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Jose Valenzuela has revenge on his mind when he fights Edwin De Los Santos on Sunday night, live on Sky Sports.
He is determined to overturn his 2022 loss to De Los Santos and prove himself as a future opponent for American star Shakur Stevenson.
After the retirement of Terence Crawford, Stevenson was considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in America. That’s why he’s an attractive target for Valenzuela.
“I can’t help but think of Shakur Stevenson. He’s a guy I’ve always wanted to fight, he’s a hell of a fighter,” Valenzuela said. Sky Sports.
“I want to fight Shakur Stevenson. It’s a fight that really moves me.
“That’s what boxing is all about. Competing with each other,” he continued. “Styles fight and I think I’m a perfect style for Shakur Stevenson.”
His immediate goal is proving himself in his rematch with De Los Santos on Sunday night at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.
He sees it as a second chance to “make things right” after losing their first fight by knockout. De Los Santos is the only opponent who has stopped Valenzuela the distance.
Edwin De Los Santos (left) confronts Valenzuela after making weight in Las Vegas
“I’m ready for it now,” Valenzuela said. “I was green and immature.
“I believe I’m better than him. The day we fought I wasn’t as prepared as I should have been.”
That setback, his first professional loss, he is sure, changed him.
“Maybe it got in my head a little bit. I was on a knockout streak. But it was a great humbling experience. I believe God woke me up before it was too late,” reflected Valenzuela.
“After that I took another loss, two losses back to back. I went on a losing streak, had to come back again, knocked out (Chris) Colbert. Then became the world champion.”
His victory over Isaac Cruz, to win a WBA super-lightweight title, showed the level at which he is capable of succeeding. A subsequent loss to Gary Antoine Russell saw him return to the 135lbs division.
De Los Santos wanted that fight, though. “Losing with Gary and finally learning a lot from him. Becoming a man,” Valenzuela said. “I’m in a place now where I can just focus on boxing and my family.
“It’s going to be totally different. I’m a total warrior.”
That should show him. Regarding potentially beating De Los Santos, Valenzuela reflected: “It proves to me that I am what I say I am.
“You can lose, you can learn and you can evolve, you can bounce back and you can be better. Losing doesn’t define you. If anything, it will help you.”
Watch Edwin De Los Santos vs Jose Valenzuela live Sky Sports Action Sunday from 9.30 p.m
