BoxRec

Jose Valenzuela to get shot at redemption in Edwin De Los Santos rematch

Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela has insisted his 2022 knockout loss to Edwin De Los Santos was not a true reflection of the fighter he is.

The recent world titleholder will now have a chance to prove it, his rematch with De Los Santos headlining the June 28 Zuffa Boxing 8 fight card at The Cosmopolitan Resort’s Chelsea Ballroom on Paramount+.

Boxing Scene learned Friday that former WBA 140lbs belt holder Valenzuela, 15-3 (9 KOs), will meet the Dominican Republic’s former lightweight title challenger De Los Santos, 17-2 (15 KOs), in Zuffa Boxing’s first US card outside the Meta Apex, also in Las Vegas.

Welterweight Brandun Lee, 30-0 (23 KOs), will also land on the card, Boxing Scene learned.

The Mexico-born Valenzuela, 26, opened Zuffa Boxing’s first card, defeating Diego Torres by unanimous decision February 1 at the Apex.

He told Boxing Scene previously that he was overconfident when he first met De Los Santos at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, suffering a third-round knockout after getting dropped twice previously in the bout.

Before defeating Mexico’s Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz to capture the 140lbs belt in Los Angeles in 2024, Valenzuela said, “Everybody’s overlooking me because of the De Los Santos fight, but if you knew the conditions I fought in, anybody would’ve lost. People are saying I’m chinny. I don’t think I’m chinny, because he put a lot of punches on me. … I had surgery two weeks before the fight on my leg, had a sleeve on, antibiotics.

“I don’t want to put anyone on blast. I’ll take the blame for it. Being young, having won every fight, always being in the lights … I got caught up in the moment, and [the loss] was a good, humbling experience.”

Valenzuela lost again, to Chris Colbert, in his next bout.

In 2023, De Los Santos, 26, later lost to four-division champion Shakur Stevenson for the WBC lightweight belt in one of the more inactive bouts in recent times, then returned to score a first-round TKO of Eliot Chavez on December 13 before joining the Zuffa Boxing stable.

Upon the signing, Valenzuela let it be known he was seeking the rematch with De Los Santos, which he now receives.

Announced: Edwin De Los Santos will rematch Jose Valenzuela in the main event of Zuffa Boxing 08 on June 28th at The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas.

Also on the card, Omar Trinidad vs Jerwin Ancajas in a featherweight contest, and Cain Sandoval vs Brandun Lee in a welterweight clash.

Best Zuffa main event so far in my view as the promotion leaves the Apex for the first time in the U.S. Should be a firefight. When they met in 2022, De Los Santos scored a third-round KO.

Hopefully they add some bigger guys to card ...at least middleweights

Cent0089 wrote: ↑08 May 2026, 14:16 Hopefully they add some bigger guys to card ...at least middleweights

You propa behind Zuffa aren’t you?

For me. It’s another promoter that has their own TV deal, and can put on shows on a regular basis.

As long as it’s consistent. It’s boxing.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑08 May 2026, 15:13

Cent0089 wrote: ↑08 May 2026, 14:16 Hopefully they add some bigger guys to card ...at least middleweights

You propa behind Zuffa aren’t you?

For me. It’s another promoter that has their own TV deal, and can put on shows on a regular basis.

As long as it’s consistent. It’s boxing.

I must admit, when i first heard about Zuffa i was thinking, omg just another promoter, another belts, more chaos in boxing. Watched first card, it was pretty meh. At second card, i was surprised by quality, Gvozdyk - Kalajdzic, Bohachuk - Butaev, and i really liked Damoni cato cain, hopefully he will fight soon too. After third Zuffa card, i became a fan. There is literally nothing to dislike about those fights. Honestly, i am surprised about hate they receiving from fans

ZUFFA BOXING 08: DE LOS SANTOS- VALENZUELA II TOPS JUNE 28 CARD

In a lightweight rematch, Edwin De Los Santos will look to repeat the trick against Jose Valenzuela headlining Zuffa Boxing 08 on June 28, the promotional outfit announced Friday.

If you don't ask, you won't receive. Jose "Rayo" Valenzuela shared his desire to right the wrongs of his 2022 third-round stoppage defeat by Edwin De Los Santos and three months shy of four full years since then, he gets that chance in a headline attraction from The Chelsea at The Cosmpolitan of Las Vegas.

"I can't help but think I saw the news that Edwin's back in town. I feel like God does everything for a reason, and maybe he's doing this so I can make things right again," the former WBA junior welterweight champion told The Ring's Nathaniel Marrero before outboxing Diego Torres to the tune of a wide ten-round points win on February 1.

The pair exchanged knockdowns in a back-and-forth battle lasting just three rounds, made more impressive by the fact De Los Santos (17-2, 15 KOs) accepted it on a day's notice against the heavy favorite. Their careers have been markedly different, yet filled with frustrating moments since that Los Angeles night in September 2022.

Valenzuela (15-3, 9 KOs) has floated between divisions before settling back down at lightweight. He endured a two-fight series with Chris Colbert, earned a split decision win over Isaac Cruz then was outboxed by Gary Antuanne Russell to lose his world title in his first defense and now rebuilds again with a new promotional home.

Two fights and 14 months after his career-best win, Dominican southpaw De Los Santos lost a competitive but frustrating 12-round decision against Shakur Stevenson for WBC honors at 135 pounds and has remained in the public consciousness despite an injury-enforced layoff.

Keyshawn Davis' weight miss last summer saw him dramatically miss out on another world title opportunity, for the WBO lightweight strap, and he parted ways from promoter Sampson Lewkowicz shortly afterwards.

He ended a two-year absence with a first-round finish of Mexican journeyman Eliot Chavez back among home comforts in his native Dominican Republic on December 13, inked a promotional deal with Zuffa the following month and now gets a chance to prove his first win was far from fortunate timing in a difficult 135-pound division.

Elsewhere on the card with more bouts to be announced in the coming weeks, featherweight hopeful Omar Trinidad (20-0-2, 14 KOs) faces former IBF junior bantamweight champion Jerwin Ancajas (38-4-2, 25 KOs) over 10 rounds, while Cain Sandoval (17-1, 15 KOs) faces Brandun Lee (30-0, 23 KOs) at welterweight with both seeking a career-best win.

Here’s how the fight fight went

If ticket prices aren't stupid I'm considering going to this fight.

It would also help if it was an earlier rather than later fight so I can catch a flight home afterwards.

The three fights announced so far are all decent. I've been following Lee for a few years & I thought he'd dropped out of the sport of something but I heard his parents made him get his degree so respect to that. Sandoval looked good against lower level opposition but seems to be lacking ideas against top fighters.

The main was a cracker first time around. I thought Valenzuela beat Colbert the first fight too. I was shocked when he beat Cruz too.

I'll keep an eye on it & hope for the best.

Cheapest tickets start at $100+ so I'll watch it on Paramount.

Fight Week!!

Anything like the first fight we're in for a treat, although Valenzuela did drop De Los Santos, that was all he done, it did look like De Los Santos had his number,, hurt him repeatedly

I reckon Los Santos does the job again. Usually in southpaw-southpaw matches, the quicker one almost always wins.

.

There's an Uzbek Heavyweight on the undercard named Jakhongir Zokirov 1(1)-0 who looks like he had a decent amateur career. Only 23 & over 2 metres tall.

Does anyone know anything about him?

https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/977454

Taansend wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 02:11 There's an Uzbek Heavyweight on the undercard named Jakhongir Zokirov 1(1)-0 who looks like he had a decent amateur career. Only 23 & over 2 metres tall.

Does anyone know anything about him?

https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/977454

yes he is the #1 or #2 amateur shw in the world post 2024 olympics. huge strong lump, with some good range of shots from the southpaw stance, but a bit lumbering compared to fellow 6'7 uzbek shw jalolov, who was light on his feet and mobile for that size. although in contrast to jalolov, zoik isnt as hesitant about engaging and will actually fight guys straight on rather than just poking from way outside. id say less talented than jalolov but more willing.

should be noted that despite only being listed 1-0 as a pro, he handily beat agron smakici (opponent of kabayel, jalolov) in a 6 round match that was essentially pro rules but is counted seperatly cuz it was under the iba.

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 02:16

Taansend wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 02:11 There's an Uzbek Heavyweight on the undercard named Jakhongir Zokirov 1(1)-0 who looks like he had a decent amateur career. Only 23 & over 2 metres tall.

Does anyone know anything about him?

https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/977454

yes he is the #1 or #2 amateur shw in the world post 2024 olympics. huge strong lump, with some good range of shots from the southpaw stance, but a bit lumbering compared to fellow 6'7 uzbek shw jalolov, who was light on his feet and mobile for that size. although in contrast to jalolov, zoik isnt as hesitant about engaging and will actually fight guys straight on rather than just poking from way outside. id say less talented than jalolov but more willing.

should be noted that despite only being listed 1-0 as a pro, he handily beat agron smakici (opponent of kabayel, jalolov) in a 6 round match that was essentially pro rules but is counted seperatly cuz it was under the iba.

Is that why there’s a near 3 year gap since his first fight?

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 02:25

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 02:16

Taansend wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 02:11 There's an Uzbek Heavyweight on the undercard named Jakhongir Zokirov 1(1)-0 who looks like he had a decent amateur career. Only 23 & over 2 metres tall.

Does anyone know anything about him?

https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/977454

yes he is the #1 or #2 amateur shw in the world post 2024 olympics. huge strong lump, with some good range of shots from the southpaw stance, but a bit lumbering compared to fellow 6'7 uzbek shw jalolov, who was light on his feet and mobile for that size. although in contrast to jalolov, zoik isnt as hesitant about engaging and will actually fight guys straight on rather than just poking from way outside. id say less talented than jalolov but more willing.

should be noted that despite only being listed 1-0 as a pro, he handily beat agron smakici (opponent of kabayel, jalolov) in a 6 round match that was essentially pro rules but is counted seperatly cuz it was under the iba.

Is that why there’s a near 3 year gap since his first fight?

after his first pro fight, he got a full time spot on the uzbek national team, and has been busy with that fighting all around the world. i guess he opted for the ams over the pros at that time, a lot of east euros/central asian boxers seem happy enough boxing mostly in the ams with only ocassional pro fights. but i assume zuffa made him a good offer to box for them in the us

Cheers Mags. Appreciate the info.

There's been a lot of Heavies from the old Soviet Union getting glossy records recently, only to fall at the fringe world level or just fade away. But they usually turn pro around age 30.

I'll keep an eye on this kid.

Boxing tonight!!

Date: Sunday June 28, 2026
Location: The Chelsea - Las Vegas, NV
TV/Stream: Paramount+ | Sky Sports

Start Times
YouTube: 6 pm ET | 3 pm PT | 11 pm BST (Preliminary Card)
Paramount+: 9 pm ET | 6 pm PT | 2 am BST (Main Card)
Sky Sports: SS Action (9:30 pm UK) | SS Main Event (11:55 pm UK)

Promoted by: Zuffa Boxing

Main Card

10 Round Lightweight Bout
Edwin De Los Santos (17-2, 15 KOs) vs. Jose Valenzuela (15-3, 9 KOs)

10 Round Featherweight Bout
Omar Cande Trinidad (20-0-2, 14 KOs) vs. Jerwin Ancajas (38-4-2, 25 KOs)

10 Round Super Lightweight Bout
Cain Sandoval (17-1, 15 KOs) vs. Brandun Lee (30-0, 23 KOs)

Preliminary Card

10 Round Bantamweight Bout
Floyd Diaz (14-0, 3 KOs) vs. Jose Andres Teran (18-2, 13 KOs)

8 Round Lightweight Bout
Jaybrio Pe Benito (7-0, 5 KOs) vs. Tony Hirsch Jr. (8-0-2, 4 KOs)

8 Round Welterweight Bout
Damoni Cato-Cain (9-1-2, 7 KOs) vs. Vernon Brown (14-2-1, 10 KOs)

6 Round Lightweight Bout
Brady Ochoa (9-0-1, 2 KOs) vs. Adrian Serrano (6-0-2, 3 KOs)

6 Round Heavyweight Bout
Jakhongir Zokirov (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Zachary Spiller (5-0, 4 KOs)

Good so far