Champions Shakur, Navarrete Vacate Titles To Move Up In Weight

Both asked to become top challenger in their new divisions

Undefeated star Shakur Stevenson and Mexican warrior Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete officially relinquished their World Boxing Organization Championship Titles and requested to become the number one ranked challengers in their new weight divisions.

Shakur won the Featherweight Championship last October 26, defeating then undefeated Joet González by unanimous decision in Reno, Nevada.

On July 7, Shakur wrote to the WBO to notify this sanctioning body that he was having serious difficulties making the division’s 126-pound limit. Because of this, he decided to move up in weight requested to be ranked in the Junior Lightweight (130 pounds) division, where Jamel Herring is the current WBO ruler.

“I look forward in the very near future to fighting for another World Championship within the WBO,” Stevenson, silver medalist in the 2016 Olympic Games said in his email to the WBO.

WBO President Francisco Valcárcel Mulero, Esq. said that Shakur will become the number one challenger at 130 pounds.

Meanwhile, Navarrete’s advisor, Guillermo Brito Rodríguez wrote to the WBO on July 11 to notify that ‘Vaquero” was relinquishing his WBO Junior Featherweight Title and moving up to the Featherweight division for similar reasons.

Navarrete was crowned WBO 122-pound World Champion December 8, 2018, with an impressive unanimous decision victory over then-undefeated titlist Isaac Dogboe, of Ghana. He then knocked him out in the immediate rematch. In total, “Vaquero” successfully defended his crown five times.

In his email, Brito Rodríguez requested that Navarrete be named the top challenger at his new division.

Regarding Navarrete, Valcárcel said that he will also be ranked number one contender and could face the highest available contender for the vacant title. He mentioned Irish Olympian Michael Conlan, former Champion Jesse Magdaleno, and Rubén Villa as possible opponents.

At only 23 years of age, Shakur, who was considered the brightest star in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team, has shown great potential as a young champion in the professional ranks with a blend of impressive speed, great technique, and natural instincts inside the ring.

Navarrete, 25 years-old, is a proud member of the great Mexican school of boxing and uses his formidable conditioning, relentless pressure, and solid skills to defeat his opponents.

Valcárcel said that with a bit of luck, Shakur and Navarrete will again be fighting for the WBO title soon.