Liam Wilson closes in on Queensland world title rematch against Navarette after 28-second robbery

Queensland boxer Liam Wilson is eyeing a rematch with the man who took the title he believes should be his, and it could be held on home soil this year.

Queensland boxer Liam Wilson has announced his comeback fight to be staged at Southbank on March 1. A win there could open the door to a title fight. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

It was the 28-second count that cost Liam Wilson his dream of becoming a world champion, but the Queenslander is now within touching distance of a rematch against foe Emanuel Navarrete on home soil.

Wilson should have been crowned the WBO World super-featherweight champion in 2023 when he floored the champion Navarrete in the fourth round, only for the referee to do a slow count after the dazed fighter spat out his mouthguard.

From the time Navarrete hit the canvas to the time action resumed, a ridiculous 28 seconds had elapsed, allowing the Mexican to regain his bearings, survive and eventually stop Wilson in the ninth round.

Liam Wilson knocks-down Emanuel Navarrete during their vacant WBO junior lightweight championship fight in February. Picture: Getty Images

Wilson (14-3, 8KO) headlines the first No Limit Boxing show of the year on March 1 in Brisbane, a rematch against Youssef Dib, and this masthead understands that should he win, he’ll get a shot at becoming the No.1 contender for Navarrete’s belt.

If Wilson can win that, No Limit is working on bringing Navarrete to Australia for a world title fight at Redcliffe’s Kayo Stadium later this year.

“It’s massive, because that’s a fight I’ve wanted ever since I lost,” Wilson said.

“I thought I should have been world champion. I didn’t come away with the win. I’ve been grinding ever since.

“I’ve been in another world title fight (losing to Oscar Valdez), but that’s the fight I obviously want because I feel like I won it fair and square. I wasn’t given it, and if you get that exact same fight back in Australia, in my home state, winning a world title in Queensland, Redcliffe, not far from where I’ve grown up, it would mean the absolute world to me.”

Liam Wilson, who has announced his comeback fight to be staged at Southbank on March 1. Kangaroo Point, Brisbane. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Wilson, ranked No.4 by the WBO at present, is keen for revenge against Navarrete but won’t allow the controversial result of their bout to engulf him.

“I’ve definitely moved on, however it’s a fight I definitely want to run back,” he said.

“I thought I was robbed of the world title. The fight itself was, against the best in my division. I felt like I was won it fair and square.

“My dream since a young kid was to be a world champion, and it fell through my fingertips that day.

“I’d love to run it back. So that’s the main objective now, is to win, move forward, and try to secure that fight back home in Redcliffe.”

But it will all fall apart if Wilson fails to defeat Dib.

Liam Wilson is chasing another bout WBO junior lightweight championship. Picture: No Limit Boxing

The pair had a scintillating back-and-forth brawl that Wilson won via eighth-round stoppage last July that was crowned No Limit’s Fight of the Year, and Dib will be looking to steal Wilson’s world title shot.

But Wilson said: “I’m excited because I’ve been in those same shoes before where I’ve come off a knockout loss, and I’ve had to take a rematch straight away to prove to myself and everybody else so I understand what he’s feeling, how hungry and determined he must be, and that does excite me.”

Billy Dib (second row, centre) with boxing's biggest names after winning The Ring Magazine's Comeback of the Year in London.

Meanwhile, Dib’s older brother Billy Dib was awarded Comeback of the Year at The Ring Magazine’s annual awards in London over the weekend.

Dib’s inspirational fight against cancer, and return to the ring for his final professional bout in Germany last month – a decision win against Atilla Kayabasi – saw the 39-year-old receive the prestigious award in front of dozens of boxing’s biggest names including Canelo Alvarez, Oleksandr Usyk and Evander Holyfield.

Originally published as Liam Wilson closes in on Queensland world title rematch against Navarette after 28-second robbery