GUNNING FOR BERCHELT
Oscar Valdez takes out Velez and looks to become a two-weight belt-holder
OSCAR VALDEZ had his second bout up at super-featherweight, after vacating the WBO featherweight title, in Top Rank’s ‘Bubble’ on Tuesday (July 21).
He handily forced a stoppage against Jayson Velez (130lbs) in their 10th and final round. A vicious left hook provided his first knockdown and Valdez (129¾lbs) dropped his prey twice more in the closing minutes of the fight. A left sent Velez to the canvas a second time only for a blasting Valdez right to propel the Puerto Rican off his feet and have referee Tony Weeks wave it off at 2-23. Velez had never been stopped before.
Now Valdez is looking to become a two-weight titlist. “I gave my best and now we can move on to better things. We’re going for that world title, trying to get that world title back home. Going for the WBC world title,” he said.
Valdez’s countrymen Miguel Berchelt is the holder of that belt and an allmexican showdown for the WBC crown is an appealing prospect.
On the same bill London-based Ghanaian Isaac Dogboe boxed for the first time since losing a rematch with Emanuel Navarrete 14 months ago. He moved up to 126lbs and halted Chris Avalos (125¾lbs), a former Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz challenger, inside eight rounds, leaving him shaking with a final right hook. Referee Russel Mora spared him further punishment at 2-25.
Dogboe has been working with new trainer Barry Hunter and is off to a good start.
On Friday (July 24) Vergil Ortiz led the return of Golden Boy Promotions, headlining their first show back amid the coronavirus pandemic at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California. Ortiz advanced to a promising 16-0 (16) as he stopped Samuel Vargas at 2-58 of the seventh round.
On the undercard Seniesa Estrada took just seven seconds to knockout Miranda Adkins in a horrendous mismatch that should not have been allowed to take place.