Emanuel Navarrete vs. Christopher Diaz: Fight prediction, card, odds, how to watch, start time

Navarrete will be making the first defense of his WBO featherweight title on Saturday

Emanuel Navarrete is, in some ways, a throwback to fighters of a bygone era. Unlike most fighters at the world title level, Navarette is very active, fighting 11 times since 2018. Despite that activity, Navarette will be in action for the first time since October when he steps into the ring against former title challenger Christopher Diaz on Saturday night from Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, Florida (10 p.m. ET, ESPN). Emanuel Navarrete (c) -1100 Christopher Diaz +700 WBO featherweight title Josue Vargas -2000 Willie Shaw +1000 Super lightweight Edgar Berlanga -2200 Demond Nicholson +1100 Super middleweight Jamaine Ortiz Joseph Adorno Lightweight Orlando Gonzalez Ruiz Juan Antonio Lopez Featherweight Xander Zayas Demarcus Layton Welterweight Jeremy Adorno Ramiro Martinez Super bantamweight Mobley Villegas Jaycob Bradley Gomez Zayas Super featherweight Navarrete (32-1, 27 KO) won his first world championship in December 2018, defeating Isaac Dogboe to win the WBO super bantamweight championship. He would defend the title successfully against Dogboe the following year in the first of four 2019 title defenses. One more title defense would follow to start 2020 before Navarrete made the move up in weight to featherweight, capturing the then-vacant WBO title in a decision win over Ruben Villa. The biggest knock on Navarrete during his run as champion has been that, despite the admirable activity levels, he has fought opposition that is a step below top-tier in almost every title defense. The wins over Dogboe and Villa were solid, but there's not a lot of depth on Navarrete's resume beyond those victories. Add to that a win over Villa that Navarrete almost gave away down the stretch, with two knockdowns for Navarrete serving as the difference in the fight.