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ARLINGTON, Texas – Jose Valenzuela looked the part Wednesday night.
The developing lightweight prospect displayed hand speed and power while hitting the mitts during outdoor open workout at Texas Live!, an entertainment complex a few hundred yards from AT&T Stadium. The Los Mochis, Mexico, native intends to show those strengths when Valenzuela encounters his most accomplished opponent to date Saturday night.
Francisco Vargas is 37 years old and has endured multiple brutal battles during his 12-year, 32-fight professional career. The Mexican veteran understands, though, that a victory over the highly regarded Valenzuela will move the former WBC super featherweight champion back into position for more meaningful fights during the twilight of his career.
This 10-round lightweight bout between Vargas (27-3-2, 19 KOs) and Valenzuela (11-0, 7 KOs) will open Showtime’s four-bout pay-per-view telecast as part of the Errol Spence Jr.-Yordenis Ugas undercard Saturday night from AT&T Stadium (9 p.m. ET; $74.95).
Valenzuela, 22, has prepared as if he’ll face the version of Vargas that defeated Japan’s Takashi Miura by ninth-round technical knockout in an unforgettable slugfest in November 2015 at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
“I think he’s a hell of a fighter. You know, he has all that experience,” Valenzuela told Premier Boxing Champions’ Ray Flores in the ring during the open workout. “We saw him give a good fight to ‘Pitbull’ Cruz. So, you know, I’ve trained for a hard fight, a war. And I’m gonna train as if he was in his prime.”
Mexico City’s Isaac Cruz (22-2-1, 15 KOs) beat Vargas by unanimous decision in Vargas’ most recent outing, a 10-rounder that Showtime televised June 19 from Toyota Center in Houston.
Valenzuela fought much more recently than Vargas.
The Seattle-based southpaw stopped Nashville’s Austin Dulay (14-3, 10 KOs) in the fourth round December 18 at The Armory in Minneapolis. Valenzuela knocked Dulay to the canvas four times before referee Charlie Fitch halted the action two seconds into the fourth round.
Mexico City’s Vargas obviously would represent a more noteworthy name on Valenzuela’s record.
“I think this will put me on the radar,” Valenzuela said, “to face any of these top guys.”
Valenzuela – who is trained by Jose Benavidez Sr., David Benavidez’s father – appreciates the opportunity to compete before a crowd expected to include thousands of loyal Mexican boxing fans.
“I’m extremely excited,” Valenzuela said. “You know, this is a dream come true. I can’t do nothing but thank God every day for this opportunity.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.