By Miguel Rivera
WBO featherweight champion Oscar Valdez is backing Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. to pull off the upset on May 6th, when he faces fellow Mexican superstar Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The fight will take place at a catch-weight of 164.5-pounds.
"I am with Chávez, I have faith in him, even though he is someone whom they have criticized a lot, just like Canelo himself. But I think Chavez is looking to leave his own legacy in boxing and he does not always stick with the stigma being the son of the legend. He is looking to write his own story, to do his own thing and get recognized for what he's been doing in boxing - and not be known for just for being the son of the great Julio Cesar Chavez," Valdez said to ESPN Deportes.
Valdez from Nogales, Sonora is preparing for the second defense of his championship belt in the 126-pound division, endorsed by the World Boxing Organization, against Colombian challenger Miguel Marriaga on April 22, at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.
Valdez explained the reasons on why he is inclined to the victory of Chavez Jr.
"That's why I have faith, because I see him dedicated and committed to achieve that win, to make his own name and hopefully he can do it. I think it's a very interesting fight, because whenever there are two Mexicans in the ring, they break the soul, they give everything by trying to get out on top with their hands up, so those who are going to win are the fans," Valdez said.
Meanwhile, Valdez has his own plans, as to the kind of history that he seeks to write as a boxer.
"I would like to move to a place where I can say that I am a great among the greats. To be part of that elite list of great Mexican boxers like Julio Cesar Chavez, Erick 'Terrible' Morales, Juan Manuel Márquez, who are legends of Mexican boxing and that's where I'd like to be," Valdez said.
"I know it's a very long way [to that goal], because what they have achieved is very difficult to match, but that's why we train every day, with that idea that we can make all of the sacrifices that this trade requires and, God willing , someday I'll be there."
