Liam Wilson was prepared to go to the ends of the earth for a shot on the vacant WBO junior light-weight title, which he will get against Emanuel Navarrete, the reigning WBO featherweight titlist, who’s transferring up in weight.
They may meet in the main event of a Top Rank Boxing on ESPN tripleheader on Friday (ESPN/ESPN Deportes/ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET) at Desert Diamond Enviornment in Glendale, Arizona.
A take a look at the numbers forward of tomorrow evening 👀📊#NavarreteWilson | FRI at 10PM ET | @ESPN pic.twitter.com/XMzY1CeAsb
— Prime Rank Boxing (@trboxing) February 2, 2023
Australia’s Wilson took the struggle when former titlist Oscar Valdez suffered a coaching harm in mid-December, which saved him from dealing with Navarrete for the 130-pound belt.
The journey from Australia to Glendale is lengthy sufficient however that was solely a part of what Wilson went via to guarantee himself of being within the ring on Friday.
He traveled from his residence in Australia to Washington, D.C., to coach at Barry Hunter’s Headbangers gymnasium as a result of he wished to work with Hunter pupil and former junior featherweight titlist Isaac Dogboe, who misplaced twice to Navarrete in title bouts however crammed Wilson in on what to anticipate.
Then Wilson needed to fly to London, which was the closest location the place he might go to be able to finalize his work visa, and spent about 10 days there. Then it was a flight again to Washington for a few weeks to complete camp earlier than flying to Glendale for struggle week.
Hear us discussing extra of Wilson’s travels on the latest “Big Fight Weekend Preview” podcast by clicking beneath,
A bit of additional journey and plenty of time zones adjustments wasn’t going to maintain Wilson from his large probability.
“This can be a probability to meet my dream and develop into a world champion,” Wilson mentioned this week. “I’ve carried out 17 years of exhausting work for this second. I’ve put in numerous exhausting work. I’ve fought whoever they’ve put in entrance of me. I’m prepared for Friday evening.
“I’ve taken one exhausting struggle after one other. Towards Matias Rueda (in his most up-to-date bout in June), I fought with one hand. I broke my hand halfway via the struggle. However I confirmed my resilience. The struggle proved to myself, my nation and the world that I’ve what it takes to develop into world champion and that I’ve to be in these fights.”
Wilson (11-1, 7 KOs), 26, will probably be combating exterior of his residence nation of Australia for the primary time and has gained two fights in a row since a fifth-round knockout loss to Joe Noynay in July 2021, together with second-round knockout of Noynay in a right away rematch final March.
“This implies every little thing,” Wilson mentioned of the title shot. “That is what me, my workforce, my promoter, my supervisor and my trainers have labored for. We’ve taken the dangers and challenges, and I do know that on struggle evening I’ve a troublesome struggle forward of me. Navarrete is a superb champion, however I do plan on giving him the struggle of his life. I’m going to win.”
Navarrete (36-1, 30 KOs), 28, of Mexico, is aiming to win a world title in a 3rd division.
“For me and my workforce, being a three-division world champion would be the end result of yet one more objective in my profession,” Navarrete mentioned via an interpreter. “We all know that it gained’t be simple. However, by doing that, I’ll really feel that I’ve carried out one thing good in my profession, and I’ll be happy with what I’ve achieved in my 10 years as an expert boxer.”
