The world's two best junior lightweights — WBC world champion Oscar Valdez and WBO king Shakur Stevenson — ignited their long-anticipated unification grudge match, which will take place Saturday, April 30 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas (LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT). (photos by Mikey Williams)
Less than eight weeks from fight night, the two went face to face Wednesday morning at MGM Grand. Tensions did not spill over, but the two undefeated champions exchanged not-so-pleasant pleasantries. Valdez (30-0, 23 KOs), the two-weight champion from Nogales, Mexico, enters as the betting underdog for only the second time in his career. The first time, Valdez knocked out Miguel Berchelt in devastating fashion.
Stevenson (17-0, 9 KOs), in his fifth bout at junior lightweight, hopes a victory will vault him up the mythical pound-for-pound rankings.
