By Jake Donovan
For the fourth time in less than three years, Oscar Valdez finds himself in a title fight versus an opponent who doesn’t know what it feels like to lose.
Of course, the same can be said of the undefeated featherweight titlist whom next defends his featherweight title versus Albuquerque’s Jason Sanchez (14-0, 7KOs). But as he enters every fight expecting to leave the same way, the 28 year old from Nogales, Mexico is also well aware of the target he has on his back every time he steps into the ring.
“I don’t take any fighter lightly, but especially undefeated opponents who are focused on nothing but taking my title,” Valdez (25-0, 20KOs) told BoxingScene.com ahead of his June 8 title defense, which airs live on ESPN from Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nev. “Jason Sanchez is a young, hungry fighter who wants my title in the worst way.”
The fight will mark the sixth defense of the 126-pound strap Valdez acquired in a 2nd round knockout of Matias Rueda, whom was unbeaten heading into their July 2016 title clash. Since then, he’s managed to hand the first defeat to unbeaten challengers Genesis Servania and—in his most recent outing—Carmine Tommasone this past February.
In the latter fight, Valdez returned to the ring for the first time since a bruising 12-round decision victory over former 122-pound titlist Scott Quigg last March. That bout left him with a fractured jaw and assortment of wounds he needed to heal before making his way back to the ring.
With it also came a change in trainers, as the win over Tommasone was Valdez’s first under the capable hands of Eddy Reynoso—best known for his work with two-division World champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. The move followed an amicable split with trainer Manuel Robles, with whom Valdez worked for the duration of his career but realized the need of learning the sport from a different perspective—especially with so much to protect.
“Being a world champion comes with great responsibility,” notes Valdez. “I have to train that much harder. I’m not just Oscar Valdez, I’m world featherweight champion Oscar Valdez. I get called out by everyone in the division and have to be prepared mentally and physically at all times to take on all comers.”
In Sanchez, he takes on an upset-minded rising contender who is just two fights removed from his biggest win to date. The 24-year old featherweight came up aces in a 10-round decision win over then-unbeaten and highly touted Puerto Rican prospect Jean Carlos Rivera last October in Panama City.
Sanchez added a stay-busy win on the undercard of Valdez’s aforementioned knockout over Tommasone this past February in leading to his first career title fight.
“I’m well aware of Jason Sanchez and what he brings to the ring” insists Valdez, an avid boxing fan who watches as much of the sport as possible, especially fights pertinent to his own career. “I got to see his (win over Rivera). He’s a warrior who comes full speed from the opening bell. He’s young and hungry to achieve what every boxer dreams of.
“The undefeated fighters looking to make a name for themselves are the most difficult ones to face. I’m definitely not taking him lightly. There’s a lot riding on this fight (unification bouts, along with a rumored showdown later this year versus former two-division titlist Carl Frampton) and I’m definitely not taking him lightly.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
