Shakur Stevenson is Still Unsure if Oscar Valdez is a Clean Fighter
When WBO super featherweight champ “Fearless” Shakur Stevenson (17-0, 9 KO’s) next slides through the ropes for combat, he knows he has a tough fight on his hands. In that contest, Stevenson will face the challenge of WBC 130-pound champion Oscar Valdez (30-0, 23 KO’s). The two will collide in a meaningful unification match in the belly of the MGM Grand located in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Whenever Fearless delves into the subject of Valdez, he does not skimp on praising the Mexican for his grit and mental toughness in the ring. At the same time however, the Olympian openly questions whether or not Valdez is a clean boxer. This is due to the WBC champion failing a PED test.
When news of the failed test was made available to the public, Valdez was smothered by fans and industry insiders’ accusations and condemnations. And as Stevenson revealed to Fight Hype, he is definitely not sold on Valdez’s innocence in the matter.
“Well you know with that victory, like I don’t know if I can give him the full credit for it because he knocked him out bad and everybody didn’t expect it, I agree. But right after that he got caught cheating! Like he literally got caught cheating the next fight and then after he got cheating he fought Conceicao and he just looked like a whole new fighter. He didn’t look the same as he did with Berchelt.
Maybe it was stylistically, we don’t know. Or, maybe he was on something and then after that fight with Conceicao he had to get off whatever he was on and it didn’t work. So, you just never know. I don’t know if I can fully give him credit. Like, was that Oscar Valdez or was that whatever drug he was taking?”
I’M THE BETTER SPECIMEN!
Regardless of his suspicions into the credibility of Valdez as a clean fighter, Stevenson is certain that he more than likely has a tough fight on his hands. Whether this turns out to be the case or not, Fearless is preparing himself for one tough confrontation.
“Skillfully I’m just the better fighter, I think that I am a lot faster, quicker than him, all of that. So I feel like that’s going to hurt him in the long run when we fight. He is going to get in there and realize this is not an easy task!”
Yet, tough or not, Stevenson is also dead sure that he has more than enough tools to strong-arm Valdez for his WBC strap.
“But I feel like he got a lot of will power and you gotta to prepare for a tough fighter in Oscar Valdez. Like I said Oscar Valdez is undefeated, never lost, he is going to try his hardest once he get in that ring, so you gotta prepare for that. You gotta be ready to, if I have to, weather the storm.”
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By: Bakari Simpson
