Boxing news: Liam Wilson to fight Emanuel Navarrete for WBO super featherweight strap

Liam Wilson made a promise with his dad on his deathbed that he would win a world title, now he’s got that chance. Read more for all the details of the bout.

Liam Wilson is set for the biggest fight of his career. Picture: Getty Images

Australian boxing wonderboy Liam Wilson will become the first Queenslander since Jeff Horn to challenge for a world title after securing the biggest fight of his career.

News Corp can reveal Wilson has secured his maiden world-title shot, with the 26-year-old from Caboolture to face Emanuel Navarrete for the vacant WBO super featherweight strap in the United States.

Whizkid Wilson (11-1, 7KO) has had just 12 professional fights.

It is another significant moment for Australian boxing, with Wilson slated to fight Navarrete (36-1, 30KO) just a week after Tim Tszyu faces Jermell Charlo in a four-belt blockbuster in Las Vegas on January 29.

Liam Wilson celebrates winning against Joe NoyNay, he’ll be hoping for a similar result against Emanuel Navarrete. Picture: Getty Images

WBO authorities are in the advanced stages of formalising the Wilson-Navarrete bout, which will take place on February 4 (AEDT) at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona _ just five days after stablemate Tszyu confronts Charlo.

The last Queenslander to fight for a world title was Horn, who lost to Terence Crawford in Vegas in 2018, a year after his epic boilover of Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao at Suncorp Stadium.

Now Wilson gets his chance to conquer the world in a stunning rise for the classy pugilist with the dynamite left hand.

“I am ready for this moment,” Wilson told News Corp as he arrived in the US on Tuesday for a training camp.

“I’ve just touched down in America and I’m pumped for what’s ahead.

“It’s the biggest moment of my career and I can’t wait to get to work over here and bring the world title back to Australia.”

Wilson was originally scheduled to fight Archie Sharp on the undercard of the Tszyu-Charlo bout, but a whirlwind past 48 hours has seen Australia’s No.1 super featherweight sensationally propelled into a world-title baptism.

Navarrete was pencilled in to fight Oscar Valdez for the WBO super featherweight title, which was vacated after American sensation Shakur Stevenson failed to make weight for his victory over Robson Conceicao in September.

Wilson punches Joe NoyNay during their bout at Nissan Arena. Picture: Getty Images

But with Valdez having succumbed to injury in training, the door has swung open for Wilson, who is ranked No.3 in the world and currently holds the WBO international super featherweight title.

Wilson’s career was at the crossroads in July 2021 when he suffered a shock loss to world-ranked Filipino Joe Noynay, but after winning their re-match, then beating Matias Rueda in Brisbane in June, he is back in business.

The Wilson-Sharp bout was expected to be a world-title eliminator, but the injury to Valdez has thrust the Australian straight into a world-title showdown with brilliant Mexican Navarrete, who has lost just once in 37 fights.

Wilson suffered a broken left hand in his gutsy defeat of Rueda, but has made a full recovery after undergoing a bone graft from his hip to help repair his damaged hand.

Wilson vowed to honour a promise to his father Peter, who died of liver failure a decade ago.

“On my dad’s deathbed, I made a promise to him I would win a world title and I will do it one day,” said Wilson, who has two children of his own, Charlotte and Maverick.

“This is a huge test, he is a Mexican warrior, but I’ve had some big fights already in my career.

“I’ve pictured this moment so clearly so many times before. I believed it was only at matter of time before the stars aligned and I got my world-title shot and here we are.

“Dad’s death is added motivation for me.

“When I found out all I really wanted to do was to be able to tell my Dad ... I said this moment would come for him and it’s here.

“I’ll keep telling him every night before I sleep so he knows I’m going to win the world title for him.”