Oscar Valdez vs. Jayson Velez - July 21, 2020

[Ruthless-RKO]

Oscar Valdez appears to have an opponent for his already planned fight date.
From Boxing Scene

The former featherweight titlist from Sonora, Mexico—now campaigning at 130-pounds—is due to headline the July 21 edition of Top Rank Boxing on an ESPN platform live without fans in attendance from the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas. Sources with intimate knowledge of the situation have informed BS.com that Puerto Rico’s Jayson Velez has emerged as the frontrunner to land the assignment.

News of the development was first reported by ESPN Deportes’ Salvador ‘Chava’ Rodriguez.

Valdez (27-0, 21KOs) will make his second appearance as a junior lightweight, having moved up in weight after making six successful defenses of a title reign extending back to July 2016. A major scare came with his first fight at a new weight, surviving an early knockdown and a heroic effort from Adam ‘Blunose’ Lopez to score a 7th round stoppage in their back-and-forth war last November at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.

Lopez took the fight on less than 24 hours’ notice, entering as a late sub for Andres Gutierrez who miserably missed weight for their ESPN+ headliner. Valdez struggled early to adapt, rising from the canvas to pull ahead on two of the three scorecards at the time of the stoppage.

The win put Valdez—who trains with Eddy Reynoso and is managed by in position to next challenge reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) 130-pound titlist Miguel Berchelt (37-1, 33KOs), who is co-promoted by Zanfer Promotions and Top Rank (whom promotes Valdez). Plans were in place for a potential springtime clash until the boxing schedule was decimated by the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

As the bout is identified by Top Rank as one where the preference is to have fans in attendance—a luxury that is not afforded any entity in North America at the present time—the decision was made to allow both to enter separate stay busy fights. Berchelt continues to await his marching orders, with rumors of a June 27 appearance at a crowdless venue in Mexico City likely more optimistic than realistic at this time.

Meanwhile, Valdez will move forward with his first of 2020.

Velez (29-6-1, 22KOs) will enter such a fight on the heels of a loss, albeit in a strong showing versus rising prospect Jaime Arboleda this past February in Allentown, Pennsylvania. A late round knockdown scored by Velez proved too little, too late in dropping a tightly contested 12-round split decision in their Showtime-televised crossroads bout.

The loss snapped a three-fight win streak for the 32-year old Boricua, who has faced stellar competition over the course of his 13-year career.

Unfortunately, it has rarely resulted in his hand being raised. Velez fought to a disputed 12-round draw with then-unbeaten Evgeny Gradovich in a November 2014 title challenge, shortly followed by a rough patch where he dropped five of his next eight starts. Of his conquerors, two—Joseph Diaz and Rene Alvarado—are current 130-poudn titlists, while Ronny Rios and Ryan Garcia are both ranked contenders at junior featherweight and lightweight, respectively.

[Cent0089]

Solid fight considering covid circumstances. What do you think, Can Valdez and Berchelt fight each other after that ?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release

The first run of Top Rank on ESPN shows inside the MGM Grand “Bubble” will conclude with former featherweight world champion Oscar Valdez, ranked No. 1 by the WBC and WBO at junior lightweight, facing former world title challenger Jayson Velez in the 10-round main event Tuesday, July 21, inside the MGM Grand Conference Center.

In the eight-round co-feature, super middleweight knockout sensation Edgar Berlanga (13-0, 13 KOs), who has knocked out 13 consecutive foes in the first round to begin his pro career, will look to extend the streak against Eric Moon (11-2, 6 KOs).

The card also will highlight the long-awaited return of Kim Clavel, the undefeated light flyweight who won the 2020 Pat Tillman Award for Service at the ESPYs for her work as an elder care nurse in Montreal during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clavel, who is promoted by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM), will fight fellow unbeaten Natalie Gonzalez in an eight-rounder.

Valdez-Velez, Berlanga-Moon, Clavel-Gonzalez, and undercard bouts will be televised live on ESPN & ESPN Deportes beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

“Oscar Valdez wants to fight WBC world champion Miguel Berchelt, and I know Miguel wants nothing more than to fight Oscar,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Oscar knows Jayson Velez is a serious challenge that he cannot overlook. This is a great main event, and an incredible deep card, to close out our first round of shows inside the ‘Bubble.’”

Valdez (27-0, 21 KOs) has won three fights since his March 2018 war of attrition against Scott Quigg, when his jaw was shattered in the fifth round of a 12-round championship bout. He took nearly one year off following the Quigg fight and moved up to the junior lightweight ranks last year. In his last outing, November 30 in Las Vegas, he survived a second-round knockdown to knock out Adam Lopez in the seventh.

Velez (29-6-1, 21 KOs), from Juncos, Puerto Rico, nearly won the IBF featherweight world title from Evgeny Gradovich in November 2014, but he was held to a controversial draw. He has fought from featherweight to lightweight in recent years and March 2018 knockout victory over former world champion Juan Manuel Lopez. Velez was one half of a Fight of the Year Contender in February, as he knocked down Jaime Arboleda in the 12th round, only to lose a split decision verdict by a single point on two of the judges’ scorecards. He has never been knocked out in a career that’s spanned nearly 13 years.

Valdez said, “I’m ready for the best of the division. I want to be a two-division world champion, and the only way to do that is to beat tough fighters like Jayson Velez, who has challenged for a world title and possesses a lot of experience. Also, I’m very thankful to be fighting during this critical time where the sport of boxing is getting attention again.”

“We know there have been discussions about me challenging Miguel Berchelt for his WBC super featherweight world title, but Velez is first. I need to beat Velez first if I want to fight Berchelt, and I'm expecting a very tough fight. I want to dedicate this fight to all of the nurses and doctors who are working hard on this pandemic and to my father, Top Rank, and my manager, Frank Espinoza. I can’t wait to return to the ring.”

Said Velez, "Oscar Valdez is the greatest name I have ever had the opportunity to face. He is a young, undefeated fighter who was already a world champion and is hungry for another world title. At this stage of my career, I see each fight as if it were the last chance to achieve my dream. It's now or never. We are going to make that dream come true.”

Berlanga, the brash Brooklynite nicknamed “The Chosen One,” took care of Cesar Nunez in 2:45 last December on the Terence Crawford-Egidijus Kavaliauskas undercard at Madison Square Garden. Moon has won four of his last five and has been knocked out only once since turning pro in July 2016. He has fought eight or more rounds five times.

Said Berlanga, “I've not really changed much about training because of the knockout streak. Training is all about improving as a boxer. I had a good amateur career, and that comes from being a good technical boxer. My focus in training has been to continue to improve my skills under my trainer, Andre Rozier, and Team Havoc.”

Clavel (11-0, 2 KOs) is coming off a career-best win last December, a decision over Esmeralda Gaona Sagahon that earned her the NABF light flyweight belt. The belt won’t be on the line against Gonzalez (6-0, 1 KO), a native of New Rochelle, New York, who was a two-time New York Golden Gloves champion as an amateur.
_________________
In undercard action:

Former junior featherweight world champion Isaac “Royal Storm” Dogboe (20-2, 14 KOs), on the comeback trail following back-to-back defeats to Emanuel Navarrete, will face two-time world title challenger Chris “The Hitman” Avalos (27-7, 20 KOs) in an eight-round featherweight battle.

Elvis “The Dominican Kid” Rodriguez (7-0-1, 7 KOs), who is coming off a highlight-reel first-round KO July 2 against Danny Murray, will face Kenyan veteran Dennis Okoth (4-3-1, 2 KOs) in a six-rounder at junior welterweight.

Italian heavyweight destroyer Guido “The Gladiator” Vianello (7-0, 7 KOs) will aim to make it eight knockouts in as many fights against an opponent to be named in a six-rounder. Vianello, a 2016 Olympian, knocked out Don Haynesworth in one round June 9.

Raphael “Trouble" Igbokwe (14-2, 6 KOs), winner of two straight bouts, will fight Genc Pllana (8-1-1, 4 KOs) in an eight-round super middleweight bout originally scheduled for July 16.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Full Card (ESPN, 8:00 pm ET)


Oscar Valdez (27-0, 21 KO) vs Jayson Velez (29-6-1, 21 KO), junior lightweights, 10 rounds

Edgar Berlanga (13-0, 13 KO) vs Eric Moon (11-2, 6 KO), super middleweights, 8 rounds

Kim Clavel (11-0, 2 KO) vs Natalie Gonzalez (6-0, 1 KO), junior flyweights, 8 rounds

Elvis Rodriguez (7-0-1, 7 KO) vs Dennis Okoth (4-3-1, 2 KO), junior welterweights, 6 rounds

Isaac Dogboe (20-2, 14 KO) vs Chris Avalos (27-7, 20 KO), featherweights, 8 rounds

[Cent0089]

What do you think guys, is this Edgar Berlanga real deal ?

[margaret thatcher]

Hard to say, hasnt had to show anything much other than power, and we dont know yet how far that power will go as he faces a lot tougher opposition. its been a bit of fun following the streak though

I think our boi crazysteve trains with him and says they didnt expect a ko streak like this?

[jujigatame]

This is the first TR card since Moloney/Franco that actually looks worthwhile. Will watch for sure.

[Onetimeonly]

I missed that one, but my plan is to watch this one.

[Onetimeonly]

Lol, they actually have the eye candy at these fights with no crowd? Amazing

[jujigatame]

This fight would have been a lot better 4-5 years ago. Avalos is no longer any kind of threat.

[margaret thatcher]

This fight would have been a lot better 4-5 years ago. Avalos is no longer any kind of threat.

So 'worthwhile' , or one to spray feces on?

[jujigatame]

This fight would have been a lot better 4-5 years ago. Avalos is no longer any kind of threat.

So 'worthwhile' , or one to spray feces on?

I'm watching for the main event. The undercard is mostly wank.

[margaret thatcher]

Ah, gotcha. Personally I think Velez hardly wins a round in the main, too slow

[gilgamesh]

Solid comeback win for Dogboe. Nothing earth shattering, but the performance he needed.

[jujigatame]

Ah, gotcha. Personally I think Velez hardly wins a round in the main, too slow

Hard pressed to disagree given Valdez is a -2000 favorite, but at least Velez is a solid B-tier (or at least C+ surely?) opponent. Most of these TR cards have been total trash, even the main events.

[gregregegg]

Havent seen much of Edgar Berlanga, but his 13-0 13 first round KOs is interesting, especially considering its 160-168 so not giants, and they haven't all been absolute push overs.
Will this be a round 1 KO too? im sure he will be going for it to try keep it going.

[margaret thatcher]

Great, another nailed on predictable decision with powerless womens slappers , i dont like this whole thing of trying to make womens boxing popular like ufc, its just so boring for the most part

sure, it's great that kim clavel has been nursing, doesnt mean i want to see her in an 8 rounder

[jujigatame]

I have nothing against women's boxing but this fight is pretty dreadful.

[Bling]

i dont like this whole thing of trying to make womens boxing popular like ufc, its just so boring for the most part

Shorter rounds are no help. Totally different sport with only 2 minutes.

[margaret thatcher]

Man, these totally powerless ladies from Canada, Kim Clavel, Marie whatever her name who was gonna fight Clar. What is that, 2 kos in 30 fights

Hey let's put them on the main card, they are women and so it will be popular like womens mma

[gilgamesh]

Man, these totally powerless ladies from Canada, Kim Clavel, Marie whatever her name who was gonna fight Clar. What is that, 2 kos in 30 fights

Hey let's put them on the main card, they are women and so it will be popular like womens mma

That goes for the majority of Women's Boxers. Punchers amongst the ladies is exceptionally rare.

[gregregegg]

I dont mind the short rounds. think they should have 6 ounce gloves. The reason they can give it there all and be fearless is theres no chance of getting knocked.

[margaret thatcher]

lol dude literally did a cartwheel on the canvas

[gilgamesh]

Solid KO streak. I doubt he keeps it up when they step up the competition, but clearly he has power. If he can keep the KO streak going at all he's gonna get the Boxing world's attention, and fast.

[margaret thatcher]

If they wanna test him more and not just keep the streak going they should put him in with someone like Vaughn Alexander next