Speaker 1: Well, it's my great pleasure to welcome to the podcast today.
It is none other than the WBO Junior Lightweight World Champion,
Emmanuel and that arete Manuel. You're going to defend your
title against the interim title holder Oscar Valdez in a
rematch of what was a terrific fight the first time around.
You guys will square off on December seventh and Phoenix, Arizona.
It is the main event of the Top Rank on
ESPN card. I'm going to tell the folks here. Also,
we have the outstanding Top Rank publicist Gabe Reeves will
do the translation. Emmanuel, thank you very much for joining
me today. So I'd like to start off Emmanuel, you
defended the title against Oscar back in August twenty twenty three.
It was a terrific fight. As I mentioned, you won
a clear decision in the fight, and I wonder when
you think about the rematch, how do you see it
being any different than the first one, if at all?
Speaker 2: Almost something will change, especially because of the fact that
we both crossed paths or fist before in this first fight,
and because of the experience of that first fight. It
will change. We both know each other more. But I
think that's going to help us in the strategies in
our in our fight, and hopefully things go in the
best way possibly.
Speaker 1: Now Manuel, when you faced him the first time, a
lot of the fans, the media, even top rank, they
were comparing it to what people were thinking about before
the fights between Eric Morales and Marco Antonio Brera. You know,
your your great countryman, hall of Fame fighters. They even
brought those guys in to help promote the fight. They
were ringside, and I wonder for you, as the fighter,
what was it like for you to have, you know,
your biggest fight at that point, uh being discussed in
the in the in the in the same sort of
conversation as these great fights between Hall of famers like
Morales and Marera. How to feel good? Okay some.
Speaker 2: Completely Yes, As a fighter, you don't really even dream
of something like that happened. And to be able to
have done that in my career is something that has
satisfied me. It's an achievement that has satisfied me so much.
And if it hadn't been for that, then at this
moment it would still be a kind of goal that
I would want to complete.
Speaker 1: When you had after that, you had the terrific fight
with Robson Concassow. You defended the title. You score two
knockdowns in the fight. They called it a majority draw.
I wonder how did you feel about your performance in
that fight and were you okay with the draw.
Speaker 2: It was a close fight, you know, and by a
little I think it could have been in my favor
the decision, but it was a draw. And here's a
good fighter, and I'm not going to complain about the decision.
I think it could have been a better fight because
there were some issues in preparation, things that complicated my performance.
But I think that he could have gone in my favor.
Speaker 1: So you had to you retain the title even though
it was a draw, and then you went up in
May to challenge the undefeated Denny's Brentchik for the vacant
w BO lightweight title. He ended up winning the split decision. Emmanuel,
And I wonder do you feel like something went wrong
for you in that fight? Was it that he was
too big, he seemed a little be a little more
technical maybe in the way he boxed thing you did.
When you look back at that fight, what was your
sort of takeaway from it?
Speaker 2: Well, the style. His style was ended complicating, ended up
complicating the fight for me. It was a difficult fight
in his baron shack. You know, he really didn't come
to fight. He came more to score points. So until
Matt respected it wasn't a fight. But this is Boxing's
no problem, and I'm okay with it, and I just
keep learning and getting better.
Speaker 1: Now, a lot of people thought, Emmanuel, that win or lose,
that you were going to stay a lightweight. Maybe it
was too hard to keep making one hundred and thirty pounds,
so obviously you still had the title at one hundred
and thirty. So I wonder what was the reason you
decided to return to the one thirty division, where Valdez
had ended up winning the interim title. Was that you
felt more comfort in that division, you wanted the rematch
with Oscar who was obviously going to be your mandatory
or did you just feel like I'm still champed, so
I might as well defend my title, you know.
Speaker 2: It was it's easy to go from one thirty five
and then go back to one thirty and to fight
against Valdez, who earned his opportunity for the World of
the title by becoming a mandatory challenger of the title
of which I'm still a champion, And so I also
think people see an attractive fight because I call because
it's for a rematch. It's a rematch for this fight,
and I think that would have been a more attractive
fight then, for example, staying at one thirty five fighting
against someone who's ranked at number five or ten or eight.
I think because of that initial fight with Valdez and
the attraction has it makes the more feasible. So it
helped make that decision for me. And I think, you know,
I think it's going to be a good fight. I
think we figured out a little bit a lot in
the first fight, and there's going to be a new
strategy in the second fight.
Speaker 1: When you did fight against Brentchick, you are attempting to
win a world title in the fourth way class. I wonder,
is that still a goal of yours to event actually
go back to lightweight and try to win yet another
world championship.
Speaker 2: Yes, of course that is still a goal, a firm
goal for me given what happened, and sure, you know,
when we go back, we can do something at one
hundred and thirty five in the future. But I have
to take my time, and I had to do things
calmly and work better. And when that opportunity comes, we're
gonna come with everything for that title in a fourth
weight class.
Speaker 1: So in the co feature, when you and Oscar have
the rematch, Top rank has an excellent undercard fight the
co feature. It's Raffie Espinoza. He's defending the WBO featherweight
title against the former title theer Robsi Ramirez. It's a
rematch between those two guys also, and I've heard some
conversations that maybe the winners of the two fights could
fight each other, especially if it was Espinoza, who would
maybe look to move up to challenge the winner of
the fight between yourself and Oscar. I wonder is that
a fight that you would like to have against another
great Mexican warrior.
Speaker 2: Yes, it would be interesting. I think the most important
factor in that fight would be his height, Divin, because
he's very tall, and he also a difficult He's also
a difficult boxer, and so it would be an important
challenge that I would love to see it and I
would see it that way as an obstacle to overcome,
and so I think that people would like that as well,
because if you know, it's a warrior, so it would
be an entertaining and an excellent fight.
Speaker 1: I agree with that for sure, Oscar Valdez. He just
has two losses. One was a decision in your fight
the first time around. The other was against ra Course Stevenson,
who was an outstanding boxer. He's always had a great chin.
I wonder do you think that in the rematch that
you have a real chance to become the first ever
man to knock him out? And are you expecting another
great all out battle like you guys had the first time.
Speaker 2: Well, I'm working really hard to go after him and
look for that knockout. And this is a good fighter
and he has a good chin. He can take a
lot and punishment like everyone knows, and so it be
difficult to be taking on an important challenge, but we're
working hard up for that. We're also we're working that
hopefully principally it's a good fight and that we can
also deliver a great show off for the public and
they would all walk away through this fight.
Speaker 1: Who will well, Emmanuel and Gabe, I have no doubt
that it's in another terrific fight. Thank you guys very much.
For your time, Gabe, thank you for your assistance and
translating Emmanuel gust Of. Luck to you in the fight.
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2: Thank you very much. Thank you. Have a good day.
Speaker 1: You bet. Guys,