Junior lightweight champion Oscar Valdez signs new promotional deal with Top Rank

WBC junior lightweight world titlist Oscar Valdez has signed a new multi-fight promotional agreement with Top Rank, the company announced on Thursday.

The 30-year-old Valdez (29-0, 23 KOs), a two-time Mexican Olympian, has been with Top Rank for his entire career, since turning pro following the 2012 London Olympics.

The paperwork for the new deal was completed on Wednesday night, manager Frank Espinoza told Fight Freaks Unite.

Valdez has been in a number of all-action fights and has won world titles at featherweight and junior lightweight. He is coming off his biggest victory, a stunningly one-sided seventh-round knockout of Miguel Berchelt to win the junior lightweight belt on Feb. 20 in Las Vegas.

Valdez’s contract with Top Rank expired with that fight but the sides had been working on a new deal since, Espinoza said.

“I am proud to be part of the Top Rank family. I want to thank (chairman) Bob Arum and (president) Todd duBoef for their confidence in my abilities. I will not let them down,” Valdez said. “I also want to thank my manager, Frank Espinoza, for securing a great deal for me. This is a wonderful moment in my career, and I’m grateful to God for my blessings.”

Arum, who has often likened Valdez to a great Mexican champion he promoted for many years in Erik Morales, was pleased to wrap up the deal with a fighter who is one of the faces of the company.

“It’s a pleasure to promote a young athlete like Oscar Valdez. He is a true gentleman who is grateful for the help we’ve provided, and he works collaboratively with the company for the mutual benefit of both parties,” Arum said. “I have been very fond of Oscar from the moment we signed him, and I am proud of everything he has accomplished. I would like to recognize Frank Espinoza, a fantastic manager, who has been integral in helping Oscar reach this point.”

Espinoza has managed Valdez for his entire career.

“We are ecstatic that Top Rank and Oscar Valdez are continuing what has been a long and successful partnership,” Espinoza said. “Bob Arum and Todd duBoef recognize Oscar as a special fighter with all the characteristics to make him an all-time great. Oscar has the discipline and passion it takes to reach the top levels of the sport. We’re very proud of what Oscar has achieved so far, and we’re confident he will delight boxing fans with more exciting and memorable fights.”

In announcing the new contract, Top Rank said Valdez would return to defend his title on an ESPN platform in the fall.

He most likely will be back in September, according to Espinoza and probably will defend his title against amateur nemesis and three-time Olympian Robson Conceicao (16-0, 8 KOs), 32, of Brazil, who defeated Valdez in the 2009 Pan American Games finals in Mexico City and later claimed an Olympic silver medal in 2016.

If Valdez wins his fight in the fall, Arum has said he plans to match him in a title unification fight with the winner of the likely fall fight between WBO 130-pound titlist Jamel Herring (23-2, 11 KOs) and interim titlist Shakur Stevenson (16-0, 8 KOs).

Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank