WBC super featherweight champion Oscar Valdez 29-0 (23) has put a turbulent week behind him following his positive drug test for the banned substance Phentermine.
It was claimed the trace amount of the weight loss drug was inadvertently ingested in herbal tea that the 30-year-old Mexican had added to his diet.
The Pascua Yaqui Tribal Gaming Commission voted to allow his fight to proceed against 32-year-old Brazilian Robson ‘Nino’ Conceicao 16-0 (8) at the Casino Del Sol in Tucson, Arizona on Friday night.
“I feel blessed that I get the chance to step in the ring on September 10. I’m very grateful to Top Rank, the Pascua Yaqui [Tribal Gaming Commission] for letting this fight proceed, and I’ve just been very concentrated,” Valdez said.
“Coming here to my second home in Tucson means a lot to me. People know my last two fights were without a crowd due to Covid and what better way to come back as a champion than in front of my people with all of Sonora and Arizona here? I’m just excited.
“I’ve been very focused on not looking at anything negative out there. It has been a little difficult — I can’t lie — but this is what we have to go through. This is what it’s going to be.
“This is when you realize who the real people are around you, who are loyal to you and got your back. I realize that my family is number one and also my team. I have to thank everyone on my team, my manager Frank Espinoza and my trainer Eddy Reynoso.
“My father has always been there with me. Just everyone who has been around supporting me during these tough times because it has been difficult. They had my back, and we know we did nothing wrong. We’re going to be real concentrated for this fight.”
Valdez will be making the first defence of the 130-pound crown her won against countryman Miguel ‘El Alacran’ Berchelt 38-2 (24) by 10th round knockout in Las Vegas in February.
Conceicao is a familiar foe for Valdez. They met in the amateurs.
“It was a back-and-forth fight, but I lost,” Valdez said. “I always took my losses very seriously. Everybody hates losing and I’m one of them. I’m a sore loser.
“Now that I get the chance to fight him as a professional, I’m taking this fight very seriously like all the fights.
“I’m defending my title and I’m going to do whatever it takes and whatever I got to defend my title and avenge my loss.”
Conceicao recalls a tough fight against two-time Olympian Valdez, who won his first world title at featherweight when he claimed the vacant WBO belt five years ago.
“When I fought him it was a tough fight,” Conceicao said. “I fought him and the crowd and it motivated me a lot and made me happy. Here we have the same thing. I fight against two opponents, him and the crowd… and I will be the winner.
“This is a very important moment for me, the most important moment in my life. I’m happy I’m here and not alone. I’m here for the Brazilian crowd, for my family, my team, and we’ll be great.
“About the problem with the champion, what is done is done. There is no explanation, but I’m here to do my best and fight the greatest fight of my life.”
