Photos: Navarrete Captures WBO Title, Drops & Decisions Villa

MGM Grand Conference Center - For the vacant WBO featherweight title, Emanuel Navarrete (33-1, 28 KOs) scored two knockdowns on his way to a twelve round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Ruben Villa (18-1, 5 KOs). (photos by Mikey Williams)

The scores were 114-112, 114-112, 115-111.

The WBO title became vacant when Shakur Stevenson made a decision to move up to 130-pounds.

Navarrete had vacated his WBO title at 122-pounds to move up in weight to pursue another belt.

Navarrete was pumping the jab in the first round, feeling out Villa - and then landed a big uppercut to drop the unbeaten boxer near the end of the round.

Villa was boxing well in the second, but Navarrete was busier and unloading with the bigger punches. Villa was boxing and moving in the third. Villa was pretty much controlling the entire fourth round when a short hook by Navarrete dropped Villa for a second time. Villa was able to survive.

Navarrete was pushing the pace in the fifth and landing the hard shots to rattle Villa.  Navarrete continued to control the sixth and also the seventh. Villa did very good boxing during the eight round. Villa continued to box well in the ninth as Navarrete was looking to land another big shots but was missing a lot. The same continued in the tenth, with Villa doing the better boxing as Navarrete was missing often.

After he continued to box well in the eleventh, Villa was trying to take some chances in the twelfth. Navarrete managed to buzz Villa as the fight played out in the final three minutes and was really being aggressive.