Oscar Valdez is bidding to turn out to be a two-time junior light-weight titlist when he challenges for the WBO title in opposition to compatriot Emanuel Navarrete on the Desert Diamond Area in Glendale, Arizona, on Saturday.
Valdez, The Ring’s No. 1-rated junior light-weight, is glad to be again in a significant combat having misplaced his title and undefeated report final yr.
“I’m excited for this new alternative, I really feel blessed to be on this place, having the prospect to combat for the world title means the world to me,” Valdez (31-1, 23 knockouts) instructed The Ring. “Many individuals know I misplaced my world title to Shakur Stevenson and I missed being a champion. That is my excellent alternative to come back again robust, particularly with an announcement.”
The 32-year-old, who beforehand held the WBO title at 126 kilos earlier than changing into a two-weight world champion when he scored a career-best win over WBC titleholder Miguel Berchelt (KO 10), expects a equally thrilling combat with Navarrete that would place the combat within the annuls of Mexican combating folklore.
“Combating somebody like ‘Vaquero’ Navarrete is the right alternative due to his model,” he mentioned. “Each time you’ve two Mexican fighters contained in the ring there’s all the time fireworks, there’s all the time an excellent combat, folks take pleasure in these fights as a result of they’re toe-to-toe, there’s blood, knockdowns and that’s what the followers like.
“Mexican followers take pleasure in it and I really feel this combat is the right alternative for that due to ‘Vaquero’ Navarrete’s model and my model. I really feel the place each not going to again down and I’m excited for that as a result of I grew up watching the good Erik Morales and nice Marco Antonio Barrera, these two guys impressed me like no different. They impressed me to be the fighter I’m right this moment, so that is my alternative to come back again and are available again robust.”
Valdez isn’t any stranger to dealing with a fellow Mexican in a world title. He rose to the event and beat Berchelt in February 2021 and believes it will carry out the most effective in him in entrance of a full of life crowd.
Oscar Valdez (R) nails Miguel Berchelt. Photograph by Mikey Williams/High Rank Inc by way of Getty Photographs
“It was my largest evening, one thing I’ll always remember as a result of I achieved my dream of being WBC world champion and it’s going to be very exhausting to prime that, however that is the right alternative,” he admitted. “The one distinction between that combat and this combat is there’s going to be folks there. The Berchelt was throughout COVID, there was no crowd in any respect, simply TV, my crew and his crew.
“Now, we’re in Arizona, in a spot the place I think about my second dwelling, a spot that’s on the border with my hometown Nogales, Senora. I do know lots of people are going to be there, you’ll see the followers divided, you’ll see quite a lot of Staff Vaquero, quite a lot of Staff Valdez. It’s going to be a magical evening. There can solely be one champion, we’re each from Mexico however someone is taking that belt dwelling. I’m working very exhausting so I can take that belt dwelling.”
After the Berchelt win, he failed a drug take a look at for phentermine and subsequently struggled with Robson Conceicao in a title protection.
The loss to Stevenson was exhausting for somebody who’s accustomed to all the time profitable to maneuver on from.
“It was very troublesome, it was one of the crucial troublesome issues that may occur since you’re used to listening to that if you do issues proper, every thing ought to end up proper,” he defined. “You’re employed exhausting, keep disciplined, the result might be an excellent factor, I used to be used to that. For the Shakur combat I did every thing as I ought to, work exhausting, keep disciplined, targeted, I did every thing you’re taught to achieve success after which popping out with a loss was a troublesome capsule to swallow.
Valdez was no match for Stevenson’s expertise, dimension and ring savvy. (Photograph by Steve Marcus/Getty Photographs)
“Typically you must settle for the man in entrance of you was higher, doesn’t matter that you just did every thing how it’s best to have. The man was simply higher and there’s no excuses. You win some, you lose some. So long as you realize you gave your finest that offers you somewhat extra peace. Us fighters we’ve received egos, we declare to be the most effective and that evening I wasn’t the most effective and that actually messed with my head for the following couple of weeks till one I instructed myself I’ve received to suck it up, that’s life, that’s a part of the sport, you win some, you lose some, inside and out of doors the ring however you all the time return to the drafting board, you attempt to turn out to be a greater particular person inside and out of doors the ring. That was my studying expertise, one of many issues it taught me was how a lot I miss boxing, how a lot I like boxing.”
After making his peace with the loss, Valdez was wanting ahead to dealing with Navarrete in February. Nevertheless, an harm pressured him out of that combat.
The Nogales native returned with a win over outdated adversary Adam Lopez in Might and is now prepared to check the mettle of Navarrete at 130 kilos.
“That was one of the crucial disappointing issues I’ve come throughout, I had a combat developing and a freak accident occurred,” he defined. “I’m strolling down the steps on a wet evening and slipped unhealthy and fall on my again and broke two of my ribs. They needed to postpone the combat. Me being a in a rush, a fighter, who is consistently energetic, I leap into camp early and we determine to do a sparring session. I get hit to the physique and that re-injured the identical harm I had, so the combat needed to be postponed once more and he received the prospect to combat for the world title in opposition to [Liam] Wilson. There was quite a lot of feelings going via my thoughts, coming off the loss, fractured rib twice and seeing him combat, I stored telling myself ‘I ought to have been the one combating on this place.’ I feel every thing occurs for a purpose. I stayed targeted and proper now I really feel bodily and mentally properly.
“I received the prospect to combat first in opposition to Adam Lopez. Lots of people have been calling it a tune up combat, however it wasn’t a tune up combat for me as a result of I respect all my opponents, I do know they’re additionally coaching exhausting to win the combat, so I needed to be on my A-game to win the combat and now I’ve to be on my A-game to win this combat. I really feel prepared for this take a look at. Folks can anticipate the most effective model of me as a result of I’m hungrier than ever for this one.”
Oscar Valdez (L) and Adam Lopez (R) alternate punches throughout their combat at MGM Grand Lodge & On line casino on Might 20, 2023 in Las Vegas. (Photograph by Mikey Williams/High Rank Inc by way of Getty Photographs)
Valdez, who held his coaching camp in Lake Tahoe, continues to be clearly motivated to return to the summit of the junior light-weight division.
“It will put me again in as champion, that’s the principle factor proper now,” he mentioned. “It means the world to me. I like the game a lot I don’t ever need to retire however profitable will put me again in there. Shedding by no means comes into my thoughts, it’s not an possibility. I all the time prepare tougher to say I’ll win. Shedding might be devastating. Proper now, it’s win as a result of I’ve to win and the one factor I’ve in my thoughts.
“I do really feel I’m the higher fighter, it’s not as a result of I need to sound conceited, I all the time suppose that means, I’ve all the time received to suppose I’m the higher fighter. I’ll by no means prepare so exhausting to say I’m the No. 2 or No. 3. I’ll all the time prepare so exhausting to say I’m No. 1. I’ve received to win this combat. I actually do consider I’ve the higher abilities, perhaps I’m sooner, perhaps I hit tougher, perhaps I’ve the higher boxing abilities however who is aware of? Contained in the ring something can, you may by no means underestimate a fighter like him, who is consistently throwing punches from completely different angles, who doesn’t cease throwing, continuous man who comes ahead. You’ve received to be properly ready. I’ve ready myself for the most effective model of ‘Vaquero’ Navarrete, I’m going to be properly prepared for that one. Just a little factor I’ve all the time mentioned, my opponent will be sooner than me, stronger than me, perhaps have a greater ring I.Q. than me however I’ll all the time be sure he’s not skilled as exhausting as me. I’m all the time always coaching exhausting, I think about myself a fitness center rat, so I can not less than say I work tougher than you so by the point the combat comes, I’ll be prepared.”
Navarrete (37-1, 31 KOs) burst onto the scene to say the WBO junior featherweight title on the expense of Isaac Dogboe (UD 12) in December 2018. He stopped Dogboe (TKO 12) within the first of 5 defenses earlier than transferring up in weight.
The heavy-handed Mexican bested beforehand unbeaten Ruben Villa (UD 12) to say the WBO title. The 28-year-old went on to make three defenses. He then jumped to 130 kilos the place he claimed the vacant WBO title after getting off the canvas to cease Liam Wilson (TKO 9).
Liam Wilson (L) had his moments vs. Emanuel Navarrete. (Photograph by Mikey Williams/High Rank Inc by way of Getty Photographs)
Within the wake of Fulton-Inoue and Spence-Crawford, that is the right combat to maintain the momentum going. This combat has the look of an thrilling shootout. I anticipate Navarrete-Valdez to be a warfare of attrition that’s finely poised.
Navarrete-Valdez, plus undercard bouts, might be broadcast reside on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
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