By Jake Donovan
Ruben Tamayo knows that he is viewed as a long shot to upset Oscar Valdez in their featherweight bout at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. It would make for amazing theatre if it can happen, considering that the bout will be the 1,000th fight to air on HBO (Saturday, 9:45 p.m. ET/6:45 p.m. local time).
The bout serves as the chief support to a welterweight battle between Timothy Bradley Jr. and Jessie Vargas. Logic suggests that the co-feature will become a showcase performance for Valdez (15-0, 14KOs), a two-time Olympian for his native Mexico. There is plenty of upside to the 24-year old prospect, enough to where Top Rank and HBO engaged in a spirited debate over the right opponent to face in order to make the telecast.
A difference of opinions ruled out several candidates, which led to Tamayo (25-5-4, 17KOs) landing the assignment. The journeyman southpaw hails from Ciudad Obregon, the same city in the Mexican state of Sonora that produced Orlando Salido, whose career serves as proof that you should never judge a book by its cover. Salido overcame a rough start to win four titles in two weight classes and still going strong deep into the twilight.
On that note, Tamayo only asks he not be judged by his last performance—a 5th round knockout at the hands of featherweight titlist Jesus Cuellar last December. Instead, he points to his heritage as proof that he’s always in a fight… until he isn’t
“I don’t know what happened to me the last time I was in a big fight (versus Cuellar), if I wasn’t feeling the venue or just not feeling the moment,” Tamayo says of the loss to Cuellar, which aired live on Showtime.
While his resume doesn’t exactly sparkle, Tamayo has pulled off the occasional upset.
His last win came 14 months ago, but enough of a headline grabber as he edged out fellow spoiler Efrain Esquivias. Two fights prior came an eight-round draw in a spirited battle with then-unbeaten prospect Jun Doliguez, who had just signed with Zanfer Promotions prior to the fight and was expected to shine, only for Tamayo to ruin those plans in nearly pulling off a shocking win.
It’s those nights—and not his worst night in the ring—he hopes that fans will recall in assessing his chances tonight.
“I’m here to represent Sonora, Mexico proud and here to give a great performance against Oscar Valdez. I’m ready for this big fight,” Tamayo promises.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twiter: @JakeNDaBox