By Francisco Salazar
Oscar Valdez believes has a lot to prove in every fight. That has been a winning formula so far in his pro career.
The way his pro career has gone, Valdez has never shied away from a challenge. That includes Saturday night, with an opponent who weighed in almost three pounds above the contracted weight.
Valdez will face Scott Quigg tonight at the Stubhub Center in Carson, California. At Friday's weigh-in, Quigg weighed in at 128.8 pounds, and will not be eligible to win the WBO featherweight title, which Valdez is defending.
Valdez tipped the scale at 125.8 pounds.
The Valdez-Quigg bout will follow the 10 round clash between unbeaten junior lightweights Andy Vences (20-0, 12 knockouts) and Erick De Leon (17-0, 10 KOs). Both fights will air live on ESPN (10:30 p.m. ET/ 7:30 p.m. PT).
Valdez (23-0, 19 KOs) was scheduled to make the fourth defense of his WBO title against Quigg, who will forfeit 20 percent of his purse for missing weight. The 27-year-old Valdez last fought on Sept. 22, surviving a knockdown to outpoint Genesis Servania over 12 rounds.
Despite the outcome of Friday's weigh-in, Valdez is not taking Quigg lightly.
"Every fight to important, including this fight against Quigg," Valdez told Boxingscene.com earlier this week. "Every fight is more important than the last. I want to prove I'm the best. He has a big name and he's very talented."
"I've been in there with him. I've sparred against him. I know what he has. He carries that aggressive style and he packs a punch. This is not an easy fight. This is definitely my most important fight as a pro."
Based on how their styles compliment one another, the fight between Valdez and Quigg could not have found a more fitting venue to take place than the Stubhub Center in Carson.
Valdez knows that he will have a partisan crowd cheering him, but he cannot get ahead of himself. Valdez understands the importance of the fight and the quality of fighter he has in front of him.
"I know the crowd will be cheering my name or 'Mexico,' and I'm going to feel that adrenaline," said Valdez, who is managed by Frank Espinoza. "I understand I have to give a good show to the fans."
"I just have to be smart in the ring. When I was younger, I would want to go for the knockout. Now I'm a lot smarter and I think about how to outbox my opponent. If the knockout comes or if Quigg comes at me, I know what I need to do land those effective punches."
Despite having a belt at 126 pounds, Valdez believes he has to do more to prove he is the best at 126 pounds.
"I believe I'm my own biggest critic. I'm hard on myself and I want to do better than in my previous fight."
Should he come out victorious Saturday night, Valdez has options on whether he wants to unify of defend against his mandatory challenger, which is Joseph 'JoJo' Diaz.
Valdez seeks to fight the best available fighters in the featherweight division to prove he is the best.
"Ever since I was 8-9 years old, I've always envisioned fighting in world title fights. I always want to fight the best and never settle for being average."
"I had a lengthy amateur career. There isn't a style I haven't seen. I'm sitting down on my punches and I believe I'm getting better with every fight. I want to continue to be the best fighter I can be."
* Note: The interview between the reporter and Valdez took place a few days before Friday's weigh-in.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for Boxingscene.com since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (Calif.) Star newspaper, RingTV.com, and FightNights.com. He can be reached by email at FSalazarBoxing and on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing
