Top Rank Brings Historic Card to Los Angeles
By Anthony “Stacks” Saldaña
Known for transcending the sport of boxing, Bob Arum and Top Rank will once again make boxing history as they become the first boxing promotional company to bring a fight card to the new Banc of California Stadium on Saturday, August 17th. Located in the heart of Los Angeles, The Banc of California Stadium is the first open-air stadium built in L.A since Dodger Stadium in 1962 and will now play host to a world championship night of boxing headlined by Emanuel Navarrete (27-1, 22 KOs) as he looks to defend his WBO super bantamweight title against the undefeated prospect Francisco De Vaca (20-0, 6 KOs). Navarrete the Mexico City native, captured the WBO World Super Bantamweight title on December 8th, 2018 with a 12 round unanimous decision victory over Isaac Dogboe at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York. After his win an immediate rematch with Dogboe would take place May 11, 2019 at the Convention Center in Tucson, Arizona. This time Navarrete would come away with a TKO victory over Dogboe. Navarrete would drop Dogboe in the 6th and 12th rounds that night before Dogboe’s corner would throw in the towel. Navarrete who has won 22 straight fights and who hasn’t tasted defeat since 2012 will now make the second defense of his title when he takes on the untested De Vaca.“This is a great opportunity to defend my title against an exciting fighter like De Vaca,” Navarrete said. “I’ve worked hard to prove myself as a true champion, and I won’t let anyone take that away from me. It’s going to be a great night outside in Los Angeles, and whenever you have two Mexicans in the ring, you can expect a battle.”
De Vaca who has fought the majority of his fights in Phoenix at the Celebrity Theater on club show cards will take a huge step-up in competition when he enters the ring against Navarrete for the opportunity to capture a world title. “This is the fight of my life,” De Vaca said. “I am going to show my Mexican heart and prove to the world that I belong on the world stage. I’m not going to talk any trash. I have a lot of respect for Emanuel Navarrete, but his reign will end on August 17.”
In the Co-main event former super bantamweight champion Jessie Magdaleno (26-1, 18 KOs) will take on Rafael Rivera (27-3-2, 18 KOs), from Tijuana, Mexico in a 10-round featherweight fight. Magdaleno who is coming off a win over Rico Ramos will only be making his second ring appearance since losing his world title in April 2018 to Isaac Dogboe. “This is a great opportunity as I continue my quest to become a two-weight world champion,” Magdaleno said. “Nothing is going to stand in my way, especially Rafael Rivera. He is a tough guy, but I am in a different class.” Rivera who has been in the ring with the likes of Leo Santa Cruz, JoJo Diaz, and fought to controversial split decision loss to undefeated prospect Joet Gonzalez, will now look to defeat Magdaleno and get another title shot. “I have experience at the highest levels of the sport, so Magdaleno is not going to intimidate me,” Rivera said. “I know what a win would mean for my career. I am going to bring my Mexican fighting spirit to Los Angeles and hand Magdaleno the second loss of his career.”
Navarrete-De Vaca and Magdaleno-Rivera will headline the inaugural fight card at the Banc of California Stadium and will be televised live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Zanfer Promotions and Iron Boy Promotions, tickets priced at $100, $80, $70, $60, $45 and $25 (not including applicable fees) are on sale now and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 800-745-3000 and in person at the Banc of California Stadium box office.
