By Steve Kim
On the night of April 22nd at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, Oscar Valdez defeated the tough Miguel Marriaga. For the first time in his career, the defending WBO featherweight champion not only went the twelve round distance, but he also showed that he could dig down deep when needed.
As Marriaga seemed to be building momentum after the ninth round, Valdez turned back the tide by flooring Marriaga in the tenth and finishing the fight with a rally. This was the toughest fight of his career and Valdez passed with flying colors.
So what's next?
"Coming off that tough test against Marriaga, we've given Oscar some time off from the gym. But I've been conferring with Top Rank about his future,"s aid Valdez's manager, Frank Espinoza, to BoxingScene.com.
"My hope is that we can get him at least two more fights in 2017 and continue to really build upon his momentum as one of the games brightest and most exciting stars. One of our goals is to bring him to Tucson (Arizona) and build him into a real draw. Moving forward we're willing to face anyone in the featherweight division."
The veteran manager, who also handles the likes of WBO super bantamweight titlist, Jessie Magdaleno, and junior welterweight contender, Antonio Orozco, was impressed by the grit Valdez displayed versus Marriaga.
"I always believed that Valdez had the special qualities that mark a great fighter but until you actually see it in a real fight you really don't know. I saw what I needed to in this last fight," Espinoza said.
Bob Arum, the head of Top Rank (which handles the career of the 26-year old Valdez), says of his client - "I want him to fight in the summer so I can bring him back in the fall."
Valdez, who won his WBO belt last summer by blowing out Matias Rueda in two rounds and has made two successful title defenses has a record of 22-0 (19 KO's).
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com