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The Oscar Valdez-Shakur Stevenson unification bout has a house.
On Saturday, April 30, Valdez and Stevenso will meet in a title unification matchup on the MGM Grand Backyard Enviornment in Las Vegas. WBO titlist Stevenson (rated No. 1 by The Ring at 130) and WBC beltholder Valdez (who was dropped out of The Ring’s rankings after testing optimistic for PEDs) are vying to grow to be the primary unified junior light-weight champion since Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera in 2005. Stevenson-Valdez, together with further to be introduced struggle motion, will probably be televised reside on ESPN & ESPN Deportes (simulcast on ESPN+) at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Valdez (30-0, 23 KOs), the preventing delight of Nogales, Mexico, is closing in on an undefeated decade as a professional after Olympic appearances in 2008 and 2012. He’s 9-0 in world title fights and has solidified his standing as certainly one of Mexico’s consummate ring warriors. His 2017 featherweight title defenses towards Miguel Marriaga and Genesis Servania have been Struggle of the 12 months contenders. In March 2018, he defeated an over-the-weight Scott Quigg regardless of preventing with a damaged jaw for seven rounds. Valdez is 4-0 since transferring as much as junior light-weight, successful the WBC title with the 2021 Knockout of the 12 months over Miguel Berchelt. Final September, he made his first protection of that title by defeating Robson Conceição by unanimous resolution. “I wish to make it clear that I’m the very best 130-pound fighter on the earth,” Valdez mentioned. “We all know Shakur Stevenson is superb at preventing, however he’s even higher at social media. I’ll let my fists converse for themselves.” Stevenson (17-0, 9 KOs), the pound-for-pound expertise from Newark, New Jersey, gained the vacant WBO featherweight world title towards Joet Gonzalez in 2019 after Valdez vacated the title to marketing campaign at junior light-weight. Stevenson moved up in weight after dominating Gonzalez, successful three fights earlier than difficult WBO junior light-weight world champion Jamel “Semper Fi” Herring final October in Atlanta. Stevenson stopped Herring within the tenth spherical to grow to be a two-weight world champion.
Stevenson made his professional debut in April 2017. Valdez gained his first world title in July 2016, 4 weeks earlier than Stevenson earned a silver medal on the Rio Olympics. Stevenson mentioned, “I’ve been chasing this struggle for almost three years since we have been each at featherweight. On April 30, I’m going to indicate him and the world why he ducked me all this time. I’m the very best younger fighter on the earth, and I’ll grow to be unified champion.”
“Oscar Valdez and Shakur Stevenson are the world’s greatest junior lightweights. The followers and the fighters demanded this matchup, and we’re proud to ship it reside on ESPN for no further cost,” mentioned Prime Rank chairman Bob Arum. “The winner turns into a celebrity, and I do know each males will rise to problem.”
A press launch by Prime Rank was used on this article.
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