BoxRec

I believe Shakur is a top 5 p4p talent right now and future #1 p4p fighter. He will showcase his skills against Valdez and win a clear UD. I think he has a outside shot at a late round TKO as well if Valdez decides to push forward early.

I was thinking Berchelt will steamroll Valdez. Im not underestimate this guy again.

Cent0089 wrote: ↑30 Jan 2022, 11:41 I was thinking Berchelt will steamroll Valdez. Im not underestimate this guy again.

viewtopic.php?f=22&t=241851&hilit=Valdez+berchelt

You weren’t they only one. Have a look above. The poll.

That win has since lost respect due to Valdez sneezing hot.

Also, Valdez has a bit of mileage. Takes damage in fights.

So what's more effective? Canelo's mexican beef or Valdez's green tea? Another black eye for boxing.

Manager: Oscar Valdez Has Signed, Just Waiting On Stevenson To Do His Part

Oscar Valdez is ready to move forward with the biggest fight of his career.

The reigning WBC junior lightweight titlist is signed and sealed for his anticipated title unification bout with current WBO 130-pound champ Shakur Stevenson. The showdown of unbeaten two-division titlists is targeted to take place April 30 on ESPN from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, pending Stevenson and his side following suit and putting ink to paper.

“Oscar Valdez has signed the fight for Shakur Stevenson,” Frank Espinoza, Valdez's manager confirmed over the weekend. “Just waiting on Stevenson to do his part and sign off.”

Stevenson (17-0, 9KOs) is expected to sign the contract in the coming days. The 24-year-old Newark-bred southpaw—a 2016 Olympic Silver medalist for the U.S. and former WBO featherweight titlist—will make the first defense of the WBO title he claimed in a tenth-round stoppage of Jamel Herring last October. Valdez will make the second defense of his WBC junior lightweight, following a WBO featherweight title reign spanning three years and six title defenses before moving up in weight.

The fight aggressively moved in the right direction, at the urging of both camps and Top Rank who promotes both fighters. Valdez (30-0, 23KOs) has remained eager to unify the division since violently claiming the WBC junior lightweight in a stunningly one-sided, tenth-round knockout of long-reigning champion Miguel Berchelt last February in Las Vegas.

The two-time Olympian and two-division titlist from Nogales, Mexico—who trains under renowned cornerman Eddy Reynoso—made his first junior lightweight title defense in a narrow win over three-time Olympian and 2016 Olympic Gold medalist Robson Conceciao last September in his second hometown of Tucson, Arizona.

The moment was mired in controversy, with Valdez testing positive for trace amounts of the banned substance Phentermine—a prescription-based weight-loss supplement—as discovered through Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) pre-fight testing. The August 13 test result was discovered less than two weeks ahead of the September 13 ESPN fight, with subsequent tests producing negative results. Valdez was cleared to fight by the presiding Pascua Yaqui Tribe Athletic Commission, though clearly affected by the ordeal as he struggled versus the awkward Conceicao before surging ahead in the second half of the fight.

Stevenson became a two-division champ following a one-sided win over Herring, who held the belt for more than two years heading into their October 23 clash in Atlanta. Prior to the fight, it was Herring who long called for unification bouts, with his successor to now carry that torch.

Valdez was previously linked to a potential fight with two-division and reigning WBO featherweight titlist Emanuel Navarrete, who would have moved up in weight for the fight. Top Rank changed course, instead approaching its pair of 130-pound titlists to enter the male junior lightweight division’s first unification bout since September 2005, when Marco Antonio Barrera outpointed Robbie Peden to unify the WBO and IBF titles.

More than 125 primary junior lightweight title fights have taken place since then, with every titleholder alleging a desire to become undisputed champion. Valdez and Stevenson will be the first junior lightweight titlists in nearly two decades to back up that claim.

Anyone know if there is full random PED testing for this fight? If not, Valdez has a better chance of winning.

This is one hell of a fight and kinda going under the radar. 1 and 2 in the 130 div, featuring one of the best young prospects in the world.

Feel like Shakur is being slept on a bit in terms of big name prospects right now, people are talking tank, haney, teo, garcia, boots, ortiz, ect. But shakur might be the best of the lot.... realistically he has probably lost 1 round in his career, out of ever 100... This is definitely his toughest test though.

he's boring as hell compared to most of those guys and can hardly punch, plus he doesn't really run his mouth or have a big personality. that;s why he doesnt get as much buzz around him. but i agree, he's very very good.

Yea i get it, but you would think pure tallent would be getting him buzz. im sure he would have buzz if he was a 135... will be one day but by then the 135s will be 140s...

Hope he can go undisputed 130 and move up, i think he is that good. Guy like shakure does need dance partners though. Shakur vs tank would be an incredible watch.

135 is a hot division, with the cool kids, if he beats valdez he should move there

Oscar Valdez-Shakur Stevenson Officially Announced For April 30 At MGM Grand In Las Vegas

All of the “Is” are dotted and all of the “Ts” are crossed on contracts for Oscar Valdez and Shakur Stevenson.

Promoter Top Rank Inc. and ESPN jointly announced Thursday that their 12-round, 130-pound title unification fight will take place April 30 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. BS.com and other outlets reported January 16 that the unbeaten champions were nearing a deal to fight that night.

ESPN will air Valdez-Stevenson live following its coverage of the final day of the NFL Draft, scheduled for April 28-30 in Las Vegas. ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ also will respectively televise and stream Valdez-Stevenson live.

“Oscar Valdez and Shakur Stevenson are the world’s best junior lightweights,” Bob Arum, Top Rank’s founder, said in a press release issued Thursday afternoon. “The fans and the fighters demanded this matchup, and we are proud to deliver it live on ESPN for no extra charge. The winner becomes a superstar, and I know both men will rise to the challenge.”

Valdez and Stevenson indeed demanded to fight each other next.

Arum preferred to match Mexico’s Valdez (30-0, 23 KOs) against countryman Emanuel Navarrete (35-1, 29 KOs) in his next fight. Navarrete, the WBO featherweight champion, would’ve had to move up from the featherweight limit of 126 pounds to square off versus Valdez, himself a former WBO 126-pound champ.

That could’ve left Stevenson (17-0, 9 KOs) to box three-division champion Vasiliy Lomachenko (16-2, 11 KOs), who instead seems headed for a shot at IBF/WBC franchise/WBA/WBO lightweight champ George Kambosos Jr. (20-0, 10 KOs) on June 5 at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. Stevenson eventually wants to fight Lomachenko, but he criticized Arum publicly for not wanting him to battle Valdez next.

The 24-year-old Stevenson, a southpaw from Newark, New Jersey, previously publicly questioned Valdez’s willingness to fight him since Stevenson was the WBO’s mandatory challenger for Valdez’s WBO featherweight title. Valdez vacated that championship and moved up to the 130-pound division instead of making an obligatory title defense against Stevenson, who won the unclaimed WBO 126-pound crown by easily out-pointing Joet Gonzalez in October 2019.

The 30-year-old Valdez eventually grew tired of hearing and reading that he was avoiding Stevenson. That’s why he informed Arum that he didn’t want any opponent other than Stevenson for his next defense of the WBC super featherweight title.

Two fights ago, Valdez battered fellow Mexican Miguel Berchelt on his way to a surprising 10th-round knockout last February 20 at MGM Grand Conference Center. Stevenson, however, is a highly skilled, intelligent technician who is one of the best defensive fighters in the sport.

The 2016 Olympic silver medalist overwhelmed Jamel Herring with his speed and skill in Stevenson’s most recent fight. Stevenson, the mandatory challenger for Stevenson’s title, beat Cincinnati’s Herring (23-3, 11 KOs) by 10th-round technical knockout October 23 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta to win the WBO 130-pound crown.

Valdez, meanwhile, had a tougher time in his first defense of his WBC belt than he did while beating Berchelt. Valdez beat Brazil’s Robson Conceicao (17-1, 8 KOs) by unanimous decision September 10, but their 12-rounder was closely contested at Casino del Sol in Tucson, Arizona.

Valdez caused controversy before he entered the ring with Conceicao because he tested positive for Phentermine nearly a month before their fight.

Phentermine, a stimulant banned by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association both in and out of competition, was detected in Valdez’s “A” and “B” samples provided to VADA on August 13. The Pascua Yaqui Tribe Athletic Commission still approved Valdez’s license application because all state and tribal commissions in the United States that are affiliated with the Association of Boxing Commissions adhere to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s standards, not those established by VADA.

Ticket Information

WBC world champion Oscar Valdez and WBO king Shakur Stevenson trade blows on April 30. Valdez vs Stevenson tickets for the unification go on sale from today.

Valdez-Stevenson and additional fight action will be televised live on ESPN & ESPN Deportes (simulcast on ESPN+) at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Undercard bouts will be announced shortly.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets starting at $79 go on sale Thursday, March 10 at 10 a.m. PT and can be purchased by visiting AXS.com. Undercard bouts will be announced shortly.

Press Release | Keyshawn Davis vs. Esteban Sanchez Added

Lightweight Keyshawn Davis, the 23-year-old Olympic silver medal superstar from Norfolk, Virginia, is coming to Las Vegas on Pro Football Draft weekend to show why he should be the boxing world’s top draft pick. Davis will battle Mexican veteran Esteban Sánchez in an eight-rounder Saturday, April 30 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Davis-Sanchez will be the co-feature to the junior lightweight title unification showdown between WBC champion Oscar Valdez and WBO king Shakur Stevenson.

Valdez-Stevenson and Davis-Sánchez will be televised live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Undercard bouts will be announced shortly.

“Keyshawn Davis was the most sought-after free agent coming out of the Tokyo Olympics, and he is among the sport’s most gifted fighters,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “The main event features two of the world’s best fighters in Valdez and Stevenson, and I have little doubt that Keyshawn is on his way to becoming a pound-for-pound great.”

Davis said, “Fighting in Las Vegas at MGM Grand on Pro Football Draft weekend… I was born for this stage. I am going to put on another flawless performance and then watch from ringside as my brother, Shakur, puts on a show as well. The stars will be out, and they are going to see something special.”

Davis (4-0, 3 KOs) was supposed to fight Sanchez on March 19 in New York, but he contracted a non-COVID-related virus. He knocked out Jose Zaragoza in two brutal rounds in his Top Rank on ESPN debut last December. Davis made an impression against Zaragoza, folding his overmatched foe with a left hook to the body. His slightly delayed return comes against Sánchez (18-1, 8 KOs) a native of Ensenada, Mexico, who won a pair of fights in 2021 following his only career loss.

going shakur win i thinking a ko aswell if he is on point he is good enough, oscar is fighter tho if he sees a weaknees good luck , good fight this

Non-stop pressure will be Valdez's key to staying in the fight, and winning. I'd pick SS by UD if I was betting though.

Stevenson moving to 135 after this will be interesting, especially him vs Loma.

shak gonna take this dude to school

Press Release | Nico Ali Walsh Added To Valdez-Stevenson Card on April 30

Las Vegas native Nico Ali Walsh, grandson of “The Greatest,” hopes to make a statement for the hometown fans. Ali Walsh will fight Denver’s Alejandro Ibarra in a four-round middleweight attraction Saturday, April 30, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Ali Walsh-Ibarra will open the televised broadcast featuring the world junior lightweight title unification showdown between WBC champion Oscar Valdez and WBO king Shakur Stevenson.

Valdez-Stevenson, an eight-round lightweight co-feature between U.S. Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis and Esteban Sanchez, and Ali Walsh-Ibarra will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Ali Walsh said, “Las Vegas is home, and the MGM Grand Garden Arena has hosted so many legendary fights. This is a dream come true. I’ve gotten to know Oscar and Shakur, and it’s an honor to fight on their card. I’m focused on my fight, as Ibarra is a capable veteran. He wants to be the guy to knock off Muhammad Ali’s grandson. I won’t let that happen, especially in front of my family and friends.”

Ali Walsh (4-0, 3 KOs) graduated from Las Vegas’ Bishop Gorman High School and is currently a student at UNLV, where he is on track to graduate later this month with a degree in business entrepreneurship. He turned pro last August with a headline-grabbing first-round knockout. Ali Walsh fought twice more in 2021, including a four-round decision over Reyes Sanchez at Madison Square Garden, the site of many of his grandfather’s most memorable ring battles. Ali Walsh last fought in January in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he knocked out Jeremiah Yaegar in two rounds. He now turns to Ibarra (7-1, 2 KOs), a 28-year-old who has won four straight since the lone loss on his ledger.

gregregegg wrote: ↑13 Feb 2022, 18:52 This is one hell of a fight and kinda going under the radar. 1 and 2 in the 130 div, featuring one of the best young prospects in the world.

Feel like Shakur is being slept on a bit in terms of big name prospects right now, people are talking tank, haney, teo, garcia, boots, ortiz, ect. But shakur might be the best of the lot.... realistically he has probably lost 1 round in his career, out of ever 100... This is definitely his toughest test though.

Going under the radar for sure. Only 2 weeks out and getting bumped from the bottom of the second page. While the front page is littered with trash.

They got an undercard on this or what? fornicating hell.

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑13 Feb 2022, 20:23 135 is a hot division, with the cool kids, if he beats valdez he should move there

I actually thought he was already at 135. I get him confused with Devin Haney as, well, I reckon you know what I mean