By Norm Frauenheim –
LAS VEGAS – The odds aren’t with Oscar Valdez Jr. But the crowd might be.
Valdez, a 7-to-1 underdog Saturday night against Shakur Stevenson at the MGM Grand, was the fan favorite at the weigh-in Friday.
The noise was off the scale, all for Valdez, who was at 129.6 pounds. The boos were for the heavily-favored Stevenson, who was at 130, the junior-lightweight limit.
Most of the hostility directed at Stevenson (17-0, 9 KOs) appeared to come from a few thousand fans who made the seven-and-a-half-hour trip to Las Vegas from Nogales, Valdez hometown on the Mexican side of the border south of Tucson.
Stevenson smiled at the crowd and then at Valdez, as if to say the cheers were in vain. Stevenson, of Newark, has long said that Valdez has no chance.
“I’m a dominant fighter,’’ Stevenson said a few days before the weigh-in. “I don’t know how much better I can get. But I’m going to find out.
“After this fight, I should be a big star.’’
First, however, he’ll have to get through Valdez (30-0, 23 KOs), who has fought through more adversity than many fighters ever see.
It’s Valdez’ proven resilience in the face of adversity that makes this fight (ESPN 10 pm/7 pm PT) for two pieces of the 130-pound title so intriguing.
Within the ropes, Stevenson has never encountered any of what Valdez has conquered. In part, that’s why Stevenson says he doesn’t know how much better he can be. The question and Stevenson’s projected stardom hinges on how he reacts to the adversity Valdez is expected to deliver.
On fight’s eve, at least, Stevenson appeared to be the more relaxed fighter. After they stepped off the scale, the fighters posed for the camera in the ritual stare down. Valdez didn’t blink. Didn’t smile either.
Stevenson returned the stare. He also smiled. But it wasn’t the child-like grin that was there for a couple of years after he won a silver medal at the 2016 Brazil Olympics. The innocence was gone, replaced by an edge that promised violence.
Valdez held the stare for a couple of long seconds. Then, he turned away, looked up at the crowd and gestured at his vocal fans with an upraised fist. Stevenson stepped forward and smiled some more, this time dismissively.
Valdez said nothing.
There was nothing else to say.
At least not until opening bell.
