Two former world super-bantamweight champions will meet for the WBO crown recently vacated by Shakur Stevenson at featherweight, with the sanctioning body ordering a fight between rising Mexican star Emanuel Navarrete (32-1, 28 KOs) and Las Vegas’ Jessie Magdaleno (28-1, 18 KOs).
A purse bid has been scheduled for August 11 should there be no agreement between the respective teams, but with both fighters signed to Top Rank contracts are expected to be finalised beforehand.
Magdaleno lost his WBO 122lbs crown to Isaac Dogboe (LKO11) in April 2018 before Navarrete beat the Ghanaian (W12) to win the title in December of the same year.
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Two-weight world champion Carl Frampton is currently without an opponent for his August 15 fight at the BT Sport Studios.
Armenian import Vahram Vardanyan (21-1-1, 14 KOs) was forced to withdraw after a visa issue prevented him from entering the UK next week.
A new opponent is currently being sought with former British featherweight title challenger Darren Traynor among those being considered.
Frampton (27-2, 15 KOs) is still aiming to face WBO 130lbs champion Jamel Herring later this year after their summer showdown was curtailed by the Covid-19 Pandemic.
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After injury ruled out Darren Surtees, Glasgow’s unbeaten 140-pounder Craig MacIntyre will now face Birmingham’s Ishmael Ellis on the MTK Fight Night in Wakefield on August 12.
“We’ve had a look at Ellis and I don’t know what sort of fight to expect, but I’ll get the business done,” said MacIntyre (11-0-1, 4 KOs). “I feel like if I land cleanly then I can hurt most people in the division.”
Ellis (11-2, 0 KOs) added: “I’ve been ticking over gradually over the last few months to make sure I’m always fit. I’m expecting a high pace and skilful boxing.
“We’re both going to put on a good boxing display for the fans around the world to appreciate. I’m hoping a win will lead me on to more big shows to get my name out there a bit more.”
Main image: Emanuel Navarrete (left) stops Uriel Lopez in six. Photo: Zanfer Promotions/Top Rank.