After possibly being robbed of a world title against a Mexican in Arizona last year, Liam Wilson returns to the scene of the crime to face Oscar Valdez, the former two-pision champion from Mexico.
There was a questionably long count between the action-packed Australian and winning the WBO super featherweight title against Emmanuel Navarrete in Glendale last February, and Wilson was finally stopped in the ninth round.
Since then, the Queenslander has won two consecutive fights to once again compete for the world title, but standing in his way is Valdez, a 31-2 fighter, who is coming off a decision loss to Navarrete.
Wilson has earned a reputation as a hard-hitting and determined fighter, and matchups with guys like Navarrete and Valdez will only enhance that reputation.
“I always dreamed of being in these kinds of fights,” Wilson said. Sport News.
“When they introduced me to the fight I thought, ‘Yeah, I can’t wait for that one.’ I know it’s going to be a classic.
“I have admired all the great Mexicans, [Marco Antonio] barrier, [Erik] Morales, [Juan Manuel] Marquez, and in a sense, I’m fighting the modern version of them, Navarrete, now Valdez and I feel privileged to be there with these guys.
“When I say that, I’m not there to crunch numbers and just compete, I’m there to win… and I’m very confident that I’ll get the win on March 29.”
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In preparation for the fight, Wilson spent several weeks in Las Vegas, training and sparring with high-quality partners.
Such is his concentration that his 28th birthday almost came and went without warning.
“It didn’t really feel like a birthday. “I have been here training very hard, I have no family around me to remind me that it is my birthday,” she said.
“To be honest, I didn’t even know my birthday was coming up.
“I got an email from a gym that said, ‘Happy birthday, Liam.’
“I thought, ‘Fuck, it’s my birthday.’ “I’m focused here and just focused on fight night.”
TRADE: Everlast, choice of championsCheck out the entire boxing range here
After Wilson’s last fight, a narrow decision win over Jackson England in Sydney in December, he raised a possible fight with former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos.
While Kambosos is currently busy preparing for a blockbuster IBF lightweight title clash with Vasiliy Lomachenko in Perth on May 12, Wilson confirmed he would still be interested in jumping up a pision to face the Sydneysider.
“I definitely have the size to move up to lightweight when I need to,” Wilson said.
“I’m pretty big for this weight. I would like to promote for the right fight, I am not going to promote for the sake of it.
“That is [a Kambosos fight] The reason I would probably move up is because it’s a fight I would definitely move up to lightweight for.
“I think it makes sense, by the time he fights Valdez, he would have a pretty good resume, he too, he is a former world champion.
“I think Australia deserves a showdown between all Australians.
“We are in a separate pision, I already said that I am happy to be promoted.
“To the Australian public, I’m a real fighter, I know you definitely are, let’s make it happen. After this fight, after his fight with Lomachenko, let’s get to work.”
TRADE: Everlast, choice of championsCheck out the entire boxing range here
