanuel Navarrete vs Joet Gonzalez - WBO featherweight title
October 16 - BOXXER in Newcastle
Savannah Marshall vs Lolita Muzeya - WBO middleweight title
Hughie Fury vs Christian Hammer
Chris Eubank Jr vs Wanik Awdijan
October 24 - Top Rank in Atlanta
Jamel Herring vs Shakur Stevenson - WBO super-featherweight title
October 31 - Top Rank in New York
Jose Zepeda vs Josue Vargas
November 6 - Top Rank in Las Vegas
Mikaela Mayer vs Maiva Hamadouche - IBF and WBO super-featherweight titles
November 6 - BOXXER in Liverpool
November 20 - BOXXER in London
Richard Riakporhe vs Olanrewaju Durodola
Caroline Dubois professional debut
November 20 - Top Rank in Las Vegas
Terence Crawford vs Shawn Porter - WBO welterweight title
December 11 - Top Rank in Las Vegas
Vasiliy Lomachenko vs Richard Commey
December 17 - Top Rank in Montreal
Artur Beterbiev vs Marcus Browne - IBF and WBC light-heavyweight titles
December 18 - Top Rank in Glasgow
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall - undisputed super-lightweight title
