OSCAR VALDEZ had his second bout up at super-featherweight, after vacating the WBO featherweight world 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 becoming a two weight champion. “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 all-Mexican 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 his WBO super-bantamweight title to Emanuel Navarrete. 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.
