By Norm Frauenheim-
TUCSON – Outrage is off the proverbial scale. On the real scale, it is quiet. Almost dull. Controversy magnified by multiple decibels by today’s social-media megaphone could barely be heard Thursday. Oscar Valdez Jr. and Robson Conceicao made weight without debate.
That’s not to say there weren’t some momentary questions. There was guessing about whether Valdez would come in at the mandatory 130 pounds. The doubt was there, inevitable after a week full of allegations and a noisy argument about whether he should be allowed to defend his title Friday at Casino del Sol after his positive test for a stimulant.
The banned substance, phentermine, is an appetite suppressant prescribed to people, mostly obese, who are fighting to lose pounds. If Valdez couldn’t make the junior-lightweight limit, safe to say it would be interpreted as further evidence that reasons for the positive test were less than innocent.
But peace prevailed. It went as planned, not an ounce more or less. Valdez had to take off his socks after his first step on to the scale. Then, officials from the Pascua Yaqui Athletic Commission and onlookers from Conceicao’s corner had to back away from a scale affected by movement on wooden planks from those wanting a closer look.
The third try was perfect, although there were some who might have lost some cellulite while sweating out the outcome. One-hundred-thirty pounds, even. ESPN+, Casino del Sol and the World Boxing Council have a fight, despite the crowd that says they shouldn’t.
The show goes on, one that is expected to attract a capacity crowd at the Casino del Sol’s outdoor AVA Amphitheatre on a day when temperatures in southern Arizona are expected to reach 103 degrees. It’ll be hot at first bell (3:15 p.m. PT). Then again, it already has been for anybody involved or opposed to the card’s main event.
Conceicao’s manager, Sergio Batarelli, is still surprised it’s happening.
“About a week ago, I wouldn’t have believed it,’’ Batarelli said after Conceicao weighed in at 129.6 pounds. “I still don’t think it should happen. I think they should have just given the title to Robson. But that’s okay. He’ll win it anyway in the ring.’’
That would probably make many happy, especially ESPN commentator Timothy Bradley, a former welterweight champion who expressed his outrage by saying he hopes Conceicao knocks out Valdez.
A lot of ESPN commentators have said the fight should not happen. None of them, however, have gone so far as to say that their employer should pull the plug on televising the controversial bout on the network’s premium channel. All that outrage is a sign there will be more buyers for a bout that was just another title fight before news of Valdez’ positive test broke eleven days ago. But that’s another story.
For now, it a story about Valdez, a son of Sonora. He grew up in Nogales, a border town about 65 miles south of Tucson where he went to school. At home in front of family and old friends, he is fighting to defend a hell of a lot more than just another belt. His credibility, character, is at stake, both Friday and beyond whatever happens against a Brazilian Olympic gold medalist who beat him as an amateur during the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara.
Conceicao has been forgotten amid the furor surrounding Valdez (29-0, 23 KOs). But he would be a threat to Valdez, even without the controversy. He’s unbeaten (16-0, 8 KOS). He’s bigger. After the weigh-in, he looked down – perhaps in more ways than one – on Valdez during the ritual face-to-face pose for the cameras.
“He’s very motivated,’’ Batarelli said. “He’s upset at what happened.’’
A hint at Conceicao’s opinion of Valdez and the surrounding controversy was there in a somewhat cryptic remark translated by Batarelli Wednesday during a news conference.
“About the problem with the champion, what is done is done,’’ Conceicao said, according to the manager’s translation of his native Portuguese. “There is no explanation, but I’m here to do my best and fight the greatest fight of my life.”
Interpret it anyway you want, it’s a tough fight for Valdez, who has had a lot of them in a career that reached a peak in his knockout upset of feared Miguel Berchelt in his last outing.
On any scale, it might be his toughest ever.
