BoxRec

Bob Arum intends for Oscar Valdez to face Robson Conceicao this fall, not Shakur Stevenson

Despite young rising star Shakur Stevenson repeated calling out Oscar Valdez for a fight he wants before the year is out, it doesn’t seem that Stevenson will get his wish with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum telling ESPN that Valdez will instead face Robson Conceicao this September in Arizona. This obviously isn’t going to be thrilling news for Stevenson, who is on the hunt for a world title at 130, but it is what it is as they say.

Valdez (29-0, 23 KOs) is most recently coming off the biggest win of his career, upsetting Miguel Berchelt this past February to become WBC world champion. His next opponent Conceicao (16-0, 8 KOs), is a 2016 Olympic gold medal winner but has yet to step onto the big stage in the professional ranks, mostly beating low level opposition to this point.

The fight against Conceicao clearly won’t be as big of an event as it would be against Stevenson, but it would appear Arum has more designs on marination, not quite ready to toss two of his young stars into the ring with one another.

Oscar Valdez Signs New Multi-Fight Agreement With Top Rank

Undefeated WBC super featherweight world champion Oscar Valdez has signed a new multi-fight promotional agreement with Top Rank.

“It’s a pleasure to promote a young athlete like Oscar Valdez. He is a true gentleman who is grateful for the help we’ve provided, and he works collaboratively with the company for the mutual benefit of both parties,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “I have been very fond of Oscar from the moment we signed him, and I am proud of everything he has accomplished. I would like to recognize Frank Espinoza, a fantastic manager who has been integral in helping Oscar reach this point.”

Valdez (29-0, 23 KOs), a two-time Mexican Olympian, turned pro with Top Rank following the 2012 London Olympics and continues a partnership that has seen him win world titles in two weight classes and become one of the faces of Top Rank on ESPN.

Valdez said, “I am proud to be part of the Top Rank family. I want to thank Bob Arum and Todd duBoef for their confidence in my abilities. I will not let them down. I also want to thank my manager, Frank Espinoza, for securing a great deal for me. This is a wonderful moment in my career, and I’m grateful to God for my blessings.”

A former WBO featherweight world champion, the 30-year-old Valdez upset the odds and boxed a brutal masterpiece in his last bout, knocking out Miguel Berchelt in an all-Mexican showdown to win the WBC super featherweight world title. Valdez is scheduled to return this fall on an ESPN platform.

Added Espinoza, “We are ecstatic that Top Rank and Oscar Valdez are continuing what has been a long and successful partnership. Bob Arum and Todd duBoef recognize Oscar as a special fighter with all the characteristics to make him an all-time great. Oscar has the discipline and passion it takes to reach the top levels of the sport. We’re very proud of what Oscar has achieved so far, and we’re confident he will delight boxing fans with more exciting and memorable fights.”

Oscar Valdez Set For Homecoming Title Defense, September 10 In Tucson

Oscar Valdez will receive a homecoming on the heels of the biggest win of his career.

A return to Tucson is in store for the two-time Mexican Olympian and unbeaten two-division titlist, who will headline a September 10 ESPN card from the AVA Amphitheatre at Casino del Sol Resort in Tucson, Arizona. Valdez will make the first defense of his WBC junior lightweight title, with Robson Conceicao—a 2016 Olympic Gold medalist and current rising contender—as the leading candidate, pending sanctioning body approval as the unbeaten Brazilian is currently not ranked by the WBC in any weight division.

The title defense has been in talks for weeks, with Top Rank on the hunt for a right date and location. Several dates were in play for August and September as well as October 1, before settling on September 10 as first revealed via social media by The Athletic’s Lance Pugmire.

The event will mark Valdez’s first fight since his sensational 10th round knockout of long-reigning WBC junior lightweight titlist Miguel Berchelt this past February at MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.

“Oscar Valdez is really excited about fighting in Arizona again after his big win against Miguel Berchelt,” Frank Espinoza Jr. of Espinoza Boxing Club, Valdez’s career-long manager told Boxing Scene. “I know he’s very excited to perform in front of fans. As always, Oscar Valdez will be ready to put on a show for everyone watching!”

Valdez (29-0, 23 KOs) last appeared in Tucson atop a September 2017 show from Tucson Convention Center, roughly 20 minutes from Casino del Sol. Valdez—originally from Sonora, Mexico but who grew up in Tucson and still has family in the area—also topped an ESPN show that night, making the second defense of his WBO featherweight title in a sensational 12-round war with Genesis Servania, where both fighters hit the deck before Valdez prevailed by unanimous decision.

“Summer just got hotter in Tucson! Oscar Valdez gets a lot of love here,” Michelle ‘Raging Babe’ Rosado told BS.com, as her Raging Babe company takes the local lead for the event. “I’ve said for years that Tucson is a hidden gem of a fight town. They love their [Arizona] Wildcats and their boxing.

“I expect fans to travel from Phoenix to Tucson for Valdez’s homecoming.”

The fight with Servania attracted more than 4,100 fans in attendance, with a full house expected for his first fight back as a two-division world champion. Valdez has raised his profile on the strength of his tour-de-force performance versus Berchelt, ending his countryman’s four-plus year title reign.

With the win, the next course of progression for Valdez was to re-establish him as a box-office attraction. Tucson has always served as a fun fight town, one that appears to be ripe for world class boxing following the pandemic.

“We’ve had great success in Tucson, and Top Rank was sharp enough to return,” notes Rosado. “I’m thrilled the event is happening at Casino Del Sol. The property is beautiful and it’s where the late Hall-of-Fame promoter Don 'War-A-Week' Chargin often pitched his tent.”

Fight Confirmed

Oscar Valdez is set to head home.

The unbeaten two-division and reigning WBC junior lightweight titlist will next face 2016 Olympic Gold medalist and current 130-pound contender Robson Conceicao. The bout will top an ESPN+ telecast to take place September 10 at AVA Amphitheater at Casino Del Sol at Casino del Sol in Valdez’s childhood hometown of Tucson, Arizona.

In the chief support, Gabriel Flores Jr. continues his rise as a junior lightweight contender as he faces no-nonsense Luis Alberto Lopez in a scheduled ten-round affair.

Top Rank formally announced the show on Tuesday, confirming an earlier report from Boxing Scene.

“Oscar Valdez is coming off a career-best performance and wants to put on a spectacular showing in front of the great Tucson fans,” said Top Rank chairman and Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum. “Conceição has been waiting for this shot ever since he turned pro, and having promoted him for his entire career, I know he’ll be at his very best.

“We have a great co-feature, as the young Flores wants to prove he is a contender to watch, and he can do that by beating a tough Mexican in Luis Alberto Lopez.”

Valdez will make the first defense of the WBC junior lightweight title he claimed in a tenth-round knockout of Miguel Berchelt this past February 20, delivering one of the year’s best performances in unseating the long-reigning champ. The win saw Valdez (29-0, 23KOs)—a two-time Mexican Olympian—become a two-division world champion after having previously held the WBO featherweight title. Included in his three-year featherweight title reign was a twelve-round win over Genesis Servania, with both fighters scoring knockdowns before Valdez prevailed by unanimous decision in their September 2017 war at Tucson, Arizona.

The 30-year-old now returns home with another title in tow.

"I am very excited to fight in my second home, Tucson, Arizona, where I will have my first defense of the WBC super featherweight world title,” Valdez said. “It motivates me to know that I will defend the title in front of my friends and my family, and I will be willing to put it on the line as in all my fights. I'm coming to give a great show to my people, and I can't wait to see you on Sept. 10."

Conceicao (16-0, 8KOs) was teased as the title challenger for months. His status was upgraded after entering the WBC junior lightweight Top 15 rankings in the most recent ratings update, clearing the way for his first career title fight.

“I've been waiting my whole life for this opportunity, and that's why I'm training with great determination,” vows Conceicao, who is coming off of a seventh-round knockout of Jesus Ahumada this past April 13 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “I will represent my family and Brazil. I already won a gold medal for my country and now I will bring home a world title. With great determination, I will deliver a great performance. It will be a true spectacle!"

The evening’s co-feature attraction will see Flores once again appear in supporting capacity to Valdez. The two shared the ESPN stage on February 20, with the 20-year-old Flores—originally from Stockton, California and now based out of Las Vegas—earn his best win to date with a sixth-round stoppage of former title challenger Jayson Velez.

“This is the next step in my journey towards a world title, and I will convincingly defeat Lopez,” Flores said. “I’m going to prove once again that I’m ready for the next level.”

Mexicali’s Lopez (22-2, 12KOs) enters riding a five-fight win streak since moving up from featherweight.

“I appreciate matchmaker Brad Goodman and Top Rank for the opportunity to fight Gabriel Flores Jr,” Lopez said of the fight. “I know he’ll be prepared to give everything on Sept. 10, but so am I, and I guarantee nothing but my very best. I’m a man of few words, and I’ll let my actions do the talking inside the ring.”

Preceding the main card and as previously reported by BS.com, Junto Nakatani will make the first defense of his WBO flyweight title versus former junior flyweight champ Angel 'Tito' Acosta. The bout will mark the celebrated U.S. debut for Nakatani (21-0, 16KOs), an all-action 23-year-old southpaw from Sagamihara, Japan.

Also on the show, blue-chip welterweight prospect Xander Zayas (9-0, 7KOs) will appear in a scheduled six-round contest.

Rounding out the undercard in scheduled eight-round bouts are lightweight prospect, Raymond Muratalla (12-0, 10 KOs), 2016 Mexican Olympian and junior welterweight prospect Lindolfo Delgado (12-0, 11 KOs), René Telléz Girón (15-1, 9 KOs) and Mexican junior welterweight knockout artist Omar Aguilar (21-0, 20 KOs).

Per Top Rank’s announcement, tickets will go on sale beginning July 27, starting at $25 and made available through Etix.com.

Pascua Yaqui Tribe Athletic Commission rules Oscar Valdez can proceed with his fight vs. Robson Conceicao next week, sources say

Oscar Valdez can proceed with his fight vs. Robson Conceicao on Sept. 10 in Tucson, Arizona, despite testing positive for the banned substance phentermine, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe Athletic Commission ruled Thursday, multiple sources tell ESPN.

Valdez is the WBC's 130-pound titleholder. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman told ESPN the organization "will be making a public statement" when asked if Valdez would be allowed to retain his title in the scheduled Top Rank Boxing on ESPN+ main event.

Pascua Yaqui Trible Athletic commissioner Ernie Gallardo declined to explain why Valdez can proceed to fight when reached by ESPN. Sources said the commission opted to ignore the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association guidelines.

Valdez signed a VADA enrollment form, which lists phentermine as a banned substance. The WBC uses VADA to test all its ranked fighters and champions as part of its Clean Boxing Program. Top Rank also routinely enlists the testing agency for its title fights at the request of its top-level boxers, providing more comprehensive testing than the bare bones provided by most state commissions.

In this instance, Valdez requested VADA testing for himself and Conceicao.

The Pascua Yaqui Tribe Athletic Commission only adhered to the World Anti-Doping Agency rules, despite the VADA enrollment forms signed by both fighters. WADA doesn't ban the central nervous stimulant outside of competition; its in-competition period begins at 11:59 p.m. the day before the fight.

Top Rank declined to comment when reached by ESPN. Valdez's manager, Frank Espinoza, didn't return a phone call. Conceicao's manager, Sergio Batarelli, said he would comment when he had the "details about the approval."

Valdez's A- and B-samples were collected on Aug. 13, per sources. Both tested positive for phentermine. The 30-year-old was notified of the A-sample result on Aug. 28. The B-sample result was returned on Sept. 2.

He was tested again on Aug. 30. That test result showed no phentermine in his system. The half-life of phentermine is roughly 20 hours. It takes five to six half-lives for the substance to be fully eliminated from the system (a maximum of six days). The Aug. 30 test was 17 days later.

"I personally have given athletes phentermine, I know what it does. It is very powerful. It is like methamphetamine," Victor Conte, the founder of BALCO, told ESPN. Conte served time in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute performance-enhancing drugs before founding SNAC, a sports nutrition company.

"You know why it's a performance-enhancing drug? Because it's a central nervous stimulant," he added. "It accelerates your heart rate. It gives you energy. It gives you endurance. It gives you stamina. It makes it easier to breathe. Your training time to exhaustion would be much longer."

Valdez, a two-time Olympian from Mexico, "had no knowledge that he was taking phentermine" and believed the substance came from an herbal tea, his lawyer, Pat English, argued in a letter written on Tuesday.

"It's not an herbal tea, the molecular structure of phentermine is not an herbal tea," Conte said. "It's 'dog ate my homework' stuff. No promoter wants to lose money. This is not in contained supplements. This is designed to help you cut weight. It's an appetite suppressant which is what you're doing when you're cutting weight.

"It's a prescription-only medication. Does he have a doctor's prescription? Let's see it."

VADA reports adverse analytical findings; it does not adjudicate. However, there is precedent for VADA's rules leading to punishment. Billy Joe Saunders tested positive for the banned stimulant oxilofrine ahead of his scheduled title defense vs. Demetrius Andrade in 2018. The substance was deemed out of competition by WADA, yet Massachusetts recognized the VADA violation and suspended Saunders. The fight was cancelled as a result.

Valdez, ESPN's No. 1 junior lightweight, won the title with a spectacular one-punch knockout of Miguel Berchelt in February, the leading contender for KO of the Year. Valdez (29-0, 23 KOs) was also a champion at 126 pounds.

He was defeated by Conceicao when they met in the gold medal match of the 2009 Pan American Games. Conceicao (16-0, 8 KOs) went on to win gold at the 2016 Olympic Games. The 32-year-old Brazilian is unranked by ESPN.

This past week has been a shambles!

On Sky Sports schedule.

It's 2am on Saturday early hours.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑06 Sep 2021, 07:20 This past week has been a shambles!

On Sky Sports schedule.

It's 2am on Saturday early hours.

Credit to Coppinger. He’s gone after this hard despite it being an ESPN fight whilst he’s employed by ESPN.

Arum’s come out and is requesting him to be fired.

Timothy Bradley On Oscar Valdez: I Hope He Gets Knocked Out

Boxing's latest scandal has left Timothy Bradley with smoke coming out of his ears.

The retired welterweight champion and current ESPN commentator had some harsh words for Oscar Valdez, the WBC junior lightweight titleholder who will make the first defense of his title against Robson Conceicao on Sept.10 in Tucson, Arizona, during a recent episode of the ESPN+ show State of Boxing.

Bradley, of course, was reacting to the news of Valdez testing positive the past week for the banned substance Phentermine, a prescription-only weight-loss supplement best known for suppressing one’s appetite. Although the substance is banned by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), as part of their “zero tolerance” philosophy, it is not prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency when it is used “out of competition.”

As neither outfit actually possesses adjudicating power, the matter was left to the local athletic commission, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, to hand down a verdict. On Thursday the commission deemed Valdez eligible to move forward with the fight. The next day the WBC followed suit, allowing its junior lightweight title to be on the line.

Bradley, suffice to say, was livid.

“I wish [Conceicao] knocks [Valdez] the hell out,” Bradley said. “That’s what I hope. I hope for a miracle. If this fight goes on, if nothing changes, I hope he gets knocked out, seriously.”

Bradley went on to say that he was a great admirer of Valdez, especially after the way the latter stopped Miguel Berchelt in their 130-pound title bout in February. Valdez, the underdog in that fight, won by 10th round knockout, courtesy of a highlight reel-worthy left hook.

“And I’m a fan of Oscar Valdez,” Bradley continued. “I am. I’m hurt by this. I’m really hurt by this. I went on national TV, on live TV, and said that this guy is now my hero after he defeated Berchelt.

“I’m sick to my stomach about this situation, and I think that whether it’s from the tea or not or whatever it is nobody cares about that. You tested positive. Everybody can think whatever the heck they want to think and I’m thinking that you’re dirty, my friend. That’s just it. I’m done.”

Valdez (29-0, 23 KOs) recently put out a statement claiming his innocence.

"I have never used banned substances to improve my performance,” Valdez said in a video posted on his social media. “I never have and never will. I am respectful of anti-doping tests since my time as an amateur and now as a professional.”

maverick23 wrote: ↑06 Sep 2021, 07:47

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑06 Sep 2021, 07:20 This past week has been a shambles!

On Sky Sports schedule.

It's 2am on Saturday early hours.

Credit to Coppinger. He’s gone after this hard despite it being an ESPN fight whilst he’s employed by ESPN.

Arum’s come out and is requesting him to be fired.

Really?

He should request Tim Bradley be fired too then.

So…..it’s a diet suppressant pill, also banned ?

His vid on Instagram seemed a bit unconvincing.

I remember Scott Quigg was much bigger than Valdez, so I guess he’s trying for the same himself, outside the rules ( except when mauricio sulaiman is looking the other way )

WBC Prez Defends Decision To Sanction Oscar Valdez vs. Robson Conceicao

Sulaiman believes his organization made the right decision.

"An adverse analytical finding of an out-of-competition test of our super featherweight champion Oscar Valdez was announced. Very unfortunately, many fans, many members of the boxing community with vested interests, and some media outlets and individuals reacted immediately, without even understanding what had happened. 'Positive Test!' 'Guilty!' 'Crucify the cheater'; the desire to see punishment is what moves today's society, scandal, cheating, fraud, and tragedies. There is no 'will investigate' and 'balance the facts' in order to arrive at a final conclusion. The premature judgments are mostly based in assumptions," Sulaiman said.

"The World Boxing Council is the only organization that has a program that works around the world to combat the use of prohibited substances. The WBC has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars, and has endured significant problems, especially when positive tests have come out during the six years of operation of the Clean Boxing Program.

"The program was designed and implemented with an expert agency, VADA, which administers it and is responsible for establishing the list of prohibited substances, which athletes will be subjected to random tests through collection of samples without notice, as well as sending them to the laboratory plus promptly reporting the results.

"From there, when there is an adverse result, the administration of our organization enters to manage the protocol to be followed, and it is the WBC who is in charge of results management and imposing the corresponding actions and penalties. A series of actions were carried out to be able to study, analyze and understand all the aspects. Hearings were held with various parties involved and in the end a resolution was given.

"Oscar Valdez continues as the defending champion. The fight on September 10 will be for the world championship. He will be subject to an important series of actions related to what happened, with the aim of monitoring his performance in the months to come and educating him and his entire team on the issues of nutrition, hydration, weight management and prohibited substances; all at a significant economic cost to himself.

"In order to issue the final resolution, important considerations were carefully assessed: the type of substance and its properties; It is a medicine that suppresses the appetite and does not give any competitive advantage. The levels of the substance, which were 77 nanograms per milliliter, while the allowed limit is 50. The test was taken a month before the fight and the next test, taken on August 30, came back negative.

"The history of Valdez, as a two Olympic Games and as professional has had more than 30 tests without ever having a doping problem; In addition, he is widely recognized by all members of the boxing community, pointing to him as a hardworking, clean, dedicated young nan with an impeccable record.

"It is a real shame that there are those who do not have the slightest intention of studying and understanding what happened; They are not interested in seeing that it was a transparent and consistent process to the regulation, and they only choose to have their own opinion, their own conclusion, and thus express it publicly, hurting the image of a young person, as well as the integrity of the sport and the WBC.

"I am convinced that time will prove a lot about this sad episode, but it will also help to improve some of the things about how the Clean Boxing Program is managed."

Press Release | Undercard Information

Puerto Rico’s next superstar hopes to break through with a statement-making performance under the desert sun. Xander Zayas, the 19-year-old puncher from San Juan, will step up in class when he meets Jose Luis Sanchez in a six-round junior middleweight bout this Friday, Sept. 10 at the AVA Amphitheater at Casino Del Sol in Tucson, Arizona.

Zayas-Sanchez and an eight-round lightweight battle between the unbeaten Raymond “Danger” Muratalla and Ecuador’s Jose Angulo will be part of the undercard of Oscar Valdez’s WBC super featherweight world title defense against unbeaten Brazilian Robson Conceicao.

The undercard, which also includes WBO flyweight world champion Junto Nakatani’s title defense against Angel “Tito” Acosta, will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT. ESPN+ will also stream Valdez-Conceicao and a 10-round junior lightweight showdown between Gabriel Flores Jr. and Luis Alberto Lopez starting at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank, limited tickets priced at $25 are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting Etix.com.

Zayas (9-0, 7 KOs) has emerged as one of the sport’s top prospects since debuting as a 17-year-old in October 2019. He fought four times in 2020 and has already fought three times in 2021. He shut out James Martin over six rounds in February, blasted out Demarcus Layton in 56 seconds in April, and followed that up with a third-round demolition over Irish veteran Larry Fryers in June. The Fryers fight was Zayas’ welterweight finale, as he’s testing the junior middleweight waters versus Albuquerque native Sanchez (11-1-1, 4 KOs), who is coming off a draw in May against respected spoiler Adrian Granados. Sanchez has not lost since 2013.

Muratalla (12-0, 10 KOs), a Robert Garcia-trained Southern California native, has notched seven consecutive knockout wins. The 24-year-old shined a pair of times last year inside the MGM Grand Las Vegas Bubble and stood out in May on the Josh Taylor-Jose Ramirez undercard with a fifth-round knockout over 30-fight veteran Jose Gallegos. Angulo (14-2, 7 KOs) has won two straight fights since a majority decision defeat to then-unbeaten prospect Alejandro Guerrero.

In other undercard action on ESPN+:

2016 Mexican Olympian Lindolfo Delgado (12-0, 11 KOs), who made his Top Rank debut June 19 with a unanimous decision over Salvador Briceno, returns against Miguel Zamudio (45-16-1, 28 KOs) in an eight-rounder at junior welterweight.

René Telléz Girón (15-1, 9 KOs), who owns a December 2019 knockout victory over top prospect Karlos Balderas, will face Texas native Eduardo Garza (15-4-1, 8 KOs) in an eight-rounder at junior lightweight. Giron has fought once since the Balderas triumph, knocking out Guadalupe Acosta Rodriguez last November in seven rounds.

Mexican junior welterweight knockout artist Omar “Pollo” Aguilar (21-0, 20 KOs) will step up in class against Paraguay’s Carlos Manuel Portillo (22-3, 17 KOs) in an eight-rounder. Aguilar has 15 first-round knockouts on his ledger and has not been extended past three rounds since December 2018.

Tucson's Jose "Fosforito" Ramirez will make his official pro debut against fellow Arizona native Miguel Ceballos (2-0, 2 KOs) in a four-rounder at junior featherweight.

So Mauricio is saying yes he cheated, but we’re letting him off with a stern warning….because…. I like him. what a useless buffoon.

Now just watch the sky team dance around the issue, I’m fully expecting Smith to have some “stern words” about it ( don’t you think Matt ? yes Adam etc ) Because he doesn’t know Valdes and he’s not one of the loyal UK “GUYS” - I remember his lackie sidekick Chris what’s his name almost limbo dancing in commentary in his efforts to avoid calling out one of smith’s guys, Dillon Whyte.

Sky should pull the plug on televising this. It's a murky mess and a drugs test was failed.

War Conceicao

Shocking from the WBC but to be expected these days... anything to get their sanctioning fees. Firstly a load of made up titles and now ignoring positive tests.

handsofstone wrote: ↑07 Sep 2021, 10:50 War Conceicao

It’s happening because the commission is following WADA.

Made the fight much bigger, might watch now.

Last Top Rank Card shown we had Poncher and Maher on Commentary, so we might not get Smith and Macklin

MightyWarrior wrote: ↑07 Sep 2021, 09:55 So Mauricio is saying yes he cheated, but we’re letting him off with a stern warning….because…. I like him. what a useless buffoon.

Now just watch the sky team dance around the issue, I’m fully expecting Smith to have some “stern words” about it ( don’t you think Matt ? yes Adam etc ) Because he doesn’t know Valdes and he’s not one of the loyal UK “GUYS” - I remember his lackie sidekick Chris what’s his name almost limbo dancing in commentary in his efforts to avoid calling out one of smith’s guys, Dillon Whyte.

At Wednesday's final press conference, this is what the combatants had to say.

Oscar Valdez: “I feel blessed that I get the chance to step in the ring on September 10. I’m very grateful to Top Rank, the Pascua Yaqui {Tribal Gaming Commission} for letting this fight proceed, and I’ve just been very concentrated. Coming here to my second home in Tucson means a lot to me. People know my last two fights were without a crowd due to COVID and what better way to come back as a champion than in front of my people with all of Sonora and Arizona here? I’m just excited. I’ve been very focused on not looking at anything negative out there. It has been a little difficult — I can’t lie — but this is what we have to go through. This is what it’s going to be.

“This is when you realize who the real people are around you, who are loyal to you and got your back. I realize that my family is number one and also my team. I have to thank everyone on my team, {including} my manager, Frank Espinoza, and my trainer, Eddy Reynoso. My father has always been there with me. Just everyone who has been around supporting me during these tough times because it has been difficult. They had my back, and we know we did nothing wrong. We’re going to be real concentrated for this fight.

“{Our amateur bout} was a back-and-forth fight, but I lost. I always took my losses very seriously. Everybody hates losing, and I’m one of them. I’m a sore loser. Now that I get the chance to fight him as a professional, I’m taking this fight very seriously like all the fights. I’m defending my title, and I’m going to do whatever it takes and whatever I got to defend my title and avenge my loss.”

Robson Conceicao: “When I fought him {as an amateur}, it was a tough fight. I fought him and the crowd, and it motivated me a lot and made me happy. Here we have the same thing. I fight against two opponents, him and the crowd… and I will be the winner.

“This is a very important moment for me, the most important moment in my life. I’m happy I’m here and not alone. I’m here for the Brazilian crowd, for my family, my team, and we’ll be great.

“About the problem with the champion, what is done is done. There is no explanation, but I’m here to do my best and fight the greatest fight of my life.”

Gabriel Flores Jr.: “Every fight that goes on, I learn. Each fight, I get better and better. It’s a fact. You’re seeing it each fight. This training camp was a long training camp, a longer one because I was supposed to fight on the {Fury-Wilder 3} card, but that got postponed. And now I’m on this card. We took a positive out of a negative. We got sharper. The sparring was great and everything. All my confidence comes from my training. I sparred with real good people that helped me out for this fight. Gervonta Davis. Mark Magsayo. {Yuriorkis} Gamboa. So I’m extremely ready."

“Lopez is going to get knocked out. He’s going to live up to his name. They call him the deer. He’s going to look like Bambi in there.”

“I always look at the big picture. I know who I am. I started off early in the pros. I was 17 fighting, so that was me figuring out who I am. I know who I am. I’m comfortable. He just bit off more than he can chew. Friday night, he’s going to choke.”

Luis Alberto Lopez: “It was a great fight that night {against Vences}. Fans that night saw just half of what ‘Venado' can do. I suffered a fracture in the sixth round, but we got the win. It was a big victory, and I wasn’t 100 percent.

“He has a lot of flaws. He’s just a kid.

“There’s a lot of talk, but I have proven I am on this level. He might be a future champion, but I’m here to demonstrate I’m on this level, too.”

ESPN Weigh-In

Valdez weighed 130 pounds for his first fight back in his childhood hometown since 2017, though not before having to remove his socks and clear room on the stage before hitting the mark.

Conceicao was 129.6 pounds for his first career title fight, making weight without any additional effort.

Gabriel Flores Jr. (20-0, 7KOs) weighed 129.6 pounds.

Luis Alberto Lopez weighed a lean and fit 128.4 pounds as he looks to extend his current five-fight win streak.

Junto Nakatani (21-0, 16KOs) weighed 111.4 pounds for his U.S. debut.

Angel ‘Tito’ Acosta came in right at the 112-pound limit.

Below are the weights for the remaining undercard bouts which air live on ESPN+ beginning 5:30 p.m. ET.

Xander Zayas (9-0. 7KOs), San Juan, Puerto Rico, 151.8 pounds vs. Jose Luis Sanchez (11-1-1, 4KOs, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 151.6 pounds—6 rounds, junior middleweight

Lindolfo Delgado (12-0, 11KOs), Linares, Mexico, 141.6 pounds vs. Miguel Zamudio (45-16-1, 28KOs), Guasave, Mexico, 140.8 pounds—8 rounds, junior welterweight

Rene Tellez Giron (15-1, 9KOs), Queretaro, Mexico, 132.2 pounds vs. Eduardo Garza (15-4-1, 8KOs), Mission, Texas, 132.6 pounds—8 rounds, junior lightweight

Omar Aguilar (20-0, 19KOs), Ensenada, Mexico, 142.6 pounds vs. Carlos Portillo (22-3, 17KOs), Asuncion, Paraguay, 141.6 pounds—8 rounds, junior welterweight.

Valdez: I'm A Hundred-Percent Clean Fighter; Don't Know How Phentermine Got Into My Body

Oscar Valdez didn’t offer much insight into why he tested positive for a banned substance during his new interview with ESPN’s Mark Kriegel.

In fact, the unbeaten WBC super featherweight champion claimed he doesn’t know how Phentermine entered his system before he submitted samples to the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association on August 13. Phentermine, a substance banned by VADA both in and out of competition, was detected in Valdez’s “A” and “B” samples.

Though VADA oversees the WBC’s “Clean Boxing Program,” Mexico’s Valdez was still approved to defend his WBC 130-pound championship against unbeaten Brazilian Robson Conceicao on Friday night at Casino Del Sol in Tucson, Arizona. The World Anti-Doping Agency allows the use of Phentermine “out of competition,” as long as it isn’t detected after 11:59 p.m. local time the day before an event.

The Pascua Yaqui Tribe Athletic Commission cleared Valdez for licensure because all state and tribal commissions in the United States that are affiliated with the Association of Boxing Commissions adhere to WADA’s standards. Valdez’s ordeal has still caused controversy because he and Conceicao willingly signed up for VADA testing, only to have Valdez box despite that he tested positive for one of VADA’s banned substances.

The 30-year-old Valdez proclaimed his innocence and insisted he has never used performance-enhancing drugs during the aforementioned interview with Kriegel, which was posted to ESPN.com this week.

“No, I don’t have no prescription,” Valdez replied to one of Kriegel’s questions. “What I can say is that I’m a hundred-percent clean fighter. I don’t know how that got into my body. I know every fighter is responsible for whatever they consume. But, on behalf of myself, I have no clear answer how that got into my body. I’ve always been and I will always be a clean fighter, so I have no serious question of how that got into my body.”

Bob Arum, Valdez’s promoter, and Patrick English, an attorney who represented Valdez in this matter, contended that Phentermine emerged from Valdez’s system because he drank herbal tea during training camp. Valdez (29-0, 23 KOs) didn’t mention his consumption of herbal tea while discussing this ordeal with Kriegel, a boxing analyst and reporter for ESPN and ESPN.com.

The former WBO featherweight champion did state why he thinks Conceicao (16-0, 8 KOs) decided to go through with their 12-round, 130-pound title fight (ESPN+; 10 p.m. EDT).

“If I was him, I would 100-percent fight me, because it’s a chance to win a world title,” Valdez said. “The world title is still on the line. And, being more honest, if I were Conceicao, I would think, ‘What is he taking? Oh, he’s taking a substance to lose weight. Oh, well that’s a pretty dumb move because he’s losing weight way too early from the fight. So, it means he might be maybe drained or overtrained. I don’t know.’

“But as far as there’s no performance-enhancing drug, or as far as steroids or anabolics or growth hormones. Those type of drugs I believe that would make a difference and can hurt somebody, could actually kill somebody. Which that would – I wouldn’t believe that should be stripped from the belt or cancel the fight. I think someone who uses those type of drugs should go to jail. I would never do that and I wouldn’t even take this substance that came out in my system. I would never intentionally take it.”