Oscar Valdez targets title fight with Miguel Berchelt

Former featherweight titleholder Oscar Valdez (27-0, 21 KOs) already has one particular name in mind for the fight he wants next, and that’s a shot at WBC super featherweight champion Miguel Berchelt (37-1, 33 KOs). Valdez decided to move up to 130lbs last fall and has since been installed as Berchelt’s mandatory challenger — a fight Valdez fully intends to pursue as he looks to recapture another major world title.

“The fight hasn’t been announced yet, but it’s a mandatory fight. The fight has to happen. I think, on our side, we’re ready to sign the contract because I’m going for my dream. I want that belt. We want to make it official, and I was already training for that fight. Right now, we just gotta train back home. It is what it is.”

Valdez, 29, would continue by saying he has no plans on moving up in weight again anytime soon and that he’d also love a fight against Shakur Stevenson at some point once Stevenson makes the move to 130. Valdez rates Stevenson as a good fighter but says Berchelt is currently the tougher opponent at this point, which is exactly what he wants.

That’s probably not all that surprising as Valdez is known for a penchant to war with his opponents — which has taken some physical tolls on him — but he remains undefeated and has since tried to tailor his style by making a trainer change to Eddy Reynoso, who’s of course most popular for serving as Canelo Alvarez’s lead trainer.

Let’s see if this Berchelt-Valdez fight gains any traction as major promoters start looking to resume their boxing operations over the summer.