Liam Wilson isn’t sure which version of Oscar Valdez will turn up to their fight
Liam Wilson is eager to claim his spot among the top fighters in the junior lightweight division.
The Australian former world title challenger will take on former two-division world champion Oscar Valdez in a special 12-round attraction this Friday, March 29 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
In the co-feature, WBC/WBA/Ring Magazine champion Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada and WBO/IBF ruler Yokasta Valle will collide in a highly anticipated showdown for the undisputed minimumweight crown.
Valdez-Wilson & Estrada-Valle headline a stacked card streaming live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+.
Wilson (13-2, 7 KOs) is a five-year pro who made his U.S. debut by nearly upsetting Emanuel Navarrete in a bid for the vacant WBO junior lightweight title at Desert Diamond Arena last February.
The 28-year-old stunned Navarrete with a left hook before flooring him with a flurry of punches in the fourth. Wilson was eventually stopped in the ninth round, but he bounced back with victories over Carlos Alanis in August and Jackson Jon England in December.
Valdez (31-2, 23 KOs), a two-time Mexican Olympian, returns following an August defeat against the aforementioned Navarrete at the same venue.
Following a recent training session in Henderson, Nevada, this is what Wilson had to say:
“I’ve had two fights since the Navarrete fight. I feel much more prepared this time around. I’m going back to the same place. I’m much more familiar with the whole atmosphere there. I’m really looking forward to March 29.”
The Queensland combatant continued, “I think he’s going to want to prove himself in this fight. He wants to show that he still has what it takes to be a world champion. So, while I’m not sure what to expect, I know he is well rounded. You don’t become a two-division world champion by being one-dimensional.
“It’s hard to predict what’s going to happen with him. In the past, he’s shown that he likes to go in there and brawl. But he’s also been boxing and moving more in his last couple fights. So, I’m not too sure what to expect from him, but I’m ready for anything.
“He has been in a lot of wars. I have that tendency as well. If a fight gets rough, I get dragged into it. So, I’m ready for anything. I’m going to use my abilities. I’m going to stick to my game plan. But I’m also ready for a war.”
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with No Limit Boxing, tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.com.