Emanuel Navarrete successfully defended his WBO featherweight title against Eduardo Baez, clinching the contest via a sixth-round body-shot KO in San Diego.
The Mexican (35-1, 30KO), a two-division champion, began sluggishly in what was his first bout for 10 months – the fighter’s longest ring absence in eight years.
Indeed, while he grew into the contest thereafter, two of the three judges in Pat Russell (49-46) and Zachary Young (50-45) had him behind on the scorecard prior to the knockout, with Dr Lou Moret having him narrowly ahead (48-47).
Despite Baez’s (22-2-2, 7KO) promising showing, demonstrating movement, strong defence and a chin, it was a vicious body shot by Navarrete that was to prove the challenger’s undoing.
Indeed, Navarrete appeared more purposeful at the start of round six, throwing his left hook with greater conviction, and though Baez defended against the attack, blocking shots to the head with a tight guard, he wasn’t prepared for the body shot which would suddenly end the fight.