Former two-weight world champion Oscar Valdez returns to action on March 29 in Glendale, Arizona.
Valdez (31-2, 23 KOs) takes on Australia’s Liam Wilson in a 12-round main event and the Mexican warrior is looking to bounce back from defeat at hand of Emanuel Navarrete last August.
“I’m excited to have another opportunity,” Valdez said, in an exclusive interview with ProBox TV. “Having this opportunity means the world to me because we know whoever wins this fight is a step closer for a world title fight. I’m going to give 100 per cent and do whatever it takes to win this fight, which is not an easy fight.
Wilson (13-2, 7 KOs) also lost to Navarrete a year ago. He has since bounced back with wins against the undefeated Carlos Maria Alanis and Jackson Jon England, both in Sydney, Australia.
“I got a lot of respect for him as a person and as a fighter, but I will do whatever it takes to win that fight.” Valdez added.
ProBox TV spoke to Valdez at the WBO convention in Dominican Republic last summer. The one thing on Valdez’s mind at the time was to avenge his loss to Navarrete, his fellow Mexican seemed happy to oblige. However, Navarrete is moving up to lightweight to face Denys Berinchyk for the vacant WBO title at 135 pounds.
“We talked when we were in the Dominican Republic and we said we were going to get the rematch,” Valdez explained. “We were going to duke it again, I’m a man of my word. They [WBO] also said that when you are a champion you get the chance to fight in the next division and if you lose you are still a champion below. He is still the WBO world champion at 130lbs. So, it was always a possibility. But my focus is not on Navarrete, it is on Wilson right now, but it is definitely on my radar.”
Can fans expect a different fighter to the one who lost to his Mexican rival last year.
“Yes, definitely,” Valdez added. “Game plans! Game palms are everything, a lot of people just think you can go inside the ring and throw blows, fight. Really it is a chess game, a chess match up. You got to know what to do when you need to do so. So I’ll change my game plan without a doubt. Mature the style a little bit and do whatever it takes to win.”
