Oscar Valdez knocked out Liam Wilson in seven rounds to become an “interim” 130-pound champion Friday night.
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.
Oscar Valdez knocked out Liam Wilson in seven rounds to become an “interim” 130-pound champion Friday night.
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.
Oscar Valdez will start the rebuilding process anew against Liam Wilson on Friday in Glendale, Arizona.
Oscar Valdez has some work to do.
The former two-division titleholder was on top of the world after he put Miguel Berchelt down three times and ultimately stopped him in the 10th round to win the WBC 130-pound championship in February 2021.
It has been mostly downhill after that for the 33-year-old Mexican.
He tested positive for a banned weight-loss medication before his next fight seven months later, against Robson Conceicao, yet he was allowed to fight . He won a unanimous decision to retain his belt but his reputation was scarred.
Then things got worse. He was embarrassed by the gifted Shakur Stevenson in his subsequent bout, losing a one-sided decision that seemed to reveal his limitations.
He rebounded to outpoint Adam Lopez 11 months later only to lose another clear decision, this time against WBO beltholder and countryman Emanuel Navarrete, who outworked him in an entertaining fight last August.
Suddenly a rising star was just another fighter.
Valdez (31-2, 23 KOs) will restart the rebuilding process on Friday night, when he’s scheduled to face Liam Wilson of Australia at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona (ESPN+).
The fight will be for the WBO “interim” belt, which Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize as a legitimate title. Navarrete remains the WBO champ.
“I’m going to be ready,” Valdez said on Wednesday. “I was preparing myself for a world championship fight. Then we got the news that it’s now for an interim title.
“So I’m more than excited and prepared, and we’re going to show that.”
Wilson (13-2, 7 KOs) is a safer opponent than either Stevenson or Navarrete, probably on the level of Lopez.
However, the 28-year-old resident of Queensland is dangerous. He proved that by decking Navarrete and hurting him before being stopped himself in nine rounds in a wild fight for the vacant WBO title in February of last year.
Wilson outpointed two second-tier opponents in Australia after his setback.
“I know Liam Wilson,” Valdez said. “He’s a tough fighter. I was there when he fought Emanuel Navarrete, and he sent him to the canvas. So you better believe that I’m coming with everything because I’m expecting that same Liam Wilson. …
“Liam Wilson is a dangerous fighter. But that makes it more exciting. And the interim title adds fuel to the fire. I’m very motivated.”
Valdez told BoxingScene.com that he would be interested in facing Vasiliy Lomachenko, assuming he wins on Friday and the Ukrainian pound-for-pounder beats underdog George Kambosos Jr. for the vacant IBF 135-pound title on May 12.
However, Valdez’s first priority is to become a champion again at 130. Defeating Wilson is the first step in that process.
“This fight [against Wilson] means everything to me because whoever wins is a step closer to a world title fight at 130 pounds,” he told the outlet. “This is my division. …
“My plan this year is to become a world champion again. But I have to win this fight first. I’m mentally preparing like it’s a world title fight.”
Oscar Valdez will start the rebuilding process anew against Liam Wilson on Friday in Glendale, Arizona.
Oscar Valdez has some work to do.
The former two-division titleholder was on top of the world after he put Miguel Berchelt down three times and ultimately stopped him in the 10th round to win the WBC 130-pound championship in February 2021.
It has been mostly downhill after that for the 33-year-old Mexican.
He tested positive for a banned weight-loss medication before his next fight seven months later, against Robson Conceicao, yet he was allowed to fight . He won a unanimous decision to retain his belt but his reputation was scarred.
Then things got worse. He was embarrassed by the gifted Shakur Stevenson in his subsequent bout, losing a one-sided decision that seemed to reveal his limitations.
He rebounded to outpoint Adam Lopez 11 months later only to lose another clear decision, this time against WBO beltholder and countryman Emanuel Navarrete, who outworked him in an entertaining fight last August.
Suddenly a rising star was just another fighter.
Valdez (31-2, 23 KOs) will restart the rebuilding process on Friday night, when he’s scheduled to face Liam Wilson of Australia at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona (ESPN+).
The fight will be for the WBO “interim” belt, which Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize as a legitimate title. Navarrete remains the WBO champ.
“I’m going to be ready,” Valdez said on Wednesday. “I was preparing myself for a world championship fight. Then we got the news that it’s now for an interim title.
“So I’m more than excited and prepared, and we’re going to show that.”
Wilson (13-2, 7 KOs) is a safer opponent than either Stevenson or Navarrete, probably on the level of Lopez.
However, the 28-year-old resident of Queensland is dangerous. He proved that by decking Navarrete and hurting him before being stopped himself in nine rounds in a wild fight for the vacant WBO title in February of last year.
Wilson outpointed two second-tier opponents in Australia after his setback.
“I know Liam Wilson,” Valdez said. “He’s a tough fighter. I was there when he fought Emanuel Navarrete, and he sent him to the canvas. So you better believe that I’m coming with everything because I’m expecting that same Liam Wilson. …
“Liam Wilson is a dangerous fighter. But that makes it more exciting. And the interim title adds fuel to the fire. I’m very motivated.”
Valdez told BoxingScene.com that he would be interested in facing Vasiliy Lomachenko, assuming he wins on Friday and the Ukrainian pound-for-pounder beats underdog George Kambosos Jr. for the vacant IBF 135-pound title on May 12.
However, Valdez’s first priority is to become a champion again at 130. Defeating Wilson is the first step in that process.
“This fight [against Wilson] means everything to me because whoever wins is a step closer to a world title fight at 130 pounds,” he told the outlet. “This is my division. …
“My plan this year is to become a world champion again. But I have to win this fight first. I’m mentally preparing like it’s a world title fight.”
Oscar Valdez vs. Liam Wilson: Date, time, how to watch, background.
Former two-division titleholder Oscar Valdez will try to bounce back from second loss in three fights against Liam Wilson on Friday.
OSCAR VALDEZ (31-2, 23 KOs)
VS. LIAM WILSON (13-2, 7 KOs)
Date: Friday, March 29
Time: 6:05 p.m. ET / 3:05 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona
TV/Stream: ESPN+
Division: Junior lightweight (130 pounds)
At stake: No major titles
Pound-for-pound: None
Odds: Valdez 3½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Significance (up to five stars): ***
Also on the card: Yokasta Valle vs. Seniesa Estrada, strawweights (for Valle’s IBF, WBO and Estrada’s WBA, WBC titles); Raymond Muratalla vs. Xolisani Ndongeni, lightweights; Richard Torrez Jr. vs. Don Haynesworth, heavyweights
Background: Valdez is on the comeback trail once again. The former two-division titleholder from Mexico was outclassed by Shakur Stevenson in a 130-pound title-unification bout in 2022, losing a one-sided decision. He bounced back to outpoint Adam Lopez a year later. However, he suffered another wide-decision setback in an entertaining scrap against beltholder Emanuel Navarrete last August, which further damaged his reputation. Wilson, a former title challenger, is a clear underdog but no pushover. He put Navarrete down and hurt him before he was stopped himself in Round 9 of a competitive battle for a vacant 130-pound belt in February of last year. The resident of Queensland outpointed two second-tier opponents since the loss, including a unanimous, but close decision over countryman Jackson Jon England. Also on the March 29 card, Yokasta Valle (30-2, 9 KOs) and Seniesa Estrada (25-0, 9 KOs) will fight for the undisputed strawweight championship. They hold two belts apiece.
Oscar Valdez vs. Liam Wilson: Date, time, how to watch, background.
Former two-division titleholder Oscar Valdez will try to bounce back from second loss in three fights against Liam Wilson on Friday.
OSCAR VALDEZ (31-2, 23 KOs)
VS. LIAM WILSON (13-2, 7 KOs)
Date: Friday, March 29
Time: 6:05 p.m. ET / 3:05 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona
TV/Stream: ESPN+
Division: Junior lightweight (130 pounds)
At stake: No major titles
Pound-for-pound: None
Odds: Valdez 3½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Significance (up to five stars): ***
Also on the card: Yokasta Valle vs. Seniesa Estrada, strawweights (for Valle’s IBF, WBO and Estrada’s WBA, WBC titles); Raymond Muratalla vs. Xolisani Ndongeni, lightweights; Richard Torrez Jr. vs. Don Haynesworth, heavyweights
Background: Valdez is on the comeback trail once again. The former two-division titleholder from Mexico was outclassed by Shakur Stevenson in a 130-pound title-unification bout in 2022, losing a one-sided decision. He bounced back to outpoint Adam Lopez a year later. However, he suffered another wide-decision setback in an entertaining scrap against beltholder Emanuel Navarrete last August, which further damaged his reputation. Wilson, a former title challenger, is a clear underdog but no pushover. He put Navarrete down and hurt him before he was stopped himself in Round 9 of a competitive battle for a vacant 130-pound belt in February of last year. The resident of Queensland outpointed two second-tier opponents since the loss, including a unanimous, but close decision over countryman Jackson Jon England. Also on the March 29 card, Yokasta Valle (30-2, 9 KOs) and Seniesa Estrada (25-0, 9 KOs) will fight for the undisputed strawweight championship. They hold two belts apiece.
Fight Week: Tim Tszyu’s title defense against Sebastian Fundora highlights a stacked weekend of boxing.
FIGHT WEEK
Rising star Tim Tszyu is scheduled to defend his 154-pound title against replacement opponent Sebastian Fundora on a busy weekend in boxing.
OSCAR VALDEZ (31-2, 23 KOs)
VS. LIAM WILSON (13-2, 7 KOs)
Date: Friday, March 29
Time: 6:05 p.m. ET / 3:05 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona
TV/Stream: ESPN+
Division: Junior lightweight (130 pounds)
At stake: No major titles
Pound-for-pound: None
Odds: Valdez 3½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Significance (up to five stars): ***
Also on the card: Yokasta Valle vs. Seniesa Estrada, strawweights (for Valle’s IBF, WBO and Estrada’s WBA, WBC titles); Raymond Muratalla vs. Xolisani Ndongeni, lightweights; Richard Torrez Jr. vs. Don Haynesworth, heavyweights
Background: Valdez is on the comeback trail once again. The former two-division titleholder from Mexico was outclassed by Shakur Stevenson in a 130-pound title-unification bout in 2022, losing a one-sided decision. He bounced back to outpoint Adam Lopez a year later. However, he suffered another wide-decision setback in an entertaining scrap against beltholder Emanuel Navarrete last August, which further damaged his reputation. Wilson, a former title challenger, is a clear underdog but no pushover. He put Navarrete down and hurt him before he was stopped himself in Round 9 of a competitive battle for a vacant 130-pound belt in February of last year. The resident of Queensland outpointed two second-tier opponents since the loss, including a unanimous, but close decision over countryman Jackson Jon England. Also on the March 29 card, Yokasta Valle (30-2, 9 KOs) and Seniesa Estrada (25-0, 9 KOs) will fight for the undisputed strawweight championship. They hold two belts apiece.
TIM TSZYU (24-0, 17 KOs) VS.
SEBASTIAN FUNDORA (20-1-1, 13 KOs)
Date: Saturday, March 30
Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
TV/Stream: Pay-per-view ($69.99 in U.S.)
Division: Junior middleweight (154 pounds)
At stake: Tszyu’s WBO and vacant WBC titles
Pound-for-pound: None
Odds: Tszyu 4½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Significance (up to five stars): *****
Also on the card: Rolando Romero vs. Isaac Cruz, junior welterweights (for Romero’s title); Erislandy Lara vs. Michael Zerafa, middleweights (for Lara’s WBA title); Elijah Garcia vs. Kyrone Davis, middleweights; Julio Cesar Martinez vs. Angel Cordova, flyweights (for Martinez’s WBC title); Serhii Bohachuk vs. Brian Mendoza, junior middleweights
Background: Tszyu was scheduled to face veteran Keith Thurman but Thurman pulled out of the fight after injuring his biceps less than two weeks before the opening bell. Fundora, scheduled to fight Bohachuk on the card, agreed to step in and challenge Tszyu. The champion has established himself as an elite fighter with a series of impressive performances, including convincing victories over Terrell Gausha, Tony Harrison, Carlos Ocampo and Brian Mendoza in his last four fights. He was expected to fight then-undisputed champion Jermell Charlo last year but Charlo ended up challenging 168-pound champ Canelo Alvarez and was stripped of his WBO belt at the opening bell. That allowed Tszyu to be elevated from “interim” beltholder to full champion before the Mendoza fight. Fundora was fortunate to get a shot at Tszyu in light of the fact he’s coming off the first loss of his career, a seventh-round knockout against Mendoza in April of last year. The 6-foot-5½ slugger was winning the fight when he was stopped by a brutal three-punch combination. Fundora had given a series of strong performances before his setback, including a ninth-round stoppage of Erickson Lubin in 2022. Also on the card, veteran Erislandy Lara (29-3-3, 17 KOs) will defend his 160-pound title against Michael Zerafa (31-4, 19 KOs). Lara is 40 years old. And Julio Cesar Martinez (20-3, 15 KOs) will defend his 112-pound belt against Angel Cordova (18-0-1, 12 KOs).
Odds: Ramirez 2½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Significance (up to five stars): ****
Also on the card: Alexis Rocha vs. Fredrick Lawson, welterweights; Ricardo Sandoval vs. Luis Hernandez, flyweights; Santiago Dominguez vs. Jose Sanchez, welterweights; Kareem Hackett vs. Rowdy Montgomenry, light heavyweights
Background: Goulamirian will be defending his 200-pound title for the fifth time but has been unusually inactive over the past four-plus years, a period in which the California-based Frenchman has fought only once. He was out of the ring for three years between 2019 and 2022 because of illness (COVID 19) and other issues. He finally returned in November 2022, when he easily outpointed Aleksei Ergorov in France. The 36-year-old trains with Abel Sanchez in Big Bear, California. The well-connected Ramirez is getting his second title shot in three fights, having lost a one-sided decision to 175-pound champ Dmitry Bivol in 2022. He bounced back to outclass former beltholder Joe Smith Jr. in his 200-pound debut last October, winning a near-shutout decision. Ramirez is a former 168-pound titleholder.
Odds: Shigeoka 6-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Significance (up to five stars): ****
Also on the card: Ginjiro Shigeoka vs. ArAr Andales, strawweights (for Shigeoka’s IBF title); Lerato Dlamani vs. Tomoki Kameda, featherweights; Riku Kunimoto vs. Eiki Kani, middleweights; Mark Dickinson vs. Anauel Ngamissengue, middleweights; Aaron McKenna vs. Jeovanny Estela, middleweights; Kieron Conway vs. Ainiwaer Yilixiati, middleweights
Background: The Shigeoka brothers – 26-year-old Yudai and 24-year-old Ginjiro – will both be defending their 105-pound titles in their home country. Yudai, an offense-minded fighter with power, got off to a slow start in his career – losing two of his first three fights – but he’s unbeaten in his next eight. That includes his convincing decision over then-titleholder Panya Pradabsri last October, giving Shigeoka his first major belt. His opponent on Sunday, Jerusalem, lost his own strawweight title to young star Oscar Collazo last May, getting stopped in seven rounds. The Filipino rebounded by outpointing journeyman Francis Jay Diaz last October in the Philippines. Ginjiro Shigeoka (10-0, 8 KOs) also is aggressive and has heavy hands. The younger Shigeoka’s first title shot ended in disappointment, when then-champ Daniel Valladares was cut by an accidental head butt and the fight was declared a no-contest in January of last year. However, two fights later, Shigeoka stopped the Mexican in five rounds to become a world champion. That fight took place in October. Shigeoka’s opponent on Sunday is ArAr Andales, a light-punching Filipino who is coming off back-to-back draws against Tsubasa Koura and Wilfredo Mendez in 2022 and in October, respectively. Andales (14-2-3, 6 KOs) has three draws in his last four fights.
ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK
WEDNESDAY
Joseph Adorno vs. Nicholas Walters, lightweights, Plant City, Florida (ProBox TV)
THURSDAY
Juan Carrillo vs. Quinton Rankin, light heavyweights, Detroit (DAZN)
FRIDAY
Elijah Pierce vs. Arthur Villanueva, bantamweights, Atlanta (DAZN)
SATURDAY
Luis Lopez vs. Jesus Resendiz, welterweights, Long Beach, California (Fubo Sports)
SUNDAY
Fabio Wardley vs. Frazer Clarke, heavyweights, London (Peacock)
Fight Week: Tim Tszyu’s title defense against Sebastian Fundora highlights a stacked weekend of boxing.
FIGHT WEEK
Rising star Tim Tszyu is scheduled to defend his 154-pound title against replacement opponent Sebastian Fundora on a busy weekend in boxing.
OSCAR VALDEZ (31-2, 23 KOs)
VS. LIAM WILSON (13-2, 7 KOs)
Date: Friday, March 29
Time: 6:05 p.m. ET / 3:05 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona
TV/Stream: ESPN+
Division: Junior lightweight (130 pounds)
At stake: No major titles
Pound-for-pound: None
Odds: Valdez 3½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Significance (up to five stars): ***
Also on the card: Yokasta Valle vs. Seniesa Estrada, strawweights (for Valle’s IBF, WBO and Estrada’s WBA, WBC titles); Raymond Muratalla vs. Xolisani Ndongeni, lightweights; Richard Torrez Jr. vs. Don Haynesworth, heavyweights
Background: Valdez is on the comeback trail once again. The former two-division titleholder from Mexico was outclassed by Shakur Stevenson in a 130-pound title-unification bout in 2022, losing a one-sided decision. He bounced back to outpoint Adam Lopez a year later. However, he suffered another wide-decision setback in an entertaining scrap against beltholder Emanuel Navarrete last August, which further damaged his reputation. Wilson, a former title challenger, is a clear underdog but no pushover. He put Navarrete down and hurt him before he was stopped himself in Round 9 of a competitive battle for a vacant 130-pound belt in February of last year. The resident of Queensland outpointed two second-tier opponents since the loss, including a unanimous, but close decision over countryman Jackson Jon England. Also on the March 29 card, Yokasta Valle (30-2, 9 KOs) and Seniesa Estrada (25-0, 9 KOs) will fight for the undisputed strawweight championship. They hold two belts apiece.
TIM TSZYU (24-0, 17 KOs) VS.
SEBASTIAN FUNDORA (20-1-1, 13 KOs)
Date: Saturday, March 30
Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
TV/Stream: Pay-per-view ($69.99 in U.S.)
Division: Junior middleweight (154 pounds)
At stake: Tszyu’s WBO and vacant WBC titles
Pound-for-pound: None
Odds: Tszyu 4½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Significance (up to five stars): *****
Also on the card: Rolando Romero vs. Isaac Cruz, junior welterweights (for Romero’s title); Erislandy Lara vs. Michael Zerafa, middleweights (for Lara’s WBA title); Elijah Garcia vs. Kyrone Davis, middleweights; Julio Cesar Martinez vs. Angel Cordova, flyweights (for Martinez’s WBC title); Serhii Bohachuk vs. Brian Mendoza, junior middleweights
Background: Tszyu was scheduled to face veteran Keith Thurman but Thurman pulled out of the fight after injuring his biceps less than two weeks before the opening bell. Fundora, scheduled to fight Bohachuk on the card, agreed to step in and challenge Tszyu. The champion has established himself as an elite fighter with a series of impressive performances, including convincing victories over Terrell Gausha, Tony Harrison, Carlos Ocampo and Brian Mendoza in his last four fights. He was expected to fight then-undisputed champion Jermell Charlo last year but Charlo ended up challenging 168-pound champ Canelo Alvarez and was stripped of his WBO belt at the opening bell. That allowed Tszyu to be elevated from “interim” beltholder to full champion before the Mendoza fight. Fundora was fortunate to get a shot at Tszyu in light of the fact he’s coming off the first loss of his career, a seventh-round knockout against Mendoza in April of last year. The 6-foot-5½ slugger was winning the fight when he was stopped by a brutal three-punch combination. Fundora had given a series of strong performances before his setback, including a ninth-round stoppage of Erickson Lubin in 2022. Also on the card, veteran Erislandy Lara (29-3-3, 17 KOs) will defend his 160-pound title against Michael Zerafa (31-4, 19 KOs). Lara is 40 years old. And Julio Cesar Martinez (20-3, 15 KOs) will defend his 112-pound belt against Angel Cordova (18-0-1, 12 KOs).
Odds: Ramirez 2½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Significance (up to five stars): ****
Also on the card: Alexis Rocha vs. Fredrick Lawson, welterweights; Ricardo Sandoval vs. Luis Hernandez, flyweights; Santiago Dominguez vs. Jose Sanchez, welterweights; Kareem Hackett vs. Rowdy Montgomenry, light heavyweights
Background: Goulamirian will be defending his 200-pound title for the fifth time but has been unusually inactive over the past four-plus years, a period in which the California-based Frenchman has fought only once. He was out of the ring for three years between 2019 and 2022 because of illness (COVID 19) and other issues. He finally returned in November 2022, when he easily outpointed Aleksei Ergorov in France. The 36-year-old trains with Abel Sanchez in Big Bear, California. The well-connected Ramirez is getting his second title shot in three fights, having lost a one-sided decision to 175-pound champ Dmitry Bivol in 2022. He bounced back to outclass former beltholder Joe Smith Jr. in his 200-pound debut last October, winning a near-shutout decision. Ramirez is a former 168-pound titleholder.
Odds: Shigeoka 6-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Significance (up to five stars): ****
Also on the card: Ginjiro Shigeoka vs. ArAr Andales, strawweights (for Shigeoka’s IBF title); Lerato Dlamani vs. Tomoki Kameda, featherweights; Riku Kunimoto vs. Eiki Kani, middleweights; Mark Dickinson vs. Anauel Ngamissengue, middleweights; Aaron McKenna vs. Jeovanny Estela, middleweights; Kieron Conway vs. Ainiwaer Yilixiati, middleweights
Background: The Shigeoka brothers – 26-year-old Yudai and 24-year-old Ginjiro – will both be defending their 105-pound titles in their home country. Yudai, an offense-minded fighter with power, got off to a slow start in his career – losing two of his first three fights – but he’s unbeaten in his next eight. That includes his convincing decision over then-titleholder Panya Pradabsri last October, giving Shigeoka his first major belt. His opponent on Sunday, Jerusalem, lost his own strawweight title to young star Oscar Collazo last May, getting stopped in seven rounds. The Filipino rebounded by outpointing journeyman Francis Jay Diaz last October in the Philippines. Ginjiro Shigeoka (10-0, 8 KOs) also is aggressive and has heavy hands. The younger Shigeoka’s first title shot ended in disappointment, when then-champ Daniel Valladares was cut by an accidental head butt and the fight was declared a no-contest in January of last year. However, two fights later, Shigeoka stopped the Mexican in five rounds to become a world champion. That fight took place in October. Shigeoka’s opponent on Sunday is ArAr Andales, a light-punching Filipino who is coming off back-to-back draws against Tsubasa Koura and Wilfredo Mendez in 2022 and in October, respectively. Andales (14-2-3, 6 KOs) has three draws in his last four fights.
ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK
WEDNESDAY
Joseph Adorno vs. Nicholas Walters, lightweights, Plant City, Florida (ProBox TV)
THURSDAY
Juan Carrillo vs. Quinton Rankin, light heavyweights, Detroit (DAZN)
FRIDAY
Elijah Pierce vs. Arthur Villanueva, bantamweights, Atlanta (DAZN)
SATURDAY
Luis Lopez vs. Jesus Resendiz, welterweights, Long Beach, California (Fubo Sports)
SUNDAY
Fabio Wardley vs. Frazer Clarke, heavyweights, London (Peacock)
O’Shaquie Foster said he’s targeting fellow titleholders and the big names at 130 pounds after his victory over Abraham Nova on Friday.
Junior lightweight titleholder O’Shaquie Foster had a difficult time making the 130-pound limit going into his split decision victory over Abraham Nova on Friday in New York, which could mean he’s not long for the division.
However, he said he has some business to take care of first. He wants at least a few more big fights at 130 before he makes the move to 135.
“I’ll eventually be going to 135,” he said after his victory. “But I’m going to try to get a couple more fights at 130. Like I said I’m going to try to hire a nutritionist to do it better next time. It definitely affected my energy in the fight.”
So what potential opponents does he have in mind?
The WBC champion is targeting fellow beltholders Lamont Roach (WBA) and Emanuel Navarrete (WBO), as well as some other big names in the division.
“I’ll take the winner of Liam Wilson [and Oscar Valdez on March 29],” he said, per Fight Hub TV. “Or if we can get Lamont Roach. I know [Emanuel] Navarrete is going to 135 … but if he comes back, I’m willing to do that too.”
Foster (22-2, 12 KOs) could also be required to face relatively unknown WBC mandatory challenger Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov (21-1, 11 KOs) of Tajikistan soon.
Foster defeated Yaqubov by a one-sided decision in March 2022, after which Yaqubov has won three consecutive fights.
“If it’s mandatory and I have to, I’ll take it. It’s cool,” he said. “I beat the guy, Yaqubov. I’d rather fight a Wilson or Oscar Valdez. But if I have to, I’ll satisfy my mandatory.”
One titleholder that doesn’t appear to be in Foster’s plans is Joe Cordina (IBF). Foster expressed interest in facing Cordina but the British fighter said he wants to face an opponent against whom he could make more money.
“Man, they had their chance,” Foster said, referring to Cordina. “I was open for it. If it’s still available, I’m with it, but I ain’t going to be chasing nobody.”
Foster got off to a slow start against Nova (23-2, 16 KOs) in the second defense of the belt he won by outpointing Rey Vargas in February of last year but found his rhythm in the middle rounds and controlled the fight down the stretch.
He put Nova down with a left hook with about 20 seconds remaining in the fight to clinch the victory. Replays seemed to confirm Nova went down from the punch but he said he slipped.
Foster wasn’t buying that version of events.
“Oh man, he’s delusional,” he said. “It was a knockdown for sure. If I did stuff the right way, there would’ve been a lot of knockdowns. I was rushing stuff, I was trying to land too much power. It’s on me.”
Foster will have an opportunity to improve in a high profile fight soon.
O’Shaquie Foster said he’s targeting fellow titleholders and the big names at 130 pounds after his victory over Abraham Nova on Friday.
Junior lightweight titleholder O’Shaquie Foster had a difficult time making the 130-pound limit going into his split decision victory over Abraham Nova on Friday in New York, which could mean he’s not long for the division.
However, he said he has some business to take care of first. He wants at least a few more big fights at 130 before he makes the move to 135.
“I’ll eventually be going to 135,” he said after his victory. “But I’m going to try to get a couple more fights at 130. Like I said I’m going to try to hire a nutritionist to do it better next time. It definitely affected my energy in the fight.”
So what potential opponents does he have in mind?
The WBC champion is targeting fellow beltholders Lamont Roach (WBA) and Emanuel Navarrete (WBO), as well as some other big names in the division.
“I’ll take the winner of Liam Wilson [and Oscar Valdez on March 29],” he said, per Fight Hub TV. “Or if we can get Lamont Roach. I know [Emanuel] Navarrete is going to 135 … but if he comes back, I’m willing to do that too.”
Foster (22-2, 12 KOs) could also be required to face relatively unknown WBC mandatory challenger Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov (21-1, 11 KOs) of Tajikistan soon.
Foster defeated Yaqubov by a one-sided decision in March 2022, after which Yaqubov has won three consecutive fights.
“If it’s mandatory and I have to, I’ll take it. It’s cool,” he said. “I beat the guy, Yaqubov. I’d rather fight a Wilson or Oscar Valdez. But if I have to, I’ll satisfy my mandatory.”
One titleholder that doesn’t appear to be in Foster’s plans is Joe Cordina (IBF). Foster expressed interest in facing Cordina but the British fighter said he wants to face an opponent against whom he could make more money.
“Man, they had their chance,” Foster said, referring to Cordina. “I was open for it. If it’s still available, I’m with it, but I ain’t going to be chasing nobody.”
Foster got off to a slow start against Nova (23-2, 16 KOs) in the second defense of the belt he won by outpointing Rey Vargas in February of last year but found his rhythm in the middle rounds and controlled the fight down the stretch.
He put Nova down with a left hook with about 20 seconds remaining in the fight to clinch the victory. Replays seemed to confirm Nova went down from the punch but he said he slipped.
Foster wasn’t buying that version of events.
“Oh man, he’s delusional,” he said. “It was a knockdown for sure. If I did stuff the right way, there would’ve been a lot of knockdowns. I was rushing stuff, I was trying to land too much power. It’s on me.”
Foster will have an opportunity to improve in a high profile fight soon.
