Two-time world champion Oscar Valdez kickstarts a world title run when he returns to action against San Antonio native Ricky “El Castigo” Medina in a 10-round junior lightweight main event on Saturday, September 6, at Domo Binacional in his hometown of Nogales in Mexico.
A two-time Olympian, 34-year-old Valdez has not fought on home soil since 2013.
“Oscar Valdez is a proud warrior, and this is a great opportunity for him to return home and prove he still has what it takes to contend at 130 pounds,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “Oscar has been with Top Rank since he turned pro, and we are in his corner as he attempts to become a three-time world champion.”
Valdez (32-3, 24 KOs) captured the WBO featherweight world title with a knockout win over Matias Rueda in 2016 and defended it six times.
He then moved up to junior lightweight, where he scored a highlight-reel KO against Miguel Berchelt in February 2021 to claim the WBC crown.
The Mexican suffered his first pro loss in an April 2022 unification showdown against undefeated American Shakur Stevenson.
He returned to form with a decision win over Adam Lopez the following May, setting up an all-Mexican clash with Emanuel Navarrete in August 2023, where Valdez dropped a unanimous decision.
Following a TKO win over Aussie Liam Wilson, he then lost the Navarrete rematch via sixth-round knockout last December and hasn’t fought yet this year.
His next opponent, Ricky Medina (16-3, 9 KOs) went 13-0 with seven knockouts before a decision loss to future world champion Raymond Ford in June 2022.
He rebounded later that year with a first-round stoppage of Steve Garagarza and outpointed Juan Antonio Lopez the following May.
Medina suffered back-to-back decision losses, first on enemy turf against SoCal native George Acosta in December 2023, then to unbeaten contender Geo Lopez last September. Medina bounced back in December by dispatching Angel Hernandez Pillado in three.
Promoted by Zanfer Boxing and Top Rank, tickets are available now via www.xticket.mx.
