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Oscar Valdez to defend WBO Featherweight Title in Tucson

Posted at 7:18 PM, Sep 19, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-19 22:18:25-04

Oscar Valdez will put his 22-0 record and WBO Featherweight title on the line Friday against Genesis Servania.

Valdez, who grew up in both Tucson and Nogales, Sonora, will fight in Tucson for the second time, but the first since becoming a champion last year.

"I told my family and my friends that I was going to bring a world title to them one day," said Valdez. "Now, I have the chance to bring my title here to defend it here. I'm going to do it with nothing but honor and do my best to keep the belt with me."

Sports will mix with politics. Valdez comes from a large family, some of whom are in fear of being deported with an end to DACA. Top Rank Boxing, the company promoting the fight, will donate five hundred tickets to "Dreamers in Arizona."

"Top Rank wants to make it clear that we stand in solidarity with the Dreamers," said Top Rank Boxing promoter Bob Arum. "We are ashamed of the way they are being treated by the administration in Washington. Americans are way better than this."

"It brings me more motivation to put up a good fight," said Valdez. "I want to show the dreamers that if I have any message towards them, it's 'Lets keep on fighting, lets keep on proving to this president that we come to this country to do good things. We're no rapists or drug lords. We want a better life than we had in other countries.'"