Oscar Valdez Promises To Give It 100% Against Emanuel Navarrete

It’s been 16 months since his fight with Navarrete, and although Valdez lost the first time around, he didn’t let that dictate his career. After beating Wilson, Valdez began to hear whispers circulating throughout the boxing industry that a rematch with Navarrete wasn’t so far-fetched. Navarrete took a shot at the WBO lightweight title in May against Denys Berinchyk but came up short via split decision. Had Navarrete won, this rematch might not have happened, but the loss in May pointed him back towards super featherweight, where his opponent would be the WBO mandatory, Valdez.

“Not everyone gets a second opportunity, especially after a fight like that. I know it was a one-sided fight. After a one-sided fight, people don’t want to see a rematch but due to my last performance, I started hearing the possibility of a rematch. I was like, ‘Wow, of course, I’ll take it.’ We took the fight immediately.”

Their first fight was action-packed, and while the anticipation is that the rematch will emulate that, Valdez doesn’t want to put that type of pressure on the fight. Instead, he is focusing on what he did wrong and how he can fight smarter, with the end goal being the world title. “You have to go back and rethink everything,” said Valdez. “We have to be the smarter fighter this time. I know what to expect. The first time, I didn’t know, and I realized in that ring why he wins and why it’s hard to hit him when he throws the looping shots. So now that I know, you go back and train for that fight specifically.”

While Valdez has heard the chatter about potentially retiring, he’s not ready to hang up the gloves just yet. He feels as good as ever in his preparation for fights, following his trainer Eddy Reynoso wherever he goes, knowing Reynoso’s priority is Canelo. Valdez is fine with this arrangement and values the training he receives from Reynoso, which is why he doesn’t think Saturday night will be his last title shot. He is also realistic, though, and understands the inherent dangers of the sport, acknowledging that stepping into the ring can be life-threatening.

“The question was asked after the Vaquero (Navarrete) fight on whether I was retiring but then I won the Wilson fight. Keeping a disciplined lifestyle is going to expand your athletic lifespan. Don’t ever count me out, as I always put in the work for a good night of boxing.”

Regarding what fans should expect on fight night, Valdez doesn’t want to make any predictions but will promise one thing: “I never promise a knockout or fight of the year. What I do promise my fans is that I’m going to give it 100%.”