Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, who leads the corner of former champion Scott Quigg, is confident that his boxer will come out on top when he challenges WBO featherweight king Oscar Vadez on March 10 at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.
For Valdez (23-0, 19 KOs), this will be his fourth title defense since winning it in 2016. Quigg (34-1-2, 25 KOs) will be making his U.S. debut.
The contest will headline an ESPN televised card, which is being staged by Top Rank.
Roach believes the contest will be the perfect opportunity for Quigg to set up a rematch with the man who handed him his first career defeat, Carl Frampton.
Frampton has a tough fight lined up for next month against Nonito Donaire.
If a rematch ever comes about, Roach is very confident that Quigg will even up the score.
In numerous interviews, Valdez has promised to become the first man to send Quigg down and out.
Roach is really hoping that Valdez lives up to his promise and makes it a real physical fight, because the veteran coach believes his boxer will be the one to score a knockout.
"Oscar Valdez is a good young fighter, but I think Quigg is better,” Roach said.
"This is a perfect stepping stone for Scott to get a rematch with Carl Frampton and become world champion once again. Carl got lucky and broke Scott’s jaw in the first round. That won’t happen again. But right now, we’re not concerned with Frampton. We’re focusing on beating Oscar.”
"Scott is one of the best conditioned fighters I have worked with, and it’s great working with fighters like him and Pacquiao.”
“Oscar says he’ll knock Scott out. I hope he believes that because if he comes forward and tries to knock Scott out, then Scott is going to put him on his ass.”
