Oscar Valdez retains the title and is now calling for a unification
WBC junior lightweight champion Oscar Valdez (30-0, 23ko) dealt with a whirlwind of negative press regarding the failed VADA test for a banned stimulant. Moreover, he came under heavy scrutiny when the fight was allowed to continue, causing outrage from the boxing community. Nonetheless, Valdez successfully defended the title against 2016 Olympic Gold medalist Robson Conceicao (16-1, 8ko) and immediately called for unification.
Valdez had his hands full with the Brazilian gold medalist. The fight was not without controversy, as the referee took one point away from Conceicao for hitting on the back of the head without ever issuing a warning first. The point deduction had some on social media believing it to be a fixed fight. The referee did not show the same level of consistency after Valdez did the same thing. Lastly, the one judge’s scorecard of 117-110 did nothing to ease fan’s belief that the fight was fixed.
Valdez, like it or not, is still the champion. So it’s on to the next one, and he called out the winner of the October 23 fight between WBO champion Jamel “Semper Fi” Herring and Shakur “Fearless” Stevenson.
“We all want the winner of Shakur Stevenson vs Jamel Herring.”
THE FIGHTERS HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE
Fans forget that Valdez and Herring were all set to begin talks about fighting each other before Stevenson crashed the party. Herring sent two-divisional champion Carl Frampton into retirement back on April 3, and he immediately called for the unification with the WBC champion. However, Fearless took to social media responding to the rumors of the two champions entertaining a fight.
“I Smell Pussy.”
This prompted Valdez’s manager, Frank Espinoza, to respond. Stevenson fired back a little reminder to both teams.
“Y’all this is Valdez’s manager; they think I don’t exist. I’m #1 in the WBO and WBC, how the hell y’all think y’all fighting without fighting me?”
Keep in mind, Fearless has not let go of the belief that then WBO featherweight champion Oscar Valdez ducked him when he was the number one contender back in 2019. Furthermore, he believes the Top Rank brass is in no hurry to make their two young lions fight each other.
“Like I say, it’s politics at the end of the day. Oscar Valdez is making Top Rank money….I don’t think that they are in a rush to throw him in with me.”
Of course, both Herring and Stevenson were paying attention to the post-fight interview, and after hearing the call out by Valdez, they responded on social media.
By: Garrisson Bland
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