Oscar Valdez gets a homecoming after the biggest win of his career.
A return to Tucson awaits the two-time Mexican Olympian and undefeated two-division title holder who will lead an ESPN card from the AVA Amphitheater at Casino del Sol Resort in Tucson, Arizona on September 10th. Valdez will be defending his WBC junior lightweight title for the first time, with Robson Conceicao – a 2016 Olympic gold medalist and currently rising contender – standing pending sanctions approval as the undefeated Brazilian is currently in no weight classification is classified.
The title defense has been under discussion for weeks, Top Rank is on the hunt for the right date and place. Several dates were in the game for August and September, as well as October 1, before settling on September 10, the Athletic’s Lance Pugmire first announced on social media.
The event will mark Valdez’s first fight since his sensational knockout in the 10th round of longtime WBC junior lightweight titleist Miguel Berchelt last February at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.
“Oscar Valdez is excited to be back fighting in Arizona after his big win over Miguel Berchelt,” said Frank Espinoza Jr. of Espinoza Boxing Club, Valdez ‘longtime manager, to BoxingScene.com. “I know he’s very excited to perform in front of the fans. As always, Oscar Valdez will be ready to put on a show for everyone! “
Valdez (29-0, 23KOs) last performed in Tucson at a show in September 2017 at the Tucson Convention Center, about 20 minutes from Casino del Sol. Valdez – originally from Sonora, Mexico, but raised in Tucson and still has a family in the area – also ran an ESPN show that night, defending his WBO featherweight title in a sensational 12-round war with Genesis Servania, where both fighters hit the deck before Valdez prevailed unanimously.
“Summer just got hotter in Tucson! Oscar Valdez is very much loved here, ”Michelle ‘Raging Babe’ Rosado told BoxingScene.com as her company Raging Babe takes on local management for the event. “I’ve said for years that Tucson is a hidden gem of a battle city. You love hers [Arizona] Wildcats and their boxes.
“I expect the fans to travel from Phoenix to Tucson for Valdez’s return home.”
The fight with Servania drew more than 4,100 spectators with a full house expected for his first rematch as a two-part world champion. Valdez has sharpened his profile due to his tour de force performance against Berchelt and ended the more than four-year title reign of his compatriot.
With the win, the next step for Valdez was to re-establish it as a box office hit. Tucson has always been a fun fighting city that seems ripe for world class boxing after the pandemic.
“We had great success in Tucson and Top Rank was keen enough to come back,” notes Rosado. “I am thrilled that the event is taking place at Casino Del Sol. The property is beautiful and the late Hall of Fame promoter Don ‘War-A-Week’ Chargin often pitched his tent here. “
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
.
Comments are closed.