By Jim Maltzman: Oscar Valdez has taken issue with boxing fans that have claiming that he vacated his WBO 126-pound title because he wanted to duck a fight against Shakur Stevenson.
Valdez (26-0, 21 KOs), who is now campaigning at 130, says he would never duck any fighter. Proof of that is the fact that he’s looking to face WBC super featherweight champion Miguel ‘El Alacran’ Berchelt soon.
The 29-year-old two-time Olympian Valdez rates Berhcelt (37-1, 33 KOs) as a better fighter than the unbeaten Shakur (14-0, 8 KOs).
Stevenson, 23, recently moved up to 130, and he’s already targeting both Berchelt and Valdez. So, as long as Top Rank doesn’t block those fighters from facing the young Shakur, we’re going to see how he stacks up with those fighters.
It’ll be up to Top Rank promoter Bob Arum if he wants to let Stevenson take on the likes of Berchelt and Valdez this early in his career. Those are two very advanced fighters for Shakur to be mixing it up with at this early stage of his career.
The 2016 Olympic silver medalist Stevenson still hasn’t developed his punching power, and he might a little over-matched in that department going up against punchers like Valdez and Berchelt.
Valdez is fighting this Tuesday night on July 21 against Jayson Velez (29-6-1, 21 KOs) at ‘The Bubble’ at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Valdez vs. Velez fight will be shown on ESPN+.
In the chief support, the exciting super middleweight prospect Edgar Berlanga (13-0, 13 KOs) is taking on Eric Moon (11-2, 6 KOs) in an eight-round fight.
Berchelt tougher than Stevenson
“Why not? If it’s there, I’ll take it,” said Valdez to Fighthub on a match against Stevenson. “I was bothered with people thinking I moved up a division because I was ducking Shakur Stevenson. I have been boxing ever since I was eight years old, I ain’t scared to fight nobody.
“And what more can I prove by trying to face a guy like ‘El Alacran’ Berchelt I personally think ‘El Alacran’ Berchelt is a way tougher fighter than Shakur Stevenson,” said Valdez.
In the offense department, Berchelt is superior to Stevenson, and it’s not even close. Stevenson doesn’t punch like Berchelt, and he probably never will. Berchelt has a better jab and throws better combinations than Shakur.
Berchelt would be a very tough fighter for Stevenson to face if that match happened right now in 2020. The 28-year-old Berchelt is in the zenith of his career, beating everyone in front of him, and he’s looking unstoppable. Moreover, Berchelt has the advantage in experience over Stevenson in beating these fighters:
- Francisco Vargas x 2
- Takashi Miura
- Miguel ‘Mickey’ Roman
- Jonathan Victor Barros
- Jason Sosa
- Maxwell Awuku
Stevenson hasn’t fought anyone near as good as of those fighters at the pro level, which is understandable. He’s just starting. At the amateur level, Stevenson has never fought anyone as good as Miguel Roman or Francisco Vargas.
A lot of boxing fans felt that it was an odd coincidence for Valdez to vacate his WBO 126lb title when Stevenson was at his doorstep as his leading contender.
Valdez not afraid of Shakur
“He’s a harder puncher, he’s a natural 130-pounder, he’s knocking all these guys out,” Valdez continued about Berchelt being a better fighter than Shakur. “So if I was scared of fighting somebody you’d think I’d be afraid to fight Berchelt.
“I’m not scared to fight no fighter, I’m especially not scared to fight Shakur Stevenson,” said Valdez.
Berchelt is a champion at 130, whereas Stevenson is just a contender. It makes sense for Vargas to be targeting him rather than Stevenson.
It’s too bad Vargas, and Berchelt didn’t fight several years ago because this fight might be a mismatch now. Valdez doesn’t look like the same fighter he once was since getting hurt in his fight against Miguel Marriaga in 2017. Back then, Valdez fought in a disorderly manner, coming forward, looking to run everyone over.
When Valdez ran into the hard-hitting Colombian Marriaga, he met a fighter that had too much power for him to get away with his sloppy fighting style. Although Valdez ended up beating Marriaga by a 12 round decision, his punch resistance hasn’t been the same ever since.
The following fighters have hurt Valdez since the Marriaga contest:
- Scott Quigg
- Genesis Servania
- Adam Lopez
With the help of trainer Eddy Reynoso, Valdez has made improvements on his defense, and he’s not as easy to hit as he once was. But he’s still vulnerable on defense.
In defense of Valdez, he was having a difficult time making weight at 126 after spending the first seven years of his professional career in that division. Stevenson is already moving up to 130 after just three years.
It’s not easy for fighters to stay in the lower weight classes for as long as Valdez did, which is the reason why he moved up.