:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64003935/Oscar_Valdez_Mexican_flag_champion.0.jpg)
WBO featherweight champ Oscar Valdez is not long for the division. His manager, Frank Espinoza, tells ESPN Deportes that the 28-year-old wants one more fight, preferably against Carl Frampton, before making his move to super featherweight.
IBF champion Josh Warrington is “another option,” but Frampton (25-2, 15 KO) is the “priority.”
Valdez (26-0, 20 KO) successfully defended his title for the sixth time last Saturday with a unanimous decision over Jason Sanchez, his second consecutive underwhelming foe since breaking his jaw against Scott Quigg. His other title defenses came against Hiroshige Osawa, Miguel Marriaga, and Genesis Servania, making even a slightly faded Frampton arguably his greatest challenge yet.
Frampton is 1-2 against the current crop of featherweight champs, splitting a pair of bouts with Leo Santa Cruz and dropping a December unanimous decision to Warrington that snapped a three-fight winning streak. “The Jackal” formerly held the interim WBO belt and is ranked #4 by the sanctioning body behind Shakur Stevenson, Joet Gonzalez, and Jessie Magdaleno.