Oscar Valdez vs Miguel Marriaga

[handsofstone]

Valdez defending his WBO Featherweight title against former challenger Marriaga who took Walters the distance not too long ago, that's the only time ive seen Marriaga and he wasn't that great that night, Walters had him down en route to a wide points win, he does seem to have KO power though so he could have a punchers chance but I doubt it

I'm a big fan of Valdez, have been since he turned over after the Olympics, even since winning the title he's still flying under the radar as he hasn't beat anyone of note yet since he became champ but I reckon he gives Santa Cruz, Frampton etc all sorts of problems he just needs the bigger tests and experience which will come, he destroyed Osawa last fight, he's got it all in his arsenal and I reckon he could stop Marriaga late in the fight

[Stuarty]

Only seen Marriaga once as well and as HoS said, he was well beaten. Looking forward to seeing young Valdez again. Looks like he'll be a force. Valdez KO inside 6ish.

[handsofstone]

Oyf incredible fight, one of the fights of the year and round 10 is as good a round as you'll see anywhere, right from the start both guys were sharp looking to land power punches and I think Valdez might have been a bit shellshocked after the 1st as Marriaga found the target early, Valdez settled down a bit and looked as if he might have got a foothold but Marrriaga kept coming and having success, Valdez started to look gassed in the middle rounds as Marriga poured on the pressure and hurt Valdez a few times and Oscar was chin checked more than once, his chin stood up well though as Marriaga can bang, just as Marriaga looked as if he would overwhelm Valdez he got clipped from a big left hook which stiffened his legs and sent him down, Valdez came on strong but Marriaga chose to slug it out and tagged Valdez before getting clipped again by left hooks

Unbelievable fight, crazy heart from both guys and solid chins as well, proper slug fest, get it watched chaps, Valdez won a wide UD I had him winning 115-112, 2 of the scorecard were "Matchroom" wide

Valdez showing he has mettle but some questions about his stamina which never looked great and he looked distressed a couple of times in the fight, saying that he came through it but Marriaga exposed some flaws

[Counter-puncher]

Only saw some highlights and it's the first I have seen from Valdez but I don't think he is a Big Thing of the future. For his style I don't think he's offensively sharp enough at this point in his career- he's much less skilled than say Cotto was at the same point in his career,IMO. And that's he kind of fighter you're looking at, he ain't a boxer or a lights-out puncher. Looked to me that Marriaga did some good work pounding the body to wear him down, agree stoney he looked distressed almost

[GlobalBox]

Was a very very good fight, Valdez clearly felt the power of Marriaga but to his credit he dug in and kept going, it was a fair decision but the scoring was crazy to be honest, these guys are ruining our sport, it can only be corruption I cannot handle the incompetence angle at all, last night's 119-109 Murray was nothing short of scandalous and looking at Eddie hovering over Bellew's card he knew it was a nonsense. Both the right men won and so we escape even worse references to our sport.

Back to Valdez, he is a delight to watch with his power and underrated counter punching ability but he is not elusive and will be in good fights but I guess they will keep him away from Marriaga types for a while. Marriaga is a handful for any feather, quite how he is 30 on the boxrec ratings is farcical.

There is not a featherweight in the world who will want to face this man voluntarily unless the money is life changing.

[Counter-puncher]

Back to Valdez, he is a delight to watch with his power and underrated counter punching ability.

He reminded me a little of Danny Garcia, both in the sense that his counter left hook looked good, and also that he ended up eating shots whilst waiting to throw it or positioning himself to throw it, also it was much better when compact, he threw too many wide loopy ones too

[Tangerine]

watched this fight this morning as Ramirez v Bursak sent me to sleep las night.. what were the scorecards in the end?

im a big fan of Valdez probably my top 3 exciting fighters to watch at the moment but Marriaga stole the show last night for me.I thought he was fantastic and his variety of shots were really causing Valdez problems.The left hook that dropped Marriaga was a cracker,Marriaga had just landed a nice big shot on Valdez which seemed to piss Valdez off more than anything,then bosh counter left hand and Marriagas doing the chicken dance.

I didnt score the fight but i feel like the knockdown was maybe the difference it was that close.Great fight

[GlobalBox]

judges: Julie Lederman 119-108, Steve Morrow 118-109, Zac Young 116-111

Front two scandalous

[Boxing Prospect]

One of a number of great bouts this weekend, Valdez is so young that he has years to develop, Mariaga is a real threat to anyone in the division, as long as his chin holds up

[MightyWarrior]

10 Things

WHAT AN INCREDIBLE FIGHT

Marriaga...Jesus Christ I've not seen many tougher than this one, rock hard, only the best punch Valdez will ever throw managed to drop him.

Valdez - I feared the worst from the start, winging bombs wildly when it was obvious he wasn't knocking out this guy, it looked like man v boy in there

But the way a desperate Oscar adjusted mid fight to box and move and turn it around showed what a fantastic talent he is. and reminded what a excellent amateur he was ( lost to Lomachenko I think ? ) But yes, he was exposed somewhat here....

That was a gut check beyond the call of duty for the young champion, both of them in fact.

Thank God Valdez won, I mean what a prospect, but matched insanely tough - I mean I know he's a champion, but just look at how new champs are matched in their first few defences...it's patty cake stuff usually

The matchmaker was doing him NO FAVOURS here...throwing a young KO artist in with an iron chinned dont' give a f*** rock hard fighter like that spells NIGHTMARE.

Colonel Bob doesn't know his arse from a hole in the ground, he's absolutely CLUELESS and blathers on about any old crap, god know how he gets away with it.

But he's still a million times more bearable than adam smith.

That round with the knock down is round of the year. Amazing. Oscar Valdez will never have a tougher fight.