Bitter junior lightweight rivals Oscar Valdez (30-0, 23 KOs) and Shakur Stevenson (17-0, 9 KOs) will put their respective WBC and WBO belts on the line this Saturday on ESPN from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Four days from fight night, this is what Valdez and Stevenson had to say.
Oscar Valdez: “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. Since he is not willing to give the fans what they want, this will be more of a chess match.”
Shakur Stevenson: “I am the best 130-pound fighter in the world, and I will prove it when I beat Oscar Valdez and become unified champion.”
OSCAR VALDEZ
“Even though I had a very tough challenge against Miguel Berchelt, this is the toughest and biggest fight of my career because Shakur has been talking for quite some time. 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. I know I have a tough fight in front of me, but this is not something that I haven’t done before. I have worked very hard in the gym, and as always, I’m going to give it my best and 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.”
“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. 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. 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. For this kind of challenge, I prepared myself very well physically, but more importantly mentally.”
“Ever since I was a kid, I have dreamed of being the main event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. It just sounds beautiful. Sounds like you made it. This is the major leagues. I’m very excited. I’m enjoying every moment. I’m enjoying this journey of greatness. When I win this fight, I will be one step closer to being on the pound-for-pound list, and more importantly, 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.”
SHAKUR STEVENSON
“We are back in Las Vegas for training camp, and everything is going great. My grandfather and my team have me looking and feeling super sharp, and everyone is going to see the results of all this hard work on April 30.”
Getting the fight against Valdez
“This fight is three years in the making. Everyone knows that I’ve wanted to fight Oscar Valdez since 2019 when he vacated his belt at 126 instead of fighting me. He avoided me for as long as he could, but now is the perfect time for this fight and the fans are in for a show when we finally step into the ring.”
Unifying Titles
“I am the best 130-pound fighter in the world, and I will prove it when I beat Oscar Valdez and become unified champion. I won’t stop there, though. I want to become an undisputed champion at 130, and beating Oscar Valdez is the next step.”
A superstar will be born on April 30
“The world hasn’t seen everything that Shakur Stevenson can do in a boxing ring yet. I am boxing’s next superstar, and my performance on April 30 is going to prove it. Come out to the MGM Grand or tune in on ESPN because you don’t want to miss this fight.”
Should be a good one. Not a SD or even a MD between them. Two fighters used to dominating and having their way. Something’s gotta give…
I’m fired up and what you just said made me more hyped!!
Chavez said that about Whitaker…Stevenson ko3. Nuff said.
Speaking of that fight Chavez moved from 130 lbs to 147 to fight bigger Whitaker Chavez was old and Whitaker could not beat him cause running like chickenweather
He went from 140 to 147. What you talking about?
But Chavez started at 130 lbs so his frame means he was small at 147 just like micky Garcia vs Spencer …Garcia jump 5 weight divisions to fight spencer … is like spencer mover to 175 to fight canelo
Pernell started at 135 and was even smaller in the Olympics. So what’s your point?
Sounds like Oscar is making an excuse. Why would Stevenson “go to war” and take unnecessary punishment? When Oscar loses he’s going to say Stevenson ran?
Just accept that shakur has no balls is boxing not too model fashion … how you don’t want to be hit in boxing??
It will be no excuse it will be a fact (shakur had no balls to fight like man toe to toe ) I don’t see where are his skills ???
Carlos ,the art of boxing is about ring craft,to hit and not be hit,defence, stealth, intelligence,to be a gentleman in and outside the ring,and to be victorious, whether it be by points or knockout. Watch MMA if you want to see 2 people bash the shit out of each other.
✌️
Yea boxing is hit and avoid to be hitted .. but it does not mean you have to run a good waist movement like Chavez is enough
Valdez didn’t exact stand in with Berchelt so I don’t know what you are talking about.
Just like pussyweather ran
Of course shakur won’t fight toe to toe he has no balls
Is Mexican boxing vs black boxing
Which means Mexican going forward like a truly warrior and shakur running away
Typical chanate
Yeah Mexican vs Black
Junior Jones Vs Marco Antonio Barrera
Or morales vs junior Jones
They stopped that fight prematurely.Junior Jones was fucking Morales up. Jones Cardio was shit but he was Banging with a younger Morales and getting the best of him. Foh
Morales vs Junior Jones!!! What you think???
We Mexicans don’t care about winning we care about pride we love our warriors go toe to toe it pumps our adrenaline
Black people care more about numbers even when their performance is poor
You guys worry about the best manlet fighters while Europeans dominate the weight classes for grown men.
Y’all lack skills that’s why
Black boxing is very close to Puerto tocan boxing they don’t have heart they don’t know fight toe to toe like a man
It called Boxing for a reason. You want a street fight toe to toe, visit your local bar parking lot
I know shakur will win in a chickenweather style
I don’t why people say shakur has skills
He should compite with usain bolt
If you don’t want to be hit just moved to volleyball or golf (shakur)
The fight is over, Shakur stood in front of him and dominated him… Good night Carlos
Oscar Valdez: “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. Since he is not willing to give the fans what they want, this will be more of a chess match.”
“”””these words should be hurtful for shakur and his fans””””
Stevenson to run like a bitch all night, Valdez is gonna need something special to land the big shot on ladyboys chin!.
I always tend to worry when a fighter says another fighter will not go to war.
Whether fans like it or not, Stevenson has his style, and I hope Valdez and his camp have a few different avenues to address Stevenson’s style. Otherwise, Valdez will lose by a wide UD, instead of by a close UD.
Thank goodness boxing has a variety of styles, and fighters must find methods to solve/overcome an opponent’s style. Valdez has boxing skills as well, so we will see how Valdez and his corner make adjustments, possibly round by round for search of a big win (by SD). For various reasons (e.g. long term health to earn more money), proud, tough Mexicano fighters and Mexican-American fighters are displaying a sharp increase in boxing type styles, rather than only “go to war styles.”
Outside of landing a huge punch, it appears Valdez has to perfect too many things to overcome Stevenson’s style. I am looking forward to a great fight in a battle of styles, strategies and adjustments.
Just out of curiosity, historically, I wonder which style has won more titles: 1) Go to war styles (“take 2 shots to get off a shot”) or 2) Boxing styles (“hit/not get hit”)??
Well go to war have more champions in 11 division in boxing history
How many divisions runners dominate??? 3 0 4 ????
Who fans to see??? Go to war??? Or chickens???? That’s why all cards are full of Mexicans cause we are excited to watch
Chickens make fans sleep
Do t talk too much and tell shakur to show his skills fighting like a man or shakur skills are based on Usain bolt style????
So, Carlos; the following black fighters didn’t or don’t have any heart? Henry Armstrong, Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Mathew Saad Muhammad, Marvin Hagler, John Mugabi, Larry Holmes, Tommy Hearns, Aaron Pryor, Dwight Muhammad Qawi, Meldrick Taylor, Evander Holyfield, Nigel Benn, Gerald McClennan, Julian Jackson, Shawn Porter, Errol Spence, Jermel Charlo, Deontay Wilder, and Gervonta Davis, just to name a few. I’ll stop there, too many to name. Know your history; there are more black fighters in the Hall of Fame than any other ethnicity. I would think one would need to have heart in order to accomplish such a feat.
142 Total: 60 Black, 43 Latino, 32 White, and 7 Asian. All these different groups have had fighters lose there lives in the ring to entertain us, so show some respect to all fighters. Everyone has their own style and varying levels of athletic ability. I’m 100% sure, you’ve never dunked a basketball on a ten foot rim; deal with it. I won’t judge you because your under 5’7 with short arms and legs; that might explain why you have so much heart.
Except for heavyweight and old school fighters black does well
But chickenweather, shakur , Haney etc the new school are bunch of cowards they can’t fight with Mexicans in the center of the ring
You mention elite fighters in Mexico you pick a taxi driver and fight with balls we have boxing blood you Tun a lot in the ring don’t fight toe to toe like man
If we genetically be bigger we would whip your ass
But we are small that’s why we dominate from 105 lbs to 147 lbs we have more champions than any other country in these divisions
DMV, you missed Lamont Peterson. His fight with Spence showed he had too much heart for his own good.
forget you and them fighters since i caqnt ay a stronger word we all know you and them in the real world are lazy
Carlos: Using your logic; if blacks were small, we would whup your ass. Make sense? If you had longer legs you would run faster and jump higher as well. And for the record, Pernell started his career at 135 and was a small Welterweight; you’re obviously drunk. If he fought like Chavez, than he wouldn’t be Sweetpea. Today there are still more black fighters as champions; look at the latest Ring Magazine rankings. Lastly; you said Mexicans dominate from 105 to 147 and have the most champions in history at those waits? What Mexican champions are at 135 to 147 right now? You do realize that the top present day 147 pounders; Terrance Crawford, Errol Spence, Ugas are all black, right? Do your research instead of using emotion to make an argument. There are good fighters in all ethnicities.
Nooo it’s the opposite of Mexicans would be bigger we would beat Muhammad Ali with Ricardo finito López who had better technique than Ali… Ali just use jabs not liver punches nothing else … Ali won cause strength speed and stamina not be this Poot boxing skills
ali is a joke he aint the greatest only black people think that
We beat Floyd Mayweather 2 times
One with José Luis Castillo 1
Two with old oscar de la Hoya
Whitaker-Chavez wasn’t even at 147. There was a 145 lb catchweight. I get Valdez trying to goad Stevenson into a shootout. Valdez has a lot of miles on him. His best, and maybe only, way to win is by stoppage.
Carlos, the larger you are the more difficult it is to perform intricate movements of a smaller person. Ali’s body type was not made to throw short hooks to the liver like Lopez. Most 7’0 NBA centers can’t do what a 6’3 guard can. You continue to miss the point and maintain venomous bias towards black fighters. Curious: how come you never talk negatively of European fighters? Do they have any weaknesses? Are they holding something over your head or were you given specific instructions on how to deal with certain people to receive favor or something?
With Stevensons skills he doesn’t need to go to war. He can box the ears off Valdez. It would be great to what happens if Shakur got hurt, would retreat to recover or look to trade?