The stakes are even higher for Friday night’s main event between Oscar Valdez and Liam Wilson. The WBO announced earlier today that the interim super featherweight title will be on the line. The full champion is Emanuel Navarrete , but he is scheduled to fight for the lightweight title in May, so if he is successful, the thinking is that he will vacate, making Friday’s winner the full champion. Valdez was looking for this type of opportunity, so now it’s up to him to take full advantage of it if he can beat Wilson.
Here is an excerpt from the press release sent by Top Rank.
Per the WBO, “If Navarrete is successful in winning the vacant WBO Lightweight championship and determines to retain the WBO Lightweight championship, the WBO Jr. Lightweight Interim champion shall be elevated to ‘Full Champion’ status…”
In Friday’s co-feature, an undisputed minimumweight queen will be crowned, as WBC/WBA/Ring Magazine champion Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada and WBO/IBF queen Yokasta Valle battle to unify all the belts. Valdez-Wilson, Estrada Valle, and a loaded undercard will stream live and exclusively in the United States on ESPN+.
“This not only promises to be a sensational fight, but with the WBO Interim title on the line, the winner will have tremendous opportunities in a loaded weight class,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum.
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