Veteran trainer says De Los Santos remains the more explosive fighter and still holds an edge from their first knockout victory
Teddy Atlas believes Edwin De Los Santos will defeat Jose Valenzuela for a second time when they meet in Sunday’s rematch in Las Vegas. The veteran trainer says De Los Santos remains the more explosive fighter and still benefits from the confidence gained in their first knockout victory.
Atlas acknowledged that Valenzuela has accomplished far more since their first meeting in September 2022. After suffering a third-round knockout loss to De Los Santos, Valenzuela rebuilt his career, won a world title, lost it to Gary Antuanne Russell, and recently returned to the win column.
De Los Santos, by comparison, has fought only twice since defeating Valenzuela. One of those bouts was his 12-round unanimous decision loss to Shakur Stevenson in November 2023.
Despite that difference in activity, Atlas is backing De Los Santos to win the rematch.
“I think De Los Santos is a more explosive fighter,” Atlas said on his podcast. “I love Valenzuela. He’s a real fighter. I do. But De Los Santos, I think, is just more talented as far as if you’re going to look at just pure talent.”
Atlas also believes De Los Santos (17-2, 15 KOs) carries a psychological advantage into the fight because of the outcome of their first meeting.
“He’s a guy going in there. I don’t care if it was four years ago. He knocked him out. He has that edge. I’m going with De Los Santos,” said Atlas.
The fighters first met in a wild contest that saw both men hit the canvas before De Los Santos finished Rayo Valenzuela (15-3, 9 KOs) in the third round. Since then, Valenzuela has gained experience against opponents such as Isaac Cruz and Antuanne Russell, while De Los Santos has spent much of the last three years on the sidelines.
The rematch takes place Sunday as part of the latest Zuffa Boxing card at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, with De Los Santos looking to show that the result of the first fight was no fluke and Valenzuela aiming to erase the biggest loss of his career.
