Shakur Stevenson Says Oscar Valdez is Reluctant Opposition
On April 30, WBO super featherweight champion “Fearless” Shakur Stevenson (17-0, 9 KO’s) has now secured a fight he’s craved for about three years. This is because, on that date, the New Jersey native turned Olympian will face the challenge of WBC super featherweight champion Oscar Valdez (30-0, 23 KO’s). Its a match he’s pursued since the WBO ordered them to fight back in 2019 when both still competed at featherweight.
The bout serves as a significant unification and the opportunity to settle this long-seeded grudge match. Fearless will enter the bout riding high on his career-best knockout win over Jamel Herring. Even with the April 30 contract signed though, Stevenson still doesn’t believe that it was Valdez who had the stomach to pull the trigger.
“I think it was more so his team. He is with team Canelo now. I think they probably forced him into fighting me. I don’t think he actually really wanted this fight, this is the fight that he tried to avoid for as long as he could. But as you see, he couldn’t avoid it for that long.”
While he might not have the most appreciation or respect for what he believes is Valdez’s evasion, Stevenson does understand it. This is because the WBO champion believes with all his might that he will steamroll the Mexican champion in the same fashion that he’s dominated nearly all his professional opposition to date. So it’s for him to theorize that Valdez didn’t like his odds in the fight either.
“I’m a dominant fighter. I feel that all my fights are one-sided, so I am planning on going in there on April 30 and doing the same exact thing!”
SPOILS OF WAR
Obviously the ultimate pursuit in any contest is to be victorious; naturally this is the same with boxing. Following this line of thought, Stevenson has devoted himself with laser-like focus on his impending battle with Valdez. Yet, assuming he wins, that will only satisfy his next short-term goal.
Thinking about the long game however, Fearless is in the sport to achieve greatness, establish his name in the history books and make money. In terms of stretching the belly on his wallet, Stevenson feels his match with Valdez is critical in crossing-over into becoming a much larger star in general.
“After this fight, I should become a big star and I just feel like it should be a lot easier to get these fighters in the ring. I’m going to be having two belts, I think a lot of people would want to fight for two belts.”
While all these potential outcomes are exciting to think about, one and all we will have to wait to see how the action unfolds on fight night. Thankfully, 3Kings Boxing will be there to report the news regardless of who prevails.
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By: Bakari Simpson
