Oscar Valdez is looking at his upcoming all-Mexican fight with Emanuel Navarette as a chance to bring boxing back to the days of his idols Eric Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera.
Valdez fights Navarette atop a Top Rank boxing show on Saturday, August 12 at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
“Those two fighters inspired me to be the fighter that I am today,” he said. “So, to leave something similar in history would mean the world to me.”
Valdez, who has been training in the mountain region of Lake Tahoe, said he’s motivated for this world title challenge more than any other fight he’s been involved in.
“People are excited about this fight,” he said. “Everywhere I go, I get the same question: ‘When are you going to fight Vaquero?’
“We all know that a war is coming.”
On his opponent, who is a three-weight world champion and unbeaten in an 11-year stretch, Valdez said: “Navarrete has an awkward style.”
He added: “We might not have the perfect sparring that can emulate his style. But we try to imitate him in the mittwork and strategy. He’s not your typical fighter that throws straight shots.”
Valdez continued: “I’m excited. It’s getting close. It’s one of the most important fights of my career because it means everything for me to come back and win that title.
“I feel blessed to have this opportunity, and I’m taking advantage of it every single day so that I can accomplish my dream.”
