If it couldn’t be a direct shot at the title, Oscar Valdez only had one specific request for his next fight - no soft touches.
The unbeaten former featherweight titlist from Sonora, Mexico - now based out of West Covina, California - was hoping to next face countryman and long-reigning 130-pound titlist Miguel Berchelt, in a highly anticipated showdown to have taken place this spring. Like so many others, the bout was placed on hold due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Top Rank - whom promotes Valdez and co-promotes Berchelt - decided on stay-busy fights for both before revisiting plans for when boxing can once again take place with fans in attendance.
Berchelt (37-1, 33 KOs) will return on June 27 in Mexico City, facing unheralded countryman Eleazar Valenzuela (21-13-4, 16 KOs). The ESPN headliner will serve as little more than a time marker for the 28-year old from Merida, who has made six defenses of the 130-pound title he claimed in January 2017.
Plans are still being finalized for Valdez’s scheduled July 21 appearance in Las Vegas, also to headline an ESPN telecast. The likely opponent will be Puerto Rico’s Jayson Velez (29-6-1, 21 KOs), although lingering details remain before the bout can be formally announced. Other names have been mentioned but Team Valdez is happy with the candidate whom has emerged as the strong frontrunner.
“Anyone who knows boxing, knows Velez will come to win and will be no easy task,” Frank Espinoza, Valdez’s career-long manager told BoxingScene.com. “But Valdez wants these fights. He wants tough challenges that will lead to another world title.”
Valdez (27-0, 21 KOs) made six successful defenses of the featherweight title he held for more than three years before moving up to junior lightweight late last year. His debut at the weight was nearly disastrous, suffering an early knockdown against 11th hour replacement Adam ‘Blunose’ Lopez before prevailing in a 7th round stoppage last November at The Cosmopolitan.
Despite the trial-by-fire debut at 130, Valdez insisted on moving forward with a showdown versus Berchelt, widely regarded as the best fighter in the division. That dream will have to wait for at least one more fight, with the intention of making a statement for the next one in front of him.
It meant joining Eddy Reynoso in training camp south of the border, as opposed to their normal setup in San Diego. On July 21, it will also mean having to make a statement against a veteran contender.
“Valdez is currently training in Guadalajara, Mexico for this camp,” reveals Espinoza. “He is motivated to get back in the ring. And show the world why he is deserving to fight for and win his next world title.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox