{"id":58936,"date":"2021-09-08T16:39:09","date_gmt":"2021-09-08T21:39:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/?p=58936"},"modified":"2021-09-08T18:24:19","modified_gmt":"2021-09-08T23:24:19","slug":"valdez-and-conceicao-face-to-face","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/valdez-and-conceicao-face-to-face\/","title":{"rendered":"Valdez and Conceicao face to face"},"content":{"rendered":"

Valdez and Conceicao face to face<\/strong><\/h2>\n

WBC super featherweight world champion Oscar Valdez, born in Nogales, Mexico and raised in Tucson, Arizona, is ready for his sold-out homecoming. Valdez authored a Knockout of the Year contender over Miguel Berchelt in February and will attempt to successfully defend his title for the first time against unbeaten Brazilian Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceicao (16-0, 8 KOs) on Friday evening at the AVA Amphitheater at Casino Del Sol in Tucson. Conceicao defeated Valdez by one point in the finals of the 2009 Pan American Games, so the amateur rivals have a professional score to settle.<\/p>\n

At Wednesday’s final press conference, this is what the combatants had to say.<\/p>\n

Oscar Valdez<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI feel blessed that I get the chance to step in the ring on September 10. I\u2019m very grateful to Top Rank, the Pascua Yaqui {Tribal Gaming Commission} for letting this fight proceed, and I\u2019ve just been very concentrated. Coming here to my second home in Tucson means a lot to me. People know my last two fights were without a crowd due to COVID and what better way to come back as a champion than in front of my people with all of Sonora and Arizona here? I\u2019m just excited. I\u2019ve been very focused on not looking at anything negative out there. It has been a little difficult \u2014 I can\u2019t lie \u2014 but this is what we have to go through. This is what it\u2019s going to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is when you realize who the real people are around you, who are loyal to you and got your back. I realize that my family is number one and also my team. I have to thank everyone on my team, {including} my manager, Frank Espinoza, and my trainer, Eddy Reynoso. My father has always been there with me. Just everyone who has been around supporting me during these tough times because it has been difficult. They had my back, and we know we did nothing wrong. We\u2019re going to be real concentrated for this fight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c{Our amateur bout} was a back-and-forth fight, but I lost. I always took my losses very seriously. Everybody hates losing, and I\u2019m one of them. I\u2019m a sore loser. Now that I get the chance to fight him as a professional, I\u2019m taking this fight very seriously like all the fights. I\u2019m defending my title, and I\u2019m going to do whatever it takes and whatever I got to defend my title and avenge my loss.\u201d<\/p>\n

Robson Conceicao<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I fought him {as an amateur}, it was a tough fight. I fought him and the crowd, and it motivated me a lot and made me happy. Here we have the same thing. I fight against two opponents, him and the crowd\u2026 and I will be the winner.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a very important moment for me, the most important moment in my life. I\u2019m happy I\u2019m here and not alone. I\u2019m here for the Brazilian crowd, for my family, my team, and we\u2019ll be great.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAbout the problem with the champion, what is done is done. There is no explanation, but I\u2019m here to do my best and fight the greatest fight of my life.\u201d
\nValdez-Concei\u00e7\u00e3o and Flores-Lopez will stream live and exclusively Friday on ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET\/7p.m. PT.<\/p>\n