Emanuel Navarrete has created a sizable following in what is now his fourth business trip to San Diego. 

His previous appearance in town, however, was a letdown to his fans and to himself. 

Mexico’s Navarrete, 39-2-1 (33 KOs), saw a 12-year, 34-fight unbeaten streak come to a halt as he was outpointed by then-unbeaten Denys Berinchyk last May 18 at Pechanga Arena. A bid to become a four-division titlist ended with a split decision in favor of Ukraine’s Berinchyk, who claimed the vacant WBO lightweight title that evening. 

A sixth-round knockout of former two-division titleholder Oscar Valdez last December 7 saw Navarrete improve upon his performance in their first fight 16 months prior. 

The goal for this weekend is to continue that upward trajectory, and forever remove the bad taste left behind from his last fight in town. 

“I’m so happy to return to San Diego,” Navarrete told BoxingScene. “Life gives you second chances. That’s how it is for me with this fight. 

“Instead of feeling mad, I feel motivated to return to this place. First, I get to do what I do best, and to try to win.”

Fittingly, Navarrete’s shot at personal redemption comes against another unbeaten opponent. His return to Pechanga Arena will see the three-division and reigning WBO junior lightweight titlist risk his belt against the Philippines’ Charly Suarez, 18-0 (10 KOs). ESPN will air their bout atop a doubleheader this Saturday, beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT and local time. (Editor's note: Navarette endured a difficult weight cut to make 130lbs ahead of this fight, which Lance Pugmire wrote about here.)

It wasn’t Berinchyk’s perfect record that troubled Navarrete last May. The now 30-year-old boxer from San Juan Zitlaltepec, Mexico just seemed out of his element at lightweight, understandable given his first title win came at junior featherweight. 

Whatever the case, the night marked the second straight fight where Navarrete came up empty. He was held to a draw by Brazil’s Robson Conceicao just six months prior, which ended his true 33-fight win streak dating back to 2012. 

Navarrete was back to normal in his most recent outing, which was high among his best career performances. He dropped Valdez, 32-3 (23 KOs) three times in a one-sided rout five months ago at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The bout took place 16 months after and just 30 minutes away from Navarrete’s comfortable points win over his countryman at Glendale’s Desert Diamond Arena.  

“When I fought Berinchyk, I felt like my arms were tied behind my back,” Navarrete revealed. “You could see it in the rematch with Valdez, I felt much looser, much more fluid. I wasn’t as dynamic and explosive as I usually am in the ring when I fought Berinchyk. 

“I was back to my old self against Valdez. I was much stronger, and able to put together my punches which allowed me to close the way I did.”

Stylistically, Navarrete will get a different look from Suarez than really from any recent opponent. 

The only common thread shared among whom Navarrete faced in his past four starts is that Suarez was a well-credentialed amateur. The 36-year-old from Metro Manila represented the Philippines in the 2016 Rio Olympics and also spent time on the World Series of Boxing circuit. 

A late start to the pro ranks coupled with his age has left Suarez with a now-or-never mentality entering his first career shot at a major title. 

Navarrete insists he has trained for that very dangerous version of his challenger, while he enters his 16th career title fight. 

“There is this rivalry between Mexico and the Philippines,” acknowledged Navarrete. “It has grown and I’m happy to add another entry to that growing list. He was an Olympian and has great skills. We are working very hard to make sure Mexico once again prevails in this rivalry.”

The additional motivation is to improve upon his 4-1 record in a city whose patrons have embraced him as their own. 

Navarrete was perfect in San Diego before the setback against Berinchyk. More bothersome than the loss itself were whispers as to whether he was suddenly on the back-end of his career. 

“I want to show my best in every fight,” Navarrete said. “It doesn’t always work out, as we saw when I fought [Berinchyk]. So, it was important to be at my strongest the next time I stepped in the ring [against Valdez].

“I want to show the world that I am still getting better with each fight.”

Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as a senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home. Follow Jake on X and Instagram.