Oscar Valdez and Adam Lopez had a rematch on Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The first fight between the two boxers took place in 2019 where Valdez won but not before Lopez managed to knock him down. Valdez was looking to prove that his first fight with Lopez was a fluke, and that he is still a competitive fighter.
The Fight
The fight was scheduled for 10 rounds in the junior lightweight division. Valdez had an impressive first round, stalking his man and landing well. Lopez tried to make something happen in the second, but he didn’t seem to have the power to do much – despite having knocked Valdez down once before. Valdez seemed to have a more difficult time getting to his man throughout the round. That wasn’t the case for Valdez in the third, however, as he was able to land hard.
In the fourth, Lopez fought slickly and had some positive results. Valdez was able to get some shots in, though, which could possibly have had a cumulative effect on Lopez as the fight wore on. The fifth showed a rare skill that Valdez possessed, the ability to land when his opponent was stepping back at an angle. Lopez was having his moments, but his punches weren’t as effective as Valdez’s were.
The sixth round was a better chapter for Lopez, who was able to hit and run more than he had previously. The underdog also came alive on Valdez at the end of the seventh. Unfortunately for Lopez, Valdez’s greater power made him the more effective puncher. All the dancing, running, and showboating Lopez employed in the eighth probably got him nowhere on the judge’s cards.
Valdez rocked his man hard and repeatedly in the ninth. A headbutt seemed to have busted Lopez’s nose early in the tenth. To his credit, the man kept fighting. Yet Valdez beat on him hard in the final minute of the round. Both men fell, but got up quickly. Lopez survived the round gamely, but the fight clearly belonged to Valdez.
The Outcome
After the fight, Valdez was awarded a decision win from the judges. “Nothing personal,” Valdez said. “To the contrary. I love Adam Lopez, I love his father.”
Final Thoughts
Overall, Valdez proved that he is still a competitive fighter, and that his first fight with Lopez was a fluke. Lopez, on the other hand, put up a good fight but couldn’t match Valdez’s power. The fight was exciting and kept fans on the edge of their seats until the end. It will be interesting to see what’s next for both of these talented fighters.
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