Notebook: Valdez: 'I have a few more battles left in me'
Heads into rematch with Navarrete seeking revenge and WBO junior lightweight title; Azim stepping up vs. former titlist; Rocha-Curiel undercard; Quick hits; Show and tell
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Oscar Valdez has been in many rough and rugged fights during his 12-year pro career and is 2-2 in his last four bouts, but the two-division titleholder believes he still has enough left to turn the tables on WBO junior lightweight titlist Emanuel Navarrete and win the belt in their rematch.
Valdez, the WBO interim titlist and mandatory challenger, will meet Navarrete again in the main event of the Top Rank Boxing on ESPN card on Saturday (ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN+, 10:30 p.m. ET) at Footprint Center in Phoenix.
“I have a few more battles left in me. I feel great,” Valdez said. “I showed I had a lot left in my last fight when I beat Liam Wilson.”
Indeed, Valdez shook off the clear unanimous decision loss to Navarrete for the title in their first fight in August 2023 — an all-action fight of the year contender despite Navarrete winning by wide decision, 119-109, 118-110 and 116-112 — by rebounding to knock out Wilson in the seventh round in March to win the vacant interim title.
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