By: Hans Themistode
Oscar Valdez knows that there was a time when he didn’t look like his usual dominant self.
Even with the betting world, along with media pundits and fans, believing he should overcome a particular enemy, Valdez has struggled. In November 2019, Valdez was considered a favorite in the match against Adam Lopez. But while many expected him to take care of business with ease, the Mexican star was met with a back-and-forth shootout.
In the second half, after being completely defeated in the first half, Lopez appeared on the scoring line to the colossal disappointment of sending Valdez down the frame. However, in the end, Valdez dusted off and continued to score a stoppage-time goal in the seventh half.
On his most recent trip to the ring, Robson Conceicao entered the ring with confidence, despite being seen as a much weaker man. While Valdez would win, the end result is considered controversial.
Valdez, 31, is well aware of his bad moments in the ring. He also realizes that if anything less than his best comes out tonight, his WBC featherweight super title reign will be over. In just a few short hours, Valdez will attempt to unify the £130 weight class when he takes on WBO champion Shakur Stevenson. The two are expected to exchange fists during the main event at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Although Valdez admits he doesn’t always look like a world champion in the ring, he believes tonight will be different. The 31-year-old’s confidence not only comes from an arduous eight-week training camp but also from the threat Stevenson posed.
Billed as boxing’s next big thing, Valdez believes that in terms of his upcoming opponent’s overall skill set, his fight will have to increase.
Valdez told Mark Kriegel: “When I’m up against higher level fighters, it just brings out the best for me.
Stevenson, 24, has been cheering for the match against Valdez for years now. At one point, the former Olympic silver medalist fought for number one in the WBO group at 126 pounds. Valdez, at the time, proudly held the aforementioned title. While the Mexican product may have chosen to face its obligatory challenger, he has decided against it. Instead, Valdez will give up his world title and make the 4-pound trek north, where he will eventually dethrone former featherweight super-king, Miguel Berchelt.
Not long after the victory, Stevenson also gained weight. After winning his own world title against Jamel Herring, stopping the former Marine in round 10 of the match in October 2021, Stevenson began chastising Valdez, provoking and opposing his man. him while urging him to face him.
Even after dating Valdez, Stevenson continued to push his buttons. With the matchup going head to head later tonight, Valdez’s emotions are on fire. As the Mexican star and former world champion of two tournaments thinks long and hard for himself, he can’t recall another boxer who made him feel so dreamy.
“I don’t think so, no,” Valdez said with a laugh when asked if any fighter had ever annoyed him more than Stevenson. “Shakur does a great job tweeting, he does a great job on social media.”
Despite the back-and-forth and despite the raw emotions Valdez is going through, the current 130-pound WBC player is trying to stay in shape. Though Valdez wanted nothing more than to be counted squarely by the time the opening bell rang, he was acutely aware that his mindless game plan would result in him being undone.
For most pure boxers, there is a tendency to assume that a persistent and relentless attack on the body will slow them down in the later rounds. However, Valdez believes it will take more than a focused attack on Stevenson’s midfield to secure victory.
In addition to planning a more all-out assault, Valdez believes his confrontation against Stevenson will not resemble his typical blood and guts attrition fight. Instead, Valdez believes he will be forced to set limits on his thinking.
“I can’t go in there and try to dig up the body. You take the lead, you shoot, there are many types of pressure. You have to use smart pressure. Instead of a fight, it will be a game of chess. ”
