Two world championship belts and a 47-0 aggregate record. The battle for supremacy for lightweight versions is almost here. WBC Champion Oscar Valdez (30-0, 23 KOs) will take on WBO King Shakur Stevenson (17-0, 9 KOs) this Saturday, April 30, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
(Allowed: Mikey Williams / Top Rated)
The nasty opponents will compete to be the division’s first unified champion since 2005, and the winner will become Ring Magazine’s first lightweight champion since Manny Pacquiao in the year. 2008.
Valdez, from Nogales, Mexico, is a two-division world champion who defended his featherweight WBO crown the same night Stevenson turned pro in April 2017. Stevenson, also the king of two. ranking, is having a knockout championship win. Jamel “Semper Fi” Herring.
Valdez-Stevenson, the eight-round lightweight bronze medal match between US Olympic silver medalists Keyshawn Davis and Esteban Sanchez, and the four-round middleweight special Nico Ali Walsh-Alejandro Ibarra will be broadcast. live on ESPNESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
Four days on from the night of the fight, here’s what Valdez and Stevenson have to say.
Oscar Valdez
“Although I had a very difficult challenge against Miguel Berchelt, it was the hardest and biggest match of my career because Shakur has been talking for quite some time. Come here.
The odds are against me, and everyone thinks he’s going to beat me, but just like against Berchelt, I’ll take that as motivation.
I know I have an uphill battle ahead of me, but this is not something I haven’t done before. I’ve been working really hard in the gym, and as always, I’m going to give it my all and let it all be in the ring. Like we say in Mexico, I’m willing to die on the pitch just to win. That’s all that matters to me.”
“He’s the type of fighter that talks a lot and is always talking on social media, but I’m not like that. I let my fists talk.
He’s the kind of warrior who isn’t ready for battle. I’m the type of fighter who always wants to give the fans what they want. Since he is not willing to give the fans what they want, this will be more of a chess match.
It will be a more technical fight. The smartest warrior inside the ring will win. For this kind of challenge, I prepared very well physically, but more importantly mentally.”
“Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed of being the main event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. It just sounds beautiful. Looks like you made it. This is a big tournament. I am very excited.
I am enjoying every moment. I am enjoying this wonderful journey. When I win this fight, I’ll be one step closer to being on the balance sheet, and more importantly, I’ll be one step closer to fulfilling my dream of being considered one of the best boxers. in the history of Mexican boxing.
I want my name to be among all these great Mexican warriors, like Morales, Barrera, Marquez and Chavez. For that to happen, I need to win this war.”
Shakur Stevenson
“We went back to Las Vegas for training camp, and things are going very well. My grandfather and my team have made me look and feel super sharp, and everyone will see the results of all this hard work on April 30.”
Start the war against Valdez
“This war has lasted three years. Everyone knows I’ve been wanting to fight Oscar Valdez since 2019 when he vacated the belt at 126 instead of fighting me.
He avoids me for as long as possible, but now is the perfect time for this fight and fans are waiting for a show when we finally enter the ring. ”
Merge titles
“I am the best 130-pound boxer in the world, and I will prove it when I beat Oscar Valdez and become the unified champion. However, I will not stop there. I want to be the undisputed champion at 130, and beating Oscar Valdez is the next step.”
A superstar will be born on April 30
“The world has yet to witness everything Shakur Stevenson can do in the boxing ring. I’m boxing’s next superstar, and my performance on April 30 will prove it. Come to the MGM Grand or tune in on ESPN because you don’t want to miss the game. “
Exclusive Valdez-Stevenson content will be available on the Top Rated YouTube Channel throughout the week. Here’s the original content update before the night of the fight:
- Blood, Sweat, and Tears: Valdez vs. Stevenson – Part 1 and Part 2 – is an in-depth look at both boxers’ training camp and their journey to this historic bout.
- Talk That Talk, hosted by Crystina Poncher, was the first one-on-one interview featuring both Valdez and Stevenson.
- Valdez, Stevenson, Davis and Ali Walsh participated in a press call Monday. Click here to see what the fighter has to say.
Battle week schedule
Thursday, April 28: Main Event Valdez vs. Stevenson and Undercard Press Conference
4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT
Valdez vs Stevenson
Davis vs Sanchez
Ali Walsh vs Ibarra
Stream on ESPN+ and Top Rated YouTube/Twitter pages
Friday, April 29: Valdez vs. Stevenson Scales
4:40 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. PT
Underweight fighters, live on Top Rated YouTube/Twitter pages
5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT
Max on Boxing Live Weigh-In Show (ESPN2) features the main fighters as they step on the scale
Weights at the MGM Grand Garden Arena are free and open to the public.
Saturday, April 30: Valdez vs. Stevenson
Main broadcast
10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Live on ESPNESPN Deportes and ESPN+
Broadcast under the card
6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT
Streaming online live and exclusive on ESPN+
Promoted by Top Rated, ticket Currently on sale and can be purchased by visiting AXS.com.
