By Miguel Maravilla
There comes a time in a fighter’s career when he takes the biggest challenge and fights the best in his division. Julio Cesar Chavez took on the biggest challenge and best fighter in his division when he fought Melderick Taylor in what was a fight between two undefeated champions. For WBC champion Oscar Valdez (30-0, 23 KOs) of Tucson by way of Nogales, Sonora Mexico he will be experiencing that moment this Saturday night as he takes on WBO champion Shakur Stevenson (17-0, 9 KOs) of Newark, New Jersey in a super featherweight unification showdown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas live on ESPN.
“I am ready for this fight. Ever since I was a kid, I have dreamed of being the main event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. This is the toughest and biggest fight of my career.”
Coming in as the underdog, Valdez doesn’t seem that to be the case, nor does it bother him as he was the underdog in his fight against Berchelt.
“Here we go again. The odds are against me, and everyone thinks that he will walk all over me, but just like against Berchelt, I will use that as motivation.”
Last year, saw Valdez experience some ups and downs as he scored a huge knockout over Miguel Berchelt, pulling the upset as many counted him out against the bigger puncher Berchelt. A huge counter right hand that floored the champion, Valdez enjoyed the thrill of victory in winning the WBC super featherweight title.
“I had a very tough challenge against Miguel Berchelt, it was a big victory,”
The thrill of victory was later overshadowed as Valdez tested positive for a banned substance phentermine, prior to his first title defense but was allowed to fight and defend his title after the Pascua Yaqui Tribe Athletic Commission in Tucson, Arizona ruled.
Valdez had a mediocre performance in his fight against Brazil’s Robson Conceicao, winning a unanimous decision and successfully defending his title against the 2016 Olympic gold medalist. Win or lose there were many questions to answer on his performance and positive test result.
Now the time has come to face Shakur Stevenson.
“Shakur has been talking for quite some time. He is the type of fighter that talks a lot and is always running his mouth on social media, but I’m not like that. I let my fists do the talking,”
This has been a serious camp for Valdez and his team, working with trainer Eddie Reynoso and the Team Canelo stable in San Diego, California as he prepares for fellow super featherweight champion Shakur Stevenson.
“I have worked very hard in camp, in the gym, and as always, I’m going to give it my best and leave it all in the ring,” Valdez on his preparation. “For this kind of challenge, I prepared myself very well physically, but more importantly mentally.”
For Shakur Stevenson, the 2016 U.S Olympic Silver medalist turned pro in 2017 when Valdez was already a featherweight champion. Climbing his way up to the top, Stevenson won his first world title in 2019 with a flawless unanimous decision over Joet Gonzalez as he won the vacant WBO featherweight title. He is coming off an impressive stoppage over Jamel Herring in winning the WBO super featherweight title.
“He is the type of fighter that is not willing to go to war. I’m the type of fighter that always wants to give the fans what they want,”
Perhaps the toughest task to date for Valdez as he will be taking on very flashy fighter in Stevenson.
“Since he is not willing to give the fans what they want, this will be more of a chess match. It will be a more technical fight. The smartest fighter inside the ring will win,”
Win or lose, Valdez will leave it all in the ring as he’s never in a dull fight.
“I can’t promise a win, I can’t promise a knockout but one thing I can promise you is that I will leave it all in the ring. Like we say in Mexico, I’m willing to die on the line just to win. That’s all that matters to me.”
A win for Valdez over Shakur can possibly pave the way to superstardom as his promoter Bob Arum/Top Rank has taken many world champions to become superstars and all-time greats such as Sugar Ray Leonard, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Jr. Manny Pacquiao, and now the next generation awaits.
“When we signed Valdez, we knew he would be a premier fighter. We signed Shakur we knew he would be a superstar and if the weights with Valdez coincided, they would fight each other. We have two great fighters willing to fight each other. This is wonderful for the sport,” Hall of Fame Promoter Bob Arum said about the matchup.
Representing Mexico in the 2012 Olympics, Valdez has already won two-world titles in two weight divisions winning the WBO featherweight title, and WBC super featherweight, as he looks to unify with a victory over Stevenson. This would not only be a big win for Valdez but also for Mexican boxing as Valdez looks to continue the great Mexican boxing tradition.
“I will be a step closer to accomplishing my dream of being considered one of the best fighters in Mexican boxing history. I want my name to be among all these great Mexican fighters, like Morales, Barrera, Marquez, and Chavez. For that to happen, I need to win this fight.”
Follow Miguel on Twitter @MigMaravilla
Dreaming is fun. Valdez seems dinged to me. I think this will be man against boy . Shakur is going to slip every attempt and smash Valdez. Levels are real. This will be fast and ugly. Stevenson is a DOG. Nuff said.
Shakur is not a dog he is a chicken
I wouldnt be surprised if SS gets the stoppage here. Once he figures Oscar out and start walking him down, its over. Valdez is already making excuses about their fighting styles. SS will be top p4p fighter in next couple years.
lol are you serious? stoppage? hes got no pop if Berchelt couldnt dent Valdez chin then no featherfist fighter will do nothing but try to steal a points win byt running and holding id bet on that lol
Well shakur will run like chicken hopefully judges understand that boxer who chase boxer that win the round
I don’t see Stevenson going in there to have a real throw down, he’s a hit n git type of fighter so there may not be to much action!
Exactly
Shouldn’t he have to live in Mexico in order to be considered a “real” Mexican (champion)?
Like all the loudmouths screaming how “proud” they are of being Mexican, he doesn’t have the courage to live in a corrupt, violent, dirty third world hellhole country or work to make Mexico a better place for all!
So if I moved to Japan will I turn Japanese??? Nooo im mexican here and in the moon
If you moved to Japan, or any other country, it means you’re embarrassed of your nationality and birth country.
It means your country couldn’t provide for your basic needs due to it’s documented and multifaceted inferiority and you decided to flee out of cowardice, personal shortcomings or laziness or all.
Ill never understand peoples allegiance and loyalty to a corrupt, oppressive, indifferent country which discards their citizens like trash.
Well it’s not my fault the politicians steal money but in ex change we go to other countries and work harder than original citizens lol
It is your fault, It’s your civic responsibility to stop the corruption, not flee, stay silent or contribute to the status quo. It’s your “people” who steal from you and mistreat you and your reaction is to feel “pride” instead of anger and run instead of fight?
Then you demonstrate your ingratitude and impudence by insulting your host as lazy when the facts and overwhelming evidence contradict your claim. If Mexicans work harder than Americans then Mexico wouldn’t be such a third world hellhole.
I noticed you didn’t address the claim that you’re embarrassed of your nationality and birth country. You fled because you didn’t want to be Mexican but Japanese or American instead!
Annnnnd hes back folks, unfortunately: Racist Juan Valdez that hates all Mexicans regardless if they live in Mexico or the US. Don’t pay too much attention to him Carlos. He doesn’t realize what America is comprised of. He’s like a dirty stray dog, if you ignore him, he eventually goes away 🙂
Let me know what I said that was “racist” or show any “hate” for any Mexican??? It’s your allegiance and insistence on remaining loyal to a foreign power that’s divisive, racist and hateful!
You throw out the race card in order to avoid debating facts, you have no counter argument so you resort to unfounded name calling and labeling.
I know what the United States is comprised of (history) just like I know what Mexico (history) is comprised of, you obviously don’t. You seem to ignore the facts that don’t suit your version of history because it doesn’t shine a positive light on “your people”.
Does it really matter where the dude lives or trains? Does it really? U jus looking for a reason to hate like u always do bro. We all get it, ur proud to be an american. And thats great. Im american too doesnt mean u have to hate on every fukin mexican that moves to the US. Sheesh man, get a fukin life
Try responding to my arguments and facts by countering with your own, stop trying to deflect by name calling and baseless suppositions. If you migrate to the U.S, show some gratitude and become an American. We don’t want to be Balkanized.
I don’t care where he trains, what matters is the fact that he’s a hypocrite, divisive and an ingrate: he’s citizen of a foreign country, which he claims to love, choosing to make his home in this country taking full advantage of the American dream and all its perks while cynically espousing his pride for what he fled and the country that failed him.
Get a clue!
His Bless America!
Is this Truth Social?? please save your dumb MAGA type comments for a right wing blog, this should be pure boxing. Boxing is an international sport with people from all backgrounds and nationalities, if you’re offended.. stop watching our sport!
“Dumb MAGA” type comments?
If you’re a regular in this site you’ll read hundreds of pro-Mexican anti-American comments, how proud they are of being Mexican, about the superiority of Mexican fighters not to mention clear racist comments about non-Mexican fighters, etc..
Not to mention foreign boxers who reside IN THE U.S. flying foreign flags into the ring, singing foreign anthems, coming out to foreign songs, wearing foreign costumes their corners and themselves full of foreign themes and symbolisms!
Is that “pure” boxing? Do you ever complain about that? Do you consider any of that “left wing” or inappropriate?
Where’s you’re patriotism? Your pride? Your self esteem?
Yes that is Boxing.. it’s an international sport, and you should boycott it if you’re offended by it, period.. I don’t need to insult any country or nationality to show to show my American pride, I’ve never offended seen Pacquiao or GGG flying their flags in the ring. Boxing is not for you bro.. your thing is politics.. this is a boxing site.
Isnt that what America is all about? Freedom of speech and freedom to express yourself? Isnt that what he is doing? He’s proud to be a Mexican regardless of where he lives. And yes, he does take full advantage of the American dream BUT rest assured that America MY BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY is taking advantage of him being in this country by taxing his ridiculously high paychecks to pay the welfare for some Americans that choose not to work and live off the system. I don’t care who they are or where their from, if they are contributing to the US and have followed all the laws to be in this wonderful country, then let them be. now if he is here illegal, and taking advantage of our system with no give back, then i would agree, get him out!
As much as I want Valdez to break Shaqueer in half, I don’t see it happening. Don’t be surprised at how easily Shaqueer wins this fight.
I didn’t see Valdez dominating Berchelt but it happened.
Don’t count out Valdez’s ability to adjust, I see it as a 50/50 fight.
Probably not 50-50 but think Valdez has a chance at 4-1 odds.
Very easy these days to become one of Mexico’s greats all ya got to do is pad your record like rameriez, eat Mexican beef like canelo and slip your knuckles out your glove like fury.
It’s easier to be a black idol just Tun like chicken and blacks will adore you
More evidence the anger and bitterness to Mayweather is engrained deeply lol.
Mexico’s greatest? R u kidding me. Definitely not. He is a good fighter, but not enough to be considered in the elite. We would have had a couple of losses already.
Arum gave up Valdez to Stevenson for damage control after T. Crawford sued him. He had to give Stevenson the opportunity for a big fight. If not for Crawford accusations, Arum would not have agreed to this fight.
This could be a repeat of the first Chavez/Taylor fight where the referee STOLD the fight from Meldrick Taylor. I see some back and forth action here with Shakur getting the early lead in the first 3 round and then I see Valdez pressuring Shakur trying to make it into a dog fight but Shakur will not have none of that, and will walk away with more of a cat fight decision somewhat boring and controversial…
Valdez can box, but he will also need to get mean/nasty in there to disrupt Stevenson’s boxing flow. In addition, Valdez will need to perform several other acts for a big victory:
1) Work his jab, whether it scores or not (especially to Stevenson’s front shoulder).
2) Decent punch volume (especially combination punching) to catch the judges’ eyes.
3) Constant pressure to keep Stevenson on the defensive and catch the judges’ eyes.
4) Do not get flustered and/or discouraged with Stevenson’s style.
5) Work his way inside to make Stevenson uncomfortable and hesitant to get in a rhythm.
6) Body punches (early and often).
7) Definitely during rounds 1-3, go for the KO to make Stevenson overthink.
8) Work on that straight right hand and left hook.
With early pressure and punch volume, Valdez must create early discomfort for Stevenson, which may delay Stevenson’s ability to get in a rhythm. However, If Stevenson gets into an early, comfortable rhythm (rounds 1-5), the fans will get bored/possibly pissed because Stevenson will win by a clear UD.
Valdez and his corner must stay motivated and prepare for multiple adjustments. I am looking forward to this scrap.
Ur exactly right bro. If Valdez can make it a nasty fight, he’ll have the edge. If he tries to play pitter patter with Shakur and outbox him, its gonna be a long night for him
I like both of these guys. I’m rooting for Valdez, but if I had to put money on it I’d bet on Stevenson. Either way, I just hope it makes for a good fight and not an overly-technical cautious affair.
Putting money on Stevenson not a good bet-would have to risk $600 to win $100. Betting Valdez at about 4-1 odds better idea if you feel that he has a better chance than that.
In hopes of getting a good fight, maybe the Stevenson who fought Herring will show up for this one, but because of the trouble Conceicao gave Valdez, I’m thinking Stevenson may move a bit more. If he stands his ground and fights more, Valdez is much better than Herring and will do some damage.
shakur is a stupid name
Of course it is. He’s named after dead loud mouth rapper (Good riddance) 2Pac Shakur. What a JOKE!!!