VALDEZ'S TEAM WANTS HIM TO REST AFTER A TOUGH FIGHT WITH SERVANIA
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 12 Oct 2017
It's vacation time for Oscar Valdez (23-0, 19 KOs) but he would accept an opportunity to defend his WBO featherweight title in December. But if it will not push through, then Valdez would likely return on March or April. Valdez was part of the Top Rank card that was televised on ESPN. Valdez was floored on the canvas from a tough knockdown and he also received hard shots many times.
* * *
He says the experience of the Servania fight will really help him against tougher opponents like Carl Frampton, Abner Mares, Lee Selby, Gary Russell and Leo Santa Cruz. "I would love to come back in the month of December, whenever they tell me, in February or March I will be ready to to face whoever, a champion must face everyone," Valdez said to ESPN Deportes. His team though wants to give the champion a rest having undergone a hard fight with Servania.
* * *
Valdez's manager, Frank Espinoza, says the next schedule for his fight would likely be in March or April. "We would love to give him a date soon, but it's probably not going to be until March 2018. He's resting, he deserves it, it was a tough fight, the opponent was harder than many had thought," Espinoza said. "The good thing is, Oscar and the whole team knew that the Filipino was tough, and of course, had to adjust and surely learned a lot."
* * *
Former IBF welterweight champion Shawn Porter believes Danny Garcia would prefer an easier opponent after his split-decision defeat to Keith Thurman in their welterweight title unification fight on March 4. ?I thought it would be possible,? Porter told BoxingScene. ?Obviously, we?re questioning his heart and his mindset at this point. He didn?t have a fight, I didn?t have a fight. We both have losses to Keith Thurman and we both wanna be champion."
* * *
Porter (27-2-1, 17 KOs) says that although he feels a Garcia fight is a realistic option, he believes Garcia (33-1, 19 KOs) is more careful on protecting his image than taking on the toughest fights. ?We?re going to let everybody in this world know, especially Danny Garcia, that Shawn Porter isn?t aiming for anybody but you,? Porter told RingTV. ?There?s nowhere you can go. You already fought the top guy. Now you need to fight the next best guy out there.?
* * *
The tickets to the Vasyl Lomachenko vs. Guillermo Rigondeaux world championship match sold out two months in advance. For Lomachenko's past three fights, it is the second advance sellout. The first one was against Jason Sosa in April 8 which sold out at the MGM National Harbor one month before the championship match. This is the second hottest ticket in New York in the secondary market next to the Broadway hit "Hello Dolly!" according to Bob Arum.
* * *
According to Mikey Garcia, beyond a fight with Miguel Cotto and WBA lightweight champion Jorge Linares, Golden Boy will not be able to get him the big fights with other major opponents handled by Al Haymon or Top Rank. Garcia wants to remain as a free agent with no promoter so he can fight anyone and on any network. Referring to Cotto and Linares, Garcia told the Los Angeles Times. ?Good proposal, but not exciting enough to jump on.?
* * *
Oscar De La Hoya thinks Garcia has made a big blunder in rejecting their proposal and said Garcia and every other fighter needs a promoter. ?A fighter needs a promoter who knows how to guide his career, what the next step and move is,? De La Hoya told the LA Times. ?You need a team, a partner." He cites Anthony Joshua has a promoter in Eddie Hearn, while Golden Boy promotes Canelo Alvarez.
* * *
Garcia was not happy with his purses, sued Top Rank in 2014 to get out of the fight contract. The dispute caused Garcia too be inactive for more than two years. In 2016, Garcia and Top Rank had reached a settlement. A three-weight world champion, Garcia held the WBC lightweight title, the WBO and Ring featherweight belts and the WBO junior lightweight crown. He is currently rated No. 7 pound-for-pound fighter by The Ring.
* * *
Four-division and six-time world champion Miguel Cotto (41-5, 33 KOs) will fight his farewell match to defend his WBO world junior middleweight title in a 12-round battle against Sadam Ali (25-1, 14 KOs) on December 2 at the Madison Square Garden, New York. Cotto has faced famous world champions including Manny Pacquiao, Demarcus Corley, Paulie Malignaggi, Zab Judah, Shane Mosley, Antonio Margarito, Ricardo Mayorga, Sergio Martinez and Canelo Alvarez.
* * *
Ali, a Yemini-American, was a 2008 U.S. Olympian from Brooklyn will make his second attempt at a world championship after losing to Jessie Vargas. He won over welterweight contenders including Francisco Santana, Luis Carlos Abregu and most recently Johan Perez. "I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to fight a legend in Madison Square Garden in front of all my fans and on HBO," said Ali. "My time is now. God willing, I will leave the Garden with the championship belt."
* * *
Willie Pep was known as the only boxer to ever win a round without throwing a punch. There were reports that Pep won the third round of his fight against Jackie Graves on July 25, 1946, without throwing a punch. The "no-punch" winning round was disputed by claims that Pep really threw a punch. Pep was said to tip off a few ringside reporters before the bout and told them he would win the third round without throwing "a punch of anger," as reported by Don Stradley.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
WBC lifts the suspension imposed on Ryan Garcia
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 05 Nov 2025Siargao pug bags silver in Batang Pinoy
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 05 Nov 2025Marcial-Colmenares Middleweight Bout Steals Show at Thrilla in Manila 50th Year (Part 2 of 2)
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 05 Nov 2025Brown vs. Seldin for the WBA Super Lightweight Interim World Title
Wed, 05 Nov 2025FRANCIS LAFRENIÈRE MAKES COMEBACK NOV 29
Wed, 05 Nov 2025OLYMPIC MEDALIST YUBERJEN MARTINEZ INKS WITH ALL STAR BOXING
Wed, 05 Nov 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 November 2025: Mayer Outpoints Spencer to Unify 154 Belts; Buatsi's Controversial Win Over Parker; Pero Outpoints Thompson; Thrilla in Manila at 50 Results
By Eric Armit, Tue, 04 Nov 2025Marcial-Colmenares Middleweight Bout Steals Show at Thrilla in Manila 50th Year (Part 1)
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 04 Nov 2025MATCHROOM BOXING ANNOUNCES HISTORIC ‘LIVE FROM GHANA’ EVENT FOR SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20 AS CRAIG RICHARDS AND DAN AZEEZ COLLIDE IN ACCRA – LIVE WORLDWIDE ON DAZN
Tue, 04 Nov 2025Bryce Mills Defeats James Bernadin By Unanimous Decision
Mon, 03 Nov 2025NBA Daily: Wembanyama Struggles as Suns Give Spurs First Loss 130-118
By Reylan Loberternos, Mon, 03 Nov 2025Oklahoma City Thunder the only undefeated NBA Team
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Mon, 03 Nov 2025RP Blu Boys Close Out Strong with Unbeaten Record in Japan Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 03 Nov 2025Pero Outlasts Thompson in Orlando, Secures Unanimous Decision Victory
Mon, 03 Nov 2025Jonas Magpantay Crowned Qatar World Cup 10-Ball Champion
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 03 Nov 2025