The stakes have just gotten higher.
When Oscar Valdez and Liam Wilson face off this Friday at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, the vacant WBO Interim junior lightweight world title will now be on the line. The Interim title became available after the current champion, Emanuel Navarrete, elected to fight Denys Berinchyk for the vacant WBO lightweight world title on Saturday, May 18 in San Diego, California.
Per the WBO, "If Navarrete is successful in winning the vacant WBO Lightweight championship and determines to retain the WBO Lightweight championship, the WBO Jr. Lightweight Interim champion shall be elevated to 'Full Champion' status..."
In Friday’s co-feature, an undisputed minimumweight queen will be crowned, as WBC/WBA/Ring Magazine champion Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada and WBO/IBF queen Yokasta Valle battle to unify all the belts.
Valdez-Wilson, Estrada Valle, and a loaded undercard will stream live and exclusively in the United States on ESPN+.
“This not only promises to be a sensational fight, but with the WBO Interim title on the line, the winner will have tremendous opportunities in a loaded weight class,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum.