WBO Featherweight Titlist Oscar Valdez Reloads

WBO featherweight titlist Oscar Valdez returns after a year due to injury and he’s reloaded with a new training team.

But will he be fully loaded?

Valdez (24-0, 19 KOs) faces his first test when he meets undefeated Carmine Tommasone (19-0) at the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, Texas on Saturday Feb. 2. The Top Rank card will be televised by ESPN.

Nearly 11 months have passed since Valdez engaged in a brutal slugfest with a vastly overweight Scott Quigg in an outdoor arena. It was a cold rainy day not fit for prizefighting but the show must go on.

Despite the weight differences – some say Quigg walked in as a super welterweight but it was never proven because he refused to be weighed the day of the fight – Valdez accepted the fight and the Mexican fighter emerged the winner but at a cost of a broken jaw.

Valdez spent days in the hospital just waiting to get treated and months with a wired jaw. His manager and team quickly decided a new tact and strategy was needed to keep the Mexican world champion on track.

“After looking over his last three fights I had been noticing his defense was lacking. Those fights were all tough fights. I thought it was about time to make a change. Now that Oscar is a champion it’s a perfect time to train with a different trainer like Eddy Reynoso,” said Frank Espinoza who manages Valdez. “It was my idea but at the end of the day I had to consult with the team and met with Eddy and set up a meeting with Oscar and he was ready to move forward. It was my decision but I ran it by him.”

Other acclaimed Southern California-based trainers wondered why Valdez was not offered to them, but what separated Reynoso from the others was that he trains Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and a small number of fighters. It meant more time for Valdez.

“I was impressed with Canelo and I also noticed he didn’t have that many fighters. I needed somebody to devote his special time to Oscar. He was able to comply with that,” said Espinoza. “Talking to Eddy it was very easy and he was on board. He wanted to make Oscar a better fighter.”

After both parties agreed Valdez flew to Guadalajara to train with Reynoso for two weeks. Then the camp moved to San Diego. Training with Alvarez, who is regarded as the top attraction in the prizefighting world, has been eye-opening, especially after his performance at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

“The adrenaline was so crazy. He didn’t believe there are so many Mexicans in New York. You could hear everybody roaring for him. It was a real good positive feeling,” said Espinoza. “It goes to show you a lot of people follow Canelo.”

It’s been more than 17 weeks training in San Diego under the guidance of Reynoso and Team Canelo. It’s also been a new experience for Valdez and his team.

“I saw some things he was doing, more head movement, side to side, more of a thinking fighter and I think he wasn’t so in a rush,” said Espinoza about the changes in Valdez style. “That can all change when he gets hit. But I like a lot of things like when he comes off the ropes.”

Recovered

Valdez said his jaw has recovered and he’s ready to defend his world title.

“It’s been great training with Eddy. He’s not only worked on the things I’m good at, but he’s added a new element to my game. I know I can improve my defense while still being the same action fighter that fans are used to seeing,” he said.

Valdez will be facing an unbeaten Italian fighter who likes to hit and hold.

Tommasone is eager to prove he can fight.

“I’m confident in my skills, and this is an opportunity to show my skills,” said Tommasone who is based in Avellino, Italy. “Winning a title in the United States is every boxer’s dream. It would be a great opportunity.”

It’s not unnoticed by Valdez that Tommasone is unbeaten.

“He is a tough, undefeated fighter, and I know I have to be 100 percent ready. Camp has gone great, and after a long time off, I can’t wait to fight again,” Valdez said.

Before the injury to the jaw Valdez was on pace to light up the featherweight division and bring his style of Mexican boxing to the forefront. He was already a crowd-pleaser and a busy world titlist with four defenses since winning it in November 2016.

“I can’t wait to show the fans a new Oscar Valdez on Feb. 2,” said Valdez.

Reynoso, who will be in Valdez’s corner for the first time, expects good results.

“Working with a world champion and an athlete that works as hard as Oscar does is a proud moment for me to be part of that team,” said Reynoso.

It’s been a long road back for Valdez.

“It was one of the most difficult times of my life. Having my jaw wired shut for two months was the hardest thing I’ve ever dealt with. That’s in the past now. I’m ready to focus on this fight,” said Valdez. “It’s been almost a year since my last fight.”

And it’s been a year to prepare and reload.

ESPN will televise at 7 p.m. PT on Saturday

Photo credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank

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