By Steve Kim
WBO featherweight champion Oscar Valdez (24-0, 19 KOs) paid a heavy price in beating Scott Quigg on March 10th on a rainy, wet night at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.
Facing a fighter who failed to make the 126-pound weight limit and then came in at 142 pounds on fight night, Valdez suffered a fractured jaw.
Despite the size difference and the injury, Valdez fought his way to a twelve round decision win.
The injury to his jaw required him to have it wired shut for a few weeks.
But according to his manager, Frank Espinoza, Valdez is now back in the gym.
"He's already back working out and getting prepared in Mexico. Oscar loves this game, it's difficult to keep him away from this. He really loves boxing and he wanted to start working again," Frank Espinoza told Boxingscene.com on Monday afternoon.
"We want to make this clear though - we will not schedule anything till he is medically cleared and given a clean bill of health," Espinoza continued.
A fight that looms on the horizon for the unbeaten champion is Carl Frampton, who beat Nonito Donaire via 12-round decision on April 21st for the interim WBO featherweight title, which in essence makes him the mandatory challenger for Valdez.
"That is absolutely a fight we want to do in the very near future,'' stated Espinoza.
"Oscar wants all the big names at 126 and Frampton is certainly one of the best fighters in the weight class and it's a major fight that is on our radar. It's one of the best match-ups that can be made in the sport."
Frampton returns to the ring on August 18th in Belfast. He is going to face undefeated Luke Jackson in the main event at Windor Park.
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com
