Capture your moment. That’s what the greatness of this sport does. So when a hot prospect wiped out a former world champion in Errol Spence Jnr vs Yordenis Ugás, the boxing world couldn’t help but take notice.
This is exactly what José “El Rayo” Valenzuela did to Francisco Vargas, delivering a massive left-handed blow that left his opponent crumpled on the canvas. just after 90 seconds. If battle fans hadn’t laid eyes on the underweight young Mexican, coached and hailed by José Benavidez Snr, they certainly are there now.
“I hope to be busy this year,” he told Boxing Social. “Last year I learned a lot about myself. The deep rounds, going back to the gym every time I fight, I can really feel what I need to practice. I can really feel I’m making progress.
“How I put my photos. In training you’ve got the job and the bag but in teamfights you take a slightly different shot, maybe a little longer. So when I get back to the gym, I make sure I’m doing the right things and working my angles. ”
Born in Los Mochis, Mexico, but raised in Seattle on the West Coast of the United States, Valenzuela’s path to the noble arts has been challenged by fiery kids armed with scores to tackle. and points to prove.
“Growing up in rough, fighting neighborhoods, I just loved fighting. It became a passion of mine. I was about 10/11 at the time, I had a lot of energy and my dad just said, ‘I need to get him into a sport where he can get some of that energy.’ He brought me into boxing because he knew I would always fight and he used it well.”
At the age of 17, Valenzuela began training at the Seattle Boxing Gym, which was owned by Isaac Tadeo at the time. Once coached under Benavidez Snr Tadeo was immediately judged by the young Mexican’s underrated potential and began repeatedly calling his former coach, promising him he would unear be a gem of prospect.
In the end, Benavidez Snr was satisfied and invited Valenzuela to make the long trip from Seattle to his gym in Phoenix, Arizona. The growth of their relationship was fundamental to Valenzuela’s early success, growing from boxer and trainer to one of father’s guides to an adopted son.
“He got me through some of the hardest workouts. He got me through the pain, but he likes me. He said I have raw talent. And in the end me and David (Benavidez) felt so good and he took me in and they’ve treated me like family ever since,” Valenzuela said.
“I was already an aggressive boxer so it was a perfect fit for me. We had a really good chemistry. He is like a father to me. He and my parents were very close so when I left California I moved in with them and he basically raised me, taught me manners, taught me how to be a man inside and out. fighting Place. He took over that father role when my parents weren’t there. So we have a great chemistry, just like in the ring.”
There was much speculation about Valenzuela’s heavy arms even before he made his professional debut, but when he was said to have stopped Teofimo Lopez after 30 seconds of fighting, his strength started to be mentioned among the crowd. heavyweight boxing fans. Mexicans confirm the truth behind that particular story and say that the bad blood between them remains.
“I might be less interested in Teofimo. I really enjoyed that fight. History is there but it’s not what I need or I’m dying for it”.
Valenzuela is currently aiming to build on her 12-0 record (8KOs) and make her name among the best prospects in boxing. Looking through his lightweight division, he was able to see the likes of Frank Martin (15-0 w/11KOs) and William Zepeda Segura (26-0 w/23KOs) making waves and competing ideas With this new generation of talent he’s won the championship at a bit.
“I am very excited because it will keep me trying and excited and motivated. I think it’s a stacked division but I haven’t really found one to be overwhelming or much better than another so I think that’s for grabs, to be honest. I have a very good hand, I have a great team around me. There will be great things ahead. ”
