LAS VEGAS – Oscar Duarte is now fully aware of the brand he’s building – a forward fighting, proud talking top contender seeking out action bouts and more fans clamoring for his type.
Mexico’s 140lbs contender who was jilted by former IBF champion Richardson Hitchins in February – Hitchins said he fell ill on fight day after making the IBF’s prescribed second-day weigh-in – is back in action Saturday night against aggressive countryman Angel Fierro at T-Mobile Arena.
The bout is slotted under two title fights on the Prime Video DAZN pay-per-view card – unified cruiserweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez’s defense versus unbeaten WBC light-heavyweight champion David Benavidez and Armando Resendiz’s first WBA super-middleweight defense versus Mexican countryman Jaime Munguia.
The Cinco de Mayo weekend card is a perfect fit for the improving, sassy Duarte, 30-2-1 (23 KOs), whose record has only been blemished in the past seven years by a 2023 knockout loss to WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia, who calls it his toughest victory yet.
At Wednesday’s public media workout, Duarte inspired raucous cheers by answering moderator questions with his refreshing honesty.
“This is the best sport in history. To have two Mexicans fighting in Las Vegas, I’m so proud,” he said.
When told he’d be dealing with an immediate threat from Fierro, 23-4-2 (18 KOs), Duarte responded, “You’re right, he is very aggressive, but guess what? I’m more aggressive. I’m going to pressure him. The only way to deal with him is for me to come forward and show him what I’m all about.”
Fierro, 27, said he admires Duarte’s frankness, responding, “I respect him. If he has that opinion of me, he should know I’ll be there to fight him Saturday night.”
Duarte, ranked No. 3 by the IBF, will have to wait for a shot at that belt since his top-ranked Robert Garcia Boxing Academy stablemate Lindolfo Delgado is being assigned a title fight against a lower-ranked foe who doesn’t have a pending fight, No. 6-ranked Arthur Biyarslanov.
Ranked No. 4 by the WBA and No. 8 by the WBO, Duarte wants Saturday’s showcase to propel him into the top 15 of the Mexico-based WBC so he can land another entertaining scrap against interim champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz, also of Mexico.
Fierro lost a unanimous decision to Cruz in 2025.
“This fight will end in knockout,” Duarte told BoxingScene after his comments in the ring. “I’ve trained very hard for this fight. I’ve basically had two [training] camps. I am ready.”
He said he fully grasps the rising fan support of his career after winning consecutive DAZN main events in Anaheim, California, and Chicago.
“Yes, the people are good with me. They like my boxing style, the way I am and I’m very appreciative of all that,” he said. “Making the people happy is so important to me.”
Fierro, having lost three of his past four fights and requiring hospitalization in July while cutting weight for a planned rematch versus Cruz, senses the desperation of his situation and predicted the pairing will equate in fight of the night.
“This fight is so important to me because I still want to be a world champion,” Fierro told BoxingScene. “I’m sure I’m going to conquer this man Saturday. A defeat will complicate my chance to be a world champion, so, for me, it’s my last opportunity.”
