MEXICAN pride takes priority over a world title when two of the very best modern-day Mexicans collide, fittingly, in the desert this weekend.

Emanuel Navarrete defends his super-featherweight world title against Oscar Valdez in a matchup that’s divided a nation and has boxing fans the world over anticipating a Fight of the year contender.

After last week’s eye-rolling cash grab saw Jake Paul beat up another washed up MMA veteran, proper championship boxing returns at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

Navarrete, 28, is your favourite fighter you’ve probably never heard of.

‘El Vaquero’ (The Cowboy) is a brutal knockout merchant who grew up in the dirt and combines hard work and relentless pressure with a predatory fight IQ.

Already a three-weight world champion, he boasts 31 knockouts from 37 wins and is an active champion, with 11 of his last 12 fights being world title fights.

After capturing his first title late in 2018, he made five knockout defences inside a 10-month period – four of which never got past the fourth round – to be unofficially crowned as the best man in boxing in 2019.

Since, he’s moved up twice, capturing first feather and now super-feather silverware.

Standing across the ring in the early hours of Sunday morning, however, is the biggest name Navarrete ever faced.

Fellow Mexican Valdez is a two-weight world champion himself, with 23 Kos in 31 wins – 10 of which have been title fights.

He made six defences of the featherweight world title he won in 2016, including breaking Bury’s own Scott Quigg’s jaw in a savage war in March 2018.

In 2021, during lockdown, Valdez moved up to 130lb and upset the odds with a sensational 10^th round knockout over another fellow Mexican, Miguel Berchelt.

“What defines me is heart,” Valdez, 32, says. But unfortunately, what also defines him is a positive drug test.

Ahead of his first 130lb title defence against Robson Conceicao in 2021, Valdez tested positive for banned stimulant Phentermine. And yet, despite his B sample also coming up hot, the governing body involved disgracefully allowed the fight to progress.

Valdez struggled in the ring too, labouring to a dubious points decision over the Cuban. And his second reign wouldn’t last long either, suffering his first career defeat last year when dropped and taken to school by American phenom Shakur Stevenson.

He got back to winning ways with a routine points victory in May, but – outside of Mexico, at least – Valdez will enter the ring as the villain, that’s for sure.

Back in the early Noughties, Mexican rivals Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales lit up the boxing world and epitomised the talent, heart and desire of Mexican style fighting.

If Navarrete vs Valdez can come close to the majesty of their three fights, then they two could be set for a legacy-defining trilogy for the ages.

Size and power may well be on the side of the defending champion. But speed and experience is with Valdez.

With Mexican pride prioritised above all else, blood will be spilt and both will likely touch down as the action explodes. However, heart alone will ensure they get back to their feet giving the judges a real job to do following the final bell.

TIP: Navarrete on Points (3/1)