Fight Freaks Unite podcast: A one-on-one interview with Oscar Valdez
Fight talk, not drug test talk
Oscar Valdez (29-0, 23 KOs) is set to make the first defense of his WBC junior lightweight title against Top Rank stablemate, three-time Brazilian Olympian and 2016 Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceicao (16-0, 8 KOs) in the controversial main event of a Top Rank Boxing on ESPN+ card on Friday (ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET) at the AVA Amphitheater at Casino Del Sol in Tucson, Arizona, where Mexico’s Valdez grew up.
I interviewed Valdez at length but it took place the day before the news of the positive test came out, so obviously that did not come up in our conversation. But we did discuss many topics I think you will find interesting, including:
His performance and huge knockout win over Miguel Berchelt in February to win the title
Why the win was so important to him besides just claiming a title in a second division
Why he doubted himself during training camp
What it would mean to him to win KO of the year for his spectacular stoppage of Berchelt
His memories of a very significant amateur loss to Conceicao in 2009 and the chance to avenge it
And his desire to next face the Jamel Herring-Shakur Stevenson winner in a unification bout.
To listen to the complete 18-minute interview with Valdez, please upgrade to a paid subscription that will give you access to all of the content I produce. Paid subscriptions allow me to take the time and effort it requires to produce this newsletter regularly and in a comprehensive manner. I hope you see value in getting timely and accurate news and information, and (hopefully) entertaining commentary and audio content, delivered to your inbox rather than having to search boxing websites and click all sorts of links to get it. I’ve said it before and I will say it again: You don’t have to look for boxing news and commentary, it comes to you. Please support independent boxing journalism. Thank you and I hope you enjoy the interview with Valdez.
Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank