Oscar Valdez is back in business.
The former two-division titleholder stopped Liam Wilson in the seventh round to win the WBO “interim” 130-pound title Friday at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
Valdez (32-2, 24 KOs) had lost two of his previous three fights, including a decision to Emanuel Navarrete last August.
“This victory means a lot,” Valdez said. “I proved a lot of people wrong again. People said, ‘You’re 30-something, you’re done, you got your jaw broken, you got your rib broken.’ But I refused to believe that.”
Valdez ended the fight with a series of hard blows. Wilson (13-3, 7 KOs) somehow remained on his feet but took considerable punishment, which prompted referee Mark Nelson to stop the fight.
The official time of the stoppage was 2:48 of Round 7.
Wilson, 28, said he fought too much with his heart and not enough with his brain.
“That’s how boxing goes,” he said. “I tried to box in the first few rounds, but my heart got the better of me. These are the kind of fights I dreamed of since I was a kid. But I’ve got to learn from this and start using my boxing brain.
“Oscar is a true champion, and I’m very proud to have shared the ring with him. It’s still early in my career. I have plenty to go. I’m young. I’ll be back.”
Navarrete holds the WBO title but reportedly will be moving up in weight, which will open up the championship. Valdez could then be elevated to full titleholder.
Also on the card, Seniesa Estrada (26-0, 9 KOs) defeated Yokasta Valle (30-3, 9 KOs) by a unanimous decision to become undisputed 105-pouind champion.