Australia’s Liam Wilson has vowed to take advantage of ‘Scalegate’ and attack the body of Mexican superstar Emanuel Navarrete – convinced the two-time champion is heavy around the middle and ready to be stopped for the first time in his illustrious career.
After 24 hours of world title drama here in Glendale, Arizona – including allegations of scale “tampering”, film investigations, even threats to boycott by Team Wilson – the battle for WBO super featherweight gold is officially on.
While Wilson remains convinced the scales were tampered with prior to he and Navarrete weighing – allowing the favourite to cheat, and come in heavy – the Caboolture product now plans to use it all to his advantage.
Watch Australia’s own Liam Wilson take his shot at the WBO super-featherweight title against Emanuel Navarrete Live and Free Feb 4 on Kayo Freebies. Join now and start streaming instantly >
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia on fight morning, Wilson’s manager Steve Scanlan has declared his fighter ready to unleash “body warfare”.
With the Australians convinced Navarrete is carrying weight around his middle, they plan to implement the same fight style that saw Wilson finish a staggering 45 opponents by body shot in the amateurs.
The declaration comes as retired US champion Timothy Bradley, who will be commentating the fight, also labelled Wilson capable of an upset thanks to his “scary” power.
‘I’m sure the scales were tampered with’ | 02:20
The statement is a huge one for the $8.50 TAB outsider, given Navarrete is looking to become just the 10th Mexican to boast titles in three divisions.
While Team Wilson initially considered boycotting the fight unless Navarrete weighed in a second time, Scanlan said the Queenslander “just wants to fight”.
Importantly, the Aussie crew are also convinced Navarrete did not look his best on the scales, and appeared to be carrying some weight around his middle.
“So the game plan is body shots,” Scanlan revealed.
“You could see up on the scales, Navarrete clearly isn’t in as good a nick as he could be.
“Coming up in weight, he probably thought he wouldn’t need to do a cut.
“But then he’s figured out on the day that, no, he’s f…ed.
“Which is unfair on Liam.
“And why we’ll keep making noise about this.
“But come the fight, Liam is still going to be the bigger, stronger guy in there.
“So it’s body warfare.”
MORE COVERAGE
‘Maybe we don’t fight’: Wilson’s team demands answers over footage amid scales cheating claim
‘Going to be a surprise for him’: Aussie’s big advantage exposed in staredown as champ blinks first
‘I’m a f***ing fighter’: Why George Rose is gambling $1 million on Aussie boxing underdog
While Scanlan will continue pushing for an investigation from the Arizona State Boxing and MMA Commission, he said the fighter’s sole focus was on winning that world title he promised his late father Peter on his deathbed.
The manager also suggested the weigh-in drama had proved his initial thoughts that Navarrete would underestimate an Aussie “he’s never heard of”.
“We always thought Navarrete would overlook Liam,” Scanlan said.
“It’s natural.
“And one of the biggest reasons we wanted this fight.
“Navarrete was supposed to fight Oscar Valdez, a legitimate super featherweight champion.
“But then that goes (when Valdez gets injured) and he winds up fighting an Aussie guy whose record is eleven-and-one.
“A guy he’s never even heard of.
“And remember, Liam stopped over 45 people in his amateur career with body shots.
“I don’t think anyone knows that. But of his 140, 45 were won by bodyshots.
“He’s a killer.
“So don’t be surprised tonight if Liam stops this guy with a body shot.”
Elsewhere, Bradley also predicted Wilson was capable of becoming the first man to ever finish Navarrete.
“The guy has a left hook that’s out of world,” he said of the Australian underdog. “Any time he touches guys with it he flattens them.
“He’s got scary power in that left hand.”
The retired champ also told Main Event’s Ben Damon that Navarrete has “terrible footwork, man … horrible” and could potentially be upset inside Diamond Desert Arena.
“Anything is possible in this game,” Bradley said. “It only takes one punch and this could be it.
“Jeff Horn started it against Manny Pacquiao, then you had Kambosos and now maybe Liam Wilson. Maybe they come in threes?”
While the fight is now set to go ahead, Scanlan stressed his push for an investigation would continue, just as he also still wants Navarrete to weigh in again sometime on fight afternoon, just to determine exactly how heavy he is.
“All we want is a fair crack,” he said. “And we’re still hoping the Commission will step in and investigate this thing.
“Someone has done the wrong thing.”
