Oscar Valdez will revisit his roots as it relates to his training team.
The former two-division titlist has confirmed a reunion with Manny Robles, his original trainer before a mid-career switch to Eddy Reynoso. Valdez announced the switch on Wednesday, more than seven months after his last ring appearance.
The move comes nearly seven years after Valdez – a two-time Olympian for his native Mexico – joined up with Reynoso and his team as an unbeaten featherweight titlist. Their union extended through his past eleven fights but has now come to an end.
“I want to thank Eddy Reynoso [for] the six years we worked together,” Valdez announced through his verified social media channels. “The learning in the gym, his dedication and professionalism in every camp, in every fight, as well as his advice. I have nothing but words of respect and gratitude both personally and professionally for Eddy Reynoso and his entire team.
“Now, I will look for new challenges with Manny Robles, a coach I have worked with in my professional career and set new challenges for myself.”
The move will see Valdez, 32-3 (24 KOs), join a red-hot stable that includes newly crowned WBA interim 168lbs titlist Armando Resendiz, lineal and WBO 115lbs queen Mizuki “Mimi” Hiruta and top 154lbs contender Serhii Bohachuk.
Valdez has not fought since a repeat loss to reigning WBO 130lbs titlist Emanuel Navarrete. Their December 7 rematch saw Navarrete, 39-2-1 (32 KOs; 1 No-Contest), manhandle his 34-year-old countryman en route to a one-sided, sixth-round knockout.
It marked the first time that Valdez was stopped through more than 12 years and 35 pro fights. Navarrete previously outpointed Valdez in their far more competitive August 2023 WBO 130lbs title fight.
Valdez went 9-3 (5 KOs) under Reynoso. Their journey began a few months after a then-unbeaten Valdez fought through a broken jaw to defend his WBC featherweight title in an April 2018 victory over Scott Quigg.
The highlight of their time together was Valdez’s violent tenth-round knockout of Miguel Berchelt in February 2021. Valdez ended his countryman’s lengthy WBC 130lbs title reign with the feat and instantly became the talk of the division.
However, he was forced to fend off a drug testing scandal just one fight later.
Valdez tested positive for phentermine ahead of a September 2021 title defense against Robson Conceicao. The scheduled bout headlined an ESPN show from Valdez’s childhood hometown of Tucson, Arizona, but endured a swarm of negative press even after he was cleared of any wrongdoing by the Pascua Yaqui Tribe Athletic Commission and the WBC.
The fight moved forward and Valdez claimed a twelve-round, unanimous decision win to retain his title. He suffered his first defeat just one fight later, a lopsided points loss to Shakur Stevenson in their April 2022 WBC-WBO unification clash.
The drug testing incident in question was causally referenced earlier this week by Reynoso, though more so in praise of Valdez’s overall career. The trainer declared to take a more hands-on approach in overseeing every aspect of his fighters’ training camps, including his star pupil – four-division and reigning undisputed super middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
That list will no longer include the gym’s second most-successful fighter.
When and where Valdez will next fight was not yet determined as this goes to publication.
His decision to resume his career comes months after post-fight concerns over his future in the sport following the repeat loss to Navarrete. Among those who called for his retirement was Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum, whose Top Rank company has promoted Valdez his entire career.
Nevertheless, Valdez has decided that he has one more in him – and now with his original team back by his side.
“I'm motivated and eager to return,” vowed Valdez.
