MINALIIT ni WBO featherweight champion Oscar Valdez ng Mexico ang kakayahan ng walang ring talong Filipino challenger na si WBO No. 4 Genesis Servania na makakasagupa niya sa Linggo sa Tucson Convention Center sa Tucson, Arizona sa Estados Unidos.

Liyamado si Valdez na nangakong patutulugin si Servania na napanood niya ang mga laban sa video tape kaya batid niya ang kahinaan ng Pinoy boxer.

“I am ready for this fight I am facing Genesis Servania, a tough Filipino fighter who is ranked fourth in the WBO. We are pretty excited for this and try to give it our best,” sabi ni Valdez sa Fightnews.com.

Unang lumaban sa Arizona si Valdez noong hindi pa siya world champion nang mapatigil niya sa 3rd round ang Pilipino ring si Ernie Sanchez kaya itinuring niyang ikalawang tahanan ang estadong malapit sa kanyang bayan sa Mexico.

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“It’s going to be great fighting at home. I promised my people that I will one day bring a belt back and now I am doing it I am really excited for that,” sabi ni Valdez hinggil sa labang ipalalabas ng ESPN sa buong mundo. “I expect both sides of the border to be there, especially my hometown Nogales, people from Hermosillo, Sonora, Phoenix. I am really excited for that and ready to put on a good show.”

Ngunit, hindi rin magkukumpiyansa si Valdez dahil batid niyang malakas sumuntok si Servania na noong 2012 pa regional champion ng WBO sa super bantamweight division.

“He’s a strong fighter. I’ve seen him fight before. He has knockout power and has the Filipino style throwing punches from different angles and all over the place but it’s nothing new to me. I’ve faced different styles in the amateurs,” sambit ni Valdez. “It has been a great year for me. Now the opportunity to be on ESPN, this will bring me more fights.”

May rekord si Valdez na perpektong 22 panalo, 19 sa knockouts samantalang may kartada si Servania na 29 panalo, 12 sa knockouts. - Gilbert Espeña