Shakur Stevenson reveals upcoming confrontation with Oscar Valdez: ‘I want him out of the spirit’

By: Hans Themistode

While Oscar Valdez has shown many layers in his all-round bout, the current WBC featherweight super champion has largely relied on grit, toughness, and endurance to make his way to the top on his own. Mountain.

Against Scott Quigg in 2018, Valdez fought his way to a unanimous decision win, despite a broken jaw. Against Adam Lopez in 2019, Valdez stripped himself in the second round and fought to win the 10th round.

Although the Mexican-born player is ready to do whatever it takes to win against Shakur Stevenson this coming weekend, including engaging in another all-out fight, Stevenson admits he won’t ready to join. Instead, the former Olympic silver medalist and reigning WBO super featherweight champion envisions himself practicing the technique of hitting without getting hit.

Stevenson told Crystina Poncher: “I didn’t want to have a tough fight with him. “I don’t want tit-for-tat, you hit me, I hit you, let’s see who’s tougher. I’ll go in there to pick him up. I’ll go in there to pick him up. I went in there to drain his spirit.”

Stevenson, in his own right, sometimes shows eagerness, wanting to go ahead and fight his opposing Mano e Mano. After what Stevenson admitted was a lackluster performance against Jeremia Nakathila in June 2021, Stevenson put on arguably the best performance of his career four months later.

On October 23, at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, Stevenson was perfect when he knocked out former player Jamel Herring. With the win, Stevenson began his second world title reign in multiple divisions.

Considered a significant favorite prior to Valdez, Stevenson is not surprised by the public support of the betting world. When the current 24-year-old looked at his upcoming opponent’s ledger, the New Jersey native couldn’t help but smile. While he has the utmost respect for Valdez and the opponents with whom he has shared the ring over the years, Stevenson believes his skill set is something Valdez has simply never seen before.

“I don’t think he’s ever stood in front of a boxer like me. I think it’s the first time he’s been there with someone as skilled as me. As the fight goes on, I want him to clear his mind.”