Mexican fighter Oscar Valdez, who is 33 years old and has recently faced two defeats in his last three matches, is presented with an opponent that aligns with the expectations set by the skilled matchmakers at Top Rank.
Valdez is in desperate need of a victory, and to make matters even more crucial, he must impress the fans by defeating a well-known opponent. Liam Wilson, hailing from Queensland, Australia, fits the bill perfectly. Just 14 months ago, Wilson gave Emanuel Navarrete a thrilling fight that left everyone on the edge of their seats, establishing himself as a formidable and skilled fighter.
Despite Wilson, 28, being defeated in nine rounds, there was a prevailing feeling of unfairness. During the fourth round, Navarrete was knocked down heavily, yet he took his time recovering and even intentionally spat out his mouthguard to gain extra time. However, Wilson managed to make a strong comeback in the sixth round. His powerful right hand proved to be a significant threat. In the end, a combination of brutal body punches and Navarrete’s exceptional skills and experience enabled him to prevail.
The thrilling Navarrete fight occurred at the Glendale Desert Diamond Arena, which will also be the venue for the Valdez-Wilson super-featherweight bout, set for 12 rounds on Friday night (March 29).
Wilson, with a record of 13 wins and 2 losses, has recently won two 10-round matches in Australia. However, it should be noted that his opponents, Carlos Maria Alanis and Jackson Jon England, were not considered strong competition. Nevertheless, these victories have helped Wilson regain his winning mentality. On the other hand, Valdez enters this match coming off a defeat against Navarrete. In their intense fight last August, Navarrete clearly outscored Valdez over 12 rounds. Although Valdez managed to outpoint Adam Lopez in May, his confidence may have been affected by his comprehensive loss to Shakur Stevenson in 2022. This, along with his recent defeat, could potentially impact Valdez’s self-assurance, considering he was once a holder of the WBC belt.
Valdez’s ideal match appears to be Wilson. With a record of 31-2 (23), the Mexican fighter is highly unlikely to be outmatched in terms of boxing skills by Wilson. Additionally, Valdez’s durability makes it highly unlikely for him to be knocked out. Valdez will surely embrace Wilson’s aggressive fighting style, and in a high-intensity battle, there is no doubt that Valdez will come out on top as the victor.
The battle for the strawweight belts is set to be intense as Seniesa Estrada, hailing from Los Angeles with an undefeated record of 25-0 (9), defends her WBA and WBC titles against Yokasta Valle, originally from Nicaragua but representing Costa Rica, who holds the IBF and WBO titles with a record of 30-2 (9).
Valle’s stock has significantly increased following consecutive losses in 2017-18, all thanks to an impressive winning streak of 17 fights. Furthermore, she managed to secure two championship belts during a single bout in the light-flyweight division in 2022.
Estrada, who has claimed titles in two weight divisions, is expected to be the frontrunner in the upcoming match. However, Valle has been consistently improving and her relentless pressure-based approach surpasses the opponents Estrada has effortlessly outboxed in the past few years. Anticipate a closely contested fight with a potential close decision.
