Oscar Valdez: ‘Shakur Stevenson is very good in combat but he’s better on social media’

Published on 02/20/2022

By: Hans Themistos

Shakur Stevenson did his best to sting, antagonize and annoy Oscar Valdez.

The 24-year-old New Jersey native has been eyeing a showdown against Valdez since the two men competed at 126 pounds. At one point, Stevenson worked his way up to the top spot in the WBO sanctioning body to challenge Valdez for his crown.

Although he had risen through the ranks, Valdez opted to give up his featherweight title to face WBC 130-pound champion Miguel Berchelt. Along the way, Stevenson continually berated Valdez and urged the Mexican star to get in the ring with him.

Even now, as the pair officially agree to face off on April 30, at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada, Stevenson’s trash talk hasn’t quieted down. When given the opportunity to yell and yell at the former Olympic silver medalist, Valdez simply refused. While the Mexican product respects everything Stevenson has accomplished inside the ring, he is not in love with his boxing ability. In fact, Valdez thinks Stevenson’s skill set is far behind what he does best.

“We know Shakur Stevenson is very good in combat,” Valdez said recently. “But he is even better on social media. I will let my fists speak for themselves.

After Berchelt was brutalized to snag his WBC crown, Valdez went on to defend said title against Robson Conceicao, earning a close but controversial unanimous decision.

Stevenson, on the other hand, truncated former Marine Jamel Herring’s world title reign. Stevenson proved he was more than just a boxer, racking up the points and causing notable damage before referee Mark Nelson was forced to intervene.

In the minds of many, Stevenson is the complete package. He is rarely, if ever, clubbed and slowly growing into his man body. Still, whatever superlative words are often used to describe him, Valdez has an agenda on April 30.

“I want to make it clear that I’m the best 130-pound fighter in the world.”

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