Former two-weight world champion Oscar Valdez 31-1 (23) has called out WBO super featherweight champion Emmanuel Navarrete 37-1 (31) following his 10-round unanimous decision victory over Adam ‘Blunose’ Lopez 16-5 (6) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday night.
The bout took place at a catchweight of 132-pounds on the undercard of the undisputed lightweight title fight between champion Devin Haney and challenger Vasiliy Lomachenko.
The 32-year-old Mexican turned back a stern challenge from Californian Lopez, 27, who was busier and more mobile, but Valdez’s harder shots eventually won over the day.
According to CompuBox, Valdez landed 44% of his power punches. He seemed to be in control of the fight through the first five rounds, when his output dipped in rounds six through eight. Valdez came alive again in the ninth round, and was especially dominant in the 10th round where he hurt Lopez early and landed a fight-high 17 power punches.
When the dust settled judge Max DeLuca scored it 98-92, judge Benoit Roussel saw it 98-91 and judge Don Trella turned in a card of 97-93, all for Valdez.
The bout was a rematch of Valdez’s seventh-round knockout victory over Lopez in November 2019. That fight was close on the scorecards at the time of the stoppage.
It was Valdez’s first bout in a year following his world title loss to Shakur Stevenson last April.
“I was trying to be the better fighter,” Valdez said. “With someone with his speed, you can’t get too confident. I was just trying to be the better and smarter fighter.
“We all want Emmanuel Navarrete. Nothing but respect for him. He’s a great champion. The whole world wants to see that fight. Let’s make it happen now.”
On the same card lightweight contender Raymond ‘Danger’ Muratalla 18-0 (15) scored a second round knockout of Jeremia ‘Low Key’ Nakathila 23-3 (19).
A flurry of power punches in the second round saw Californian Muratalla, 26, land 10 of 20 power punches, leaving Nakathila defenceless in the corner and prompting referee Robert Hoyle to halt the bout at the 2:48 mark.
It was the first time the 33-year-old Namibian power puncher had been stopped in his 26 fight pro career.
“I was so prepared for this fight. I’ve been training for this fight. I’ve been so dedicated. I’m so focused and I’m ready for anybody,” Muratalla said.
“I think I sent a big message to the lightweight division. Nobody has ever stopped Nakathila. I just stopped him in the second round. I think that’s a huge statement.
“I want the winner of the main event. That’s who I want.”
Nakathila was coming off a 14-month layoff but his last bout was a pearler when he dominated and stopped former world champion Miguel Berchelt in six rounds in March last year.
For Muratalla, Nakathila was a step up in class but he passed the test with flying colours.
