HOMECOMING HERO
Valdez set to shine in Arizona, writes Daniel Herbert
OSCAR VALDEZ gets a homecoming fight and a bill-topping showcase when he defends his WBO featherweight title against Genesis Servania at Tucson Arena in Arizona tomorrow (Friday, September 22).
Top Rank promotes as part of its new deal with ESPN, which televises in the US. This should produce a higher profile for a fighter who won his title last year on the undercard of a Las Vegas fight involving Top Rank promotional stablemate Terence Crawford (against Viktor Postol).
“Being able to reach a huge audience and showcase my boxing skills is extremely important for my career,” recognised Valdez, who was born in Nogales, Mexico but has deep roots in Tucson.
“Servania is tough and undefeated, which is a dangerous combination. I’m not underestimating him and will be ready for his best. I prepare like I’m fighting the best of the best every time out.”
That’s sensible, given the qualities of the challenger, who is from the Philippines but who for the last couple of years has boxed out of the Kashimi Boxing Gym in Kanazawa, Japan. Servania boasts a fine left hook and holds the WBC Asia Pacific 126lb belt, having previously held that accolade at super-bantam (plus the WBO’S Intercontinental 122lb bauble).
But while Genesis turned pro at 17, Valdez followed a different path – an unusual one for a Mexican – as he attended two Olympic Games and didn’t punch for pay until he was almost 22.
Top Rank brought him along steadily, making a move in 2016 when Oscar hammered former IBF champ Evgeny Gradovich (rsf 4) and then won the vacant WBO crown with a secondround demolition of Matias Rueda. The Argentinian was 26-0 but Valdez wiped him out inside two brutal rounds, hurting him with a right in the first then dropping him twice in round two, the last time with a left to the body.
That sort of versatility should serve Valdez well in this, his third defence. True, last time out in April the local was taken the distance by Colombia’s Miguel Marriaga, who has since lost in seven rounds to brilliant Vasyl Lomachenko (up at 130lbs). But Valdez should certainly punch hard enough to see off the relatively untested Servania, retaining in about eight rounds.
Another world title 12-rounder on the show sees Mexico’s WBO supermiddleweight champion Gilberto Ramirez, 35-0 (24), defend against Philadelphian Jesse Hart, 22-0 (18).
Southpaw Ramirez won his crown with a wide decision over German veteran Arthur Abraham in April 2016 but was then kept out of the ring for a year with a hand injury. He outscored Ukraine’s Max Bursak to prove his fitness and now looks to kick on in what may well be his toughest test.
Hart is the son of famed 1970s Philadelphia middleweight contender Eugene “Cyclone” Hart, who trains him – and has obviously passed on some useful tips, given how Jesse has won nine of his last 10 inside the distance.
“I am going to be pitching some heat onto Ramirez,” declared the challenger. “Don’t tell me how tough he is. He hasn’t had a knockout in years.”
Maybe, but Ramirez has mixed in higher class and, assuming his hand holds up, he is the pick to retain on points, although there may be fireworks along the way.
Belfast super-bantam starlet Michael Conlan, being kept busy by his promoters Top Rank, is in six-round action against a fellow 3-0 fighter in Kenny Guzman from Kalispell, Montana. Former World amateur champion Conlan can use his much superior skills to make it four wins inside the limit.
THE VERDICT Valdez expects to take his career forward another step.