Former WBO featherweight champion Oscar Valdez's impending super featherweight debut is set for next January according to manager Frank Espinoza.
Speaking to Boxing Scene, Espinoza said that Valdez is going to fight on January 11, 2020 making his 130-pound debut after six title defenses of his 126-pound belt. But as Valdez kept racking up title defenses, it became clear that he was having trouble making weight and a move up to super featherweight was imminent and Espinoza said Valdez felt it was the right time to make that decision to leave the featherweights.
“Oscar is always in shape and likes to stay busy. He’s a special fighter. He didn’t necessarily leave the 126 pound division too soon. He felt that it was the right time. He grew into 130, and his body was asking for him to move up. We’re interested in fighting all of the world champions at 130,” Espinosa said.
After Valdez's most recent title defense against Jason Sanchez back in June, Valdez said he would remain at featherweight if he doesn't get big fights against the likes of Josh Warrington and Carl Frampton.
With the WBO recently ordering a fight between Valdez and Shakur Stevenson, Valdez elected to vacate his title even after Top Rank won a purse bid with a winning bid of $1.5 million. Now Valdez's title will likely be up for grabs in a matchup between Stevenson and Joet Gonzalez, the two highest-ranked available contenders by the WBO, that is still in negotiations and could take place before the end of 2019.
