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Liam Wilson is eager to claim his spot among the top fighters in the junior lightweight division.
Wilson, a former world title challenger from Australia, will take on former two-division titleholder Oscar Valdez on Friday at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
The 12-round bout will headline a card promoted by Top Rank, in association with No Limit Boxing, streaming live on ESPN+ in the U.S. In the co-feature, Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada will take on Yokasta Valle to decide the undisputed minimumweight championship.
Wilson (13-2, 7 KOs) is a five-year pro who made his U.S. debut by nearly upsetting Emanuel Navarrete in a bid for a vacant junior lightweight title at Desert Diamond Arena last February. Wilson, 28, stunned Navarrete with a left hook and floored him with a flurry of punches in the fourth before eventually being stopped in the ninth.
Wilson bounced back after the Navarrete loss with victories over Carlos Alanis in August and Jackson Jon England in December.
“I’ve had two fights since the Navarrete fight. I feel much more prepared this time around,” Wilson said. “I’m going back to the same place. I’m much more familiar with the whole atmosphere there. I’m really looking forward to March 29.”
Valdez (31-2, 23 KOs), a two-time Mexican Olympian, is set to return following an August defeat against Navarrete at the same venue. Wilson said it’s hard to predict which Valdez he’ll get come fight night.
“In the past, he’s shown that he likes to go in there and brawl,” Wilson said. “But he’s also been boxing and moving more in his last couple fights. So I’m not too sure what to expect from him, but I’m ready for anything.
“I think he’s going to want to prove himself in this fight. He wants to show that he still has what it takes to be a world champion. So, while I’m not sure what to expect, I know he is well-rounded. You don’t become a two-division world champion by being one-dimensional.”
Wilson says he’ll be prepared for whatever styles Valdez brings to the ring on Friday.
“He has been in a lot of wars. I have that tendency as well,” Wilson said. “If a fight gets rough, I get dragged into it. So, I’m ready for anything. I’m going to use my abilities. I’m going to stick to my game plan. But I’m also ready for a war.”