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Miguel Berchelt and Emanuel Navarrete both retained their world titles on Saturday night in Arizona, live on ESPN, and both did so by stoppage, dominating their opponents.
Berchelt repeated his 2017 win over Francisco Vargas, retaining the WBC 130-pound title via stoppage after six rounds when trainer Joel Diaz stopped the fight in Vargas’ corner. And Navarrete was again just physically too big and strong for Isaac Dogboe, overwhelming him and stopping the Ghanaian in the 12th round.
Neither outcome was unexpected — Berchelt was a strong favorite, Navarrete a marginal favorite — but both fights had plenty of shots landed, plenty of action, and a lot of grit from challengers who refused to give in against the odds and in the face of a beating. These weren’t Fight of the Year type bouts, because they just didn’t have the two-way action needed for that, but good action fights all the same.
Here’s what some boxing pros had to say about the fights during and after the fights from Tucson.
Berchelt-Vargas II
Damn! Berchelt-Vargas going at it hard!!
— Kal Yafai (@iam_yafai) May 12, 2019
I love #boxing but I really don't like 2 see guys go rockem sockem I prefer the sweet science #BercheltVargas2 these Kat's killing each other #nodefense
— Cornelius Bundrage (@K9boxing) May 12, 2019
Berchelt can’t mess with me. I know why they don’t wanna fight now.
— TEVIN FARMER (@TevinFarmer22) May 12, 2019
Looks like Joel Diaz is ONLY one that has Vargas’ best interest in mind, damn! This warrior has been put in brutal battles back to back to back to back!!!
— Sergio Mora (@TheLatinSnake_) May 12, 2019
Vargas took a lot of shots to the head. He shouldn't fight for six months. Berchelt's style a nightmare for a loaded 130 pound division.
— PeltzBoxing (@PeltzBoxing) May 12, 2019
That’s how a corner needs to protect their fighter. Props to Joel Diaz. Great trainer who cares. #BercheltVargas
— Lou DiBella (@loudibella) May 12, 2019
Navarrete-Dogboe II
What happened to the Dogboe who won the title last year in Philly? Where did he go?
— PeltzBoxing (@PeltzBoxing) May 12, 2019
Dogboe should of been pulled out a long time ago! Sad!
— Kal Yafai (@iam_yafai) May 12, 2019
Dogboe’s father did the right thing. You live to fight another day champ.@trboxing #NavarreteDogboe2
— Jamel Herring (@JamelHerring) May 12, 2019