Former IBF super middleweight champion Jose “Bolivita” Uzcategui returns Saturday in Tijuana in a special feature that Zanfer Promotions will present in a new venue for boxing: La Casa de los Zonkeys, in the Unidad Deportiva af the Comandancia “Santos Meza.” Uzcategui (28-3, 23 KOs) will face Roberto “Hércules” Valdez (15-9, 7 KO) in a ten rounder. It will be Uzcategui’s comeback fight after losing his world title to Caleb Plant last January.
For Uzcategui, a Venezuelan based in Tijuana, this will be a tune-up fight after eight months without a fight. After having two international dates fall through, Zanfer scheduled Uzcategui this Saturday in Tijuana against an opponent who likes to mix it up and often participates spectacular fights with plenty of action and excitement.
In the main event, jr welterweight Omar “Pollo” Aguilar (12-0, 11 KOs), one of the most exciting prospects of Mexican boxing, meets Jorge Arturo Labonia (9-1, 7 KOs) in a duel of power punchers.
I am glad Uzcategui is back again – he’s a good power puncher who hasn’t reached his peak yet. Uzca just needs two good wins to be back for a championship fight. His loss against Caleb Plant (whom I admittedly have underestimated in the past because he took off an entire year) was not a terrible loss, and there is a good chance he will do better in case they will meet again.
I have never heard of Roberto Valdez, but judging by his last fights, its very unlikely that he will pose a serious threat to Uzca.
This should be a good tune up fight for Uzca and hopefully we will see him against a top 10 fighter early next year. Ryder, Fielding or Chudinov would be good match ups for him.
My pick: Uzca within 5 rounds by KO.