Undefeated WBO featherweight world champion Oscar Valdez begins the third year of his championship reign by defending his title against former WBA super bantamweight world champion and current No. 2 world-rated featherweight contender Scott Quigg. For Valdez (23-0, 19 KOs), of Nogales, Mexico, this will be his fourth title defense since winning it in 2016. Quigg (34-1-2, 25 KOs), of Bury, Lancashire, England, will be making his U.S. debut, with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach in his corner.
“Oscar Valdez has passed every in-ring test with flying colors, but the biggest test of his professional career will be against Scott Quigg, who like Oscar, rarely leaves a fight in the hands of the judges,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum. “The fans are in for an exciting night.”
“I know that my world title defense against Scott Quigg will be a fun one for all the boxing fans because our styles combine perfectly to make a real war,” said Valdez, who represented México in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and was the first Mexican fighter to qualify for two Olympic games. “As usual, I will leave it all in the ring, to show everyone that I’m one of the best featherweights in the world.”
“This is a fight that I’m really looking forward to. It’s a great fight,” said Quigg, who first became a champion back in 2013. “I have a lot of respect for Oscar and his team. We’ve been in the gym together in the past, helping each other prepare for a fight. They are good people. This is a great opportunity for me — making my U.S. debut on a great platform on ESPN — and I’m confident I’ll become World champion again.”
“I’m delighted to get this fight made – I feel it’s one of the best fights in the division right now,” said Quigg’s promoter Eddie Hearn. “Both guys like to come forward and throw aggressive combinations and I do not believe we will hear the final bell. What I do believe is that on March 10 Scott Quigg will become a two-weight World Champion in a fight of the year contender.”