Oscar Valdez moving up to junior lightweight, relinquish WBO title

WBO featherweight champion Oscar Valdez says that making 126lbs doesn’t quite suit him anymore, so he expects to be making the move up to 130lbs while having to relinquish his world title.

“It’s time! I’ve always wanted to become a multi-division champion,” said Valdez (26-0, 20 KOs). “I think I would feel more comfortable at that weight too. One hundred twenty-six pounds is getting harder to make after seven years as a featherweight, so I think moving to 130 pounds would make more sense.”

Valdez has successfully defended the WBO title a total of six times, with two pretty easy wins this year after his brutal battle with Scott Quigg in early 2018 where Valdez suffered a broken jaw. But with Valdez intending to take it up a weight class, he still expects to seek out the best fighters in the division.

“We’re definitely interested in jumping in against the biggest names available in that weight class. We’re ready to go up against champions Miguel Berchelt, Jamel Herring and Tevin Farmer,” Valdez said.

At this time it’s expected that Valdez will make his return to action later this year, either in October or November, and that prospects Shakur Stevenson and Joet Gonzalez will have to battle it out for his soon-to-be vacant title.