PHOENIX — Oscar Valdez hears the talk. Reads the headlines.
Win or retire.
That’s the message from pundits and social media just days before he faces Emanuel Navarrete for a second time Saturday night at Footprint Center.
But don’t expect a retirement party, Valdez says. At least, not one on his behalf.
He’s got other plans, if not options.
“No-no, it’s win-or-win for me,’’ Valdez said after signing autographs and talking to kids at Hard Knocks Gym Wednesday in north Phoenix. “Retirement is not in my mind, because I’m already a very optimistic person. Very positive thinker.
“There’s no reason to think retirement. The moment you start thinking retirement, you should retire. That shouldn’t be in your mind. In my mind right now, I love this sport way too much.
“I love it way more than my opponent does. I bet you he doesn’t love it the way I do.’’
Navarrete, the World Boxing Organization’s defending junior-lightweight champion, has delivered a couple of mixed performances, one before and one after he scored a punishing decision over Valdez in their first fight on a hot desert night in August 2023 at Desert Diamond Arena in nearby Glendale.
First, Navarrete struggled against Australian Liam Wilson. It was controversial. Navarrete won a ninth-round stoppage, but had to get up off the canvas to do so. Wilson knocked him down in the fourth round. Clearly hurt, Navarrete spit out his mouth piece and got a long count from the referee. Wilson’s corner argued that the count allowed Navarrete to recover and eventually win.
Wilson’s management threatened a formal protest, but never filed one with the Arizona State Boxing & MMA Commission.
Valdez proceeded to beat Wilson, also at Desert Diamond. This one wasn’t controversial. It was a dominant performance from Valdez, who scored a seventh-round TKO. Wilson never had a chance, raising questions about Navarrete’s readiness against the unknown Aussie. Did he overlook him?
Then, Navarrete struggled in his last outing, this time in a bid to win a fourth division title at lightweight against Ukrainian Denys Berinchyk on May 18 in San Diego. Navarrete delivered a sluggish performance, losing a split-decision that prompted his return to 130 pounds for this title defense on ESPN in Saturday’s rematch against Valdez at the Phoenix Suns’ home arena.
Valdez suggested Wednesday that Navarrete is the fighter with retirement on his mind.
“He’s openly said it — it’s not me saying it — he says one or two more fights and he wants to retire,’’ said Valdez, who will be 34 years old on Dec. 22. “He does have retirement in his mindset.’’
But, first, Navarrete gets a second shot at Valdez, who lost badly and painfully more than a year ago. On the scorecards, it was all Navarrete — 116-112, 118-110, 119-109. In this one, there was no doubt about Navarrete’s readiness.
His long, many-angled punches landed repeatedly, leaving Valdez with a busted-up eye, which sustained a fracture to the orbital bone. Valdez, who is making a third straight appearance in the Phoenix area, was applauded by his many fans from Arizona and hometown Nogales in Mexico’s northern Sonora. But they also saw the eye and prayed for him.
For Valdez, the self-proclaimed optimist, a second chance against the erratic, yet dangerous Navarrete is an opportunity he couldn’t foresee when he left the ring — his face awash in tears and blood — 16 months ago.
“No, it was just too one-sided,’’ Valdez said. “I have to be honest. But it wasn’t my night. I still feel I’m the better fighter. Outside of the ring, I have only great respect for Navarrete. In the ring, we’ll try to tear each other’s head off. I didn’t think this would happen. But getting this chance to avenge my loss means everything – everything in the world to me.’’
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