Emanuel Navarrete vs. Oscar Valdez odds, prediction, time: Boxing expert on 42-13 roll reveals Aug. 12 picks

A matchup of relentless brawlers awaits boxing fans Saturday when Emanuel Navarrete defends his WBO junior lightweight title against Oscar Valdez. Their 12-round showdown anchors the main Navarrete vs. Valdez fight card (8 p.m. ET) from Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Ariz. The fighters hold five division world titles between them and just one loss each. They have finished 54 of their combined 68 victories for a finish rate of nearly 80%. Both sluggers have predicted a nonstop war as Navarrete makes his first title defense and Valdez seeks a world title in a third weight class.

Valdez is a -190 favorite (risk $190 to win $100), while Navarrete comes back at +160 in the latest Emanuel Navarrete vs. Oscar Valdez odds. The over/under for total rounds completed is 10.5, with the Over priced at -300 and the Under fetching a price of +220. Before making any Emanuel Navarrete vs. Oscar Valdez picks, make sure you see the boxing predictions and betting advice from SportsLine analyst Peter Kahn.

Kahn is a true boxing insider who has his finger on the pulse of what's going on inside and outside of the ring. He has managed numerous world champions and currently manages 20 fighters through his company, Fight Game Advisors. Kahn recently won the 2022 Boxing Writers Association of America Cus D'Amato Manager of the Year award and was named to the 2023 Florida Boxing Hall of Fame.

Kahn is uncanny when it comes to picking fights. He is an astounding 42-13 on his last 55 SportsLine boxing picks, returning nearly $4,000 to $100 bettors. Anyone who has followed him has already seen massive returns.

Now, with Emanuel Navarrete vs. Oscar Valdez in sight, Kahn has studied the matchup from every angle and released confident picks for the fight. You can only see his picks and analysis at SportsLine. 

Emanuel Navarrete vs. Oscar Valdez preview

In 2022, Valdez faced more personal and professional setbacks than in any other time in his life. Following the loss to Shakur Stevenson, he slipped while walking down some stairs and broke a couple of ribs. After taking the time to heal, he suffered broken ribs again in his first sparring session and was sidelined for several months. During this time, he suffered from depression and questioned his future in the sport.

Valdez recently told the media that his tune-up win over Adam Lopez in May showed that he was back on track with both his physical and mental health, even though the performance was far from a career highlight. The former two-division champion says he's now sure he is prepared to compete for another world title.

"It was difficult to go through, but it was also an eye-opener for me. I realized how much I missed this sport and that I want to be a champion again and what I needed to do to get myself back to where I needed to be," Valdez said. 

Concerns about a potential lack of size at junior lightweight appeared to come to fruition for Navarrete when he faced Liam Wilson, a relatively obscure Australian prospect who stepped in on short notice in February after Valdez withdrew because of an injury.

Navarrete was expected to make quick work of Wilson, who closed as at least a 10/1 underdog at most sportsbooks after opening as an even bigger longshot. But Wilson appeared to be the physically bigger and stronger fighter. He floored Navarrete in the fourth round with what was more than just a flash knockdown. The underdog landed a series of clean, powerful left hands that stunned the favorite, and sent him to the canvas with a powerful shot that appeared to have fight-ending force.

Navarrete barely answered the prolonged count and went on to stop Wilson in the ninth round of their wildly entertaining brawl. In preparation for Saturday's showdown, Navarette hired a strength and conditioning coach for the first time in his career.

"This fight with Valdez merited that change, and I will come into this fight much better physically," Navarrete told the media. See who to back at SportsLine.

How to make Emanuel Navarrete vs. Oscar Valdez picks 

Kahn likes the Over 10.5 rounds. He's also locked in two other best bets, including a strong money-line pick and a plus-mony method-of-victory prop. You can only see those selections at SportsLine.