Undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight world champion ÓSCAR VALDEZ and undefeated No. 1 junior featherweight contender JESSIE MAGDALENO held a Media Workout on Thursday at Jack Rabbit Boxing Club in Long Beach, Calif. Both men are in deep training for their respective world championship fights which will take place as the co-features to the MANNY "Pacman" PACQUIAO - JESSIE VARGAS WBO welterweight world title fight, on Saturday, November 5, at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Valdez (21-0, 18 KOs), from Nogales, Mexico, who represented Mexico in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, was the first Mexican fighter to qualify for two Olympic games. He will be making his first title defense, against No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger Hiroshige Osawa (30-3-4, 19 KOs), from Osaka, Japan.
Not only did they look ready, they sounded ready. Here's what Valdez had to say:
Óscar Valdez
"When you are a champion there is pressure to maintain your performance and keep your world title. I am defending against a tall, rangy fighter who has more fights than me. He really has an awkward style of fighting which is challenging for me as well. However it is nothing I have not seen before. I am going to win this one for Mexico."
Manny Robles on Óscar Valdez
"Óscar is a world champion for these reasons - dedication, determination, will to win, and the desire to be the best ever.
"While training Óscar we always told him 'your next fight is your biggest ever -- your world title fight.' Now he is a world champion and he knows the real challenges of keeping the title belt.
"I've trained champions like Reggie Johnson, Martin Castillo, Israel Vasquez, Mike Anchondo and now Óscar. Those champions shared similarities in deep focus and strong desire. Óscar possesses those qualities too. I think he will become one of the greatest champions of all time."
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Promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions and Wynn Las Vegas, the Pacquiao - Vargas world welterweight championship event will be produced and distributed live by Top Rank® Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT, and will be available on all conventional platforms, including all major cable and satellite systems, as well as Top Rank's digital distribution via www.TopRank.tv and mobile devices.
Remaining tickets to the Pacquiao vs. Vargas world championship event are priced at $1,000, $700, $500, $300, $100 and $50, not including applicable service fees. They may be purchased at the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office, online at http://www.unlvtickets.com/, at UNLVtickets Outlet Town Square Las Vegas and La Bonita Supermarkets. To charge by phone call 702-739-FANS (3267) or 866-388-FANS (3267).
For fight updates go to www.pacvargas.com and www.toprank.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing or facebook.com/trboxeo, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing or twitter.com/trboxeo. Use the Hashtag #PacVargas to join the conversation on Twitter.