Oscar Valdez beats back doubts, stops Liam Wilson - Seniesa Estrada undisputed, decisions Yokasta Valle

Former two-division champion Oscar Valdez and opponent Liam Wilson had one major thing in common - both had lost fights against Emanuel Navarrete. 

Wilson had rebounded nicely after losing to Navarette with two victories in succession. Valdez was fighting for the first time since his bloody loss. 

Many people suggested Valdez should retire. Valdez admitted in an interview that he considered it. 

Valdez and Wilson met Friday at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ. 

Something had to give.

It did. 

In a seesaw battle, the more powerful Valdez stopped Wilson in round seven. 

The time was 2:48 seconds. 

In the opening stanza, both fighters used jabs to find range. Valdez,33, went to the body, but Wilson was busier. Valdez went back to his corner with swelling over his right eye. 

Wilson continued his fast pace in round two. Valdez missed several left hooks but landed a hard jab. Wilson’s nose was bleeding. Valdez forced Wilson into the ropes and connected with a left and right. 

Valdez (32-2, 24 KOs) opened round three by landing his money punch, the left hook. Wilson returned the favor seconds later. Valdez worked up and down. Wilson jarred Valdez with an uppercut. Valdez stepped inside and ripped to the body. Wilson landed a right. Valdez did well in the opening seconds of round four. His left hook was landing. The busier Valdez doubled up his jab.  

Wilson (13-3, 7 KOs) pushed Valdez and let his hands go in round five. Valdez fired back with long hooks.  

Valdez, fighting behind a high guard, scored with jabs. His left hook landed again. Wilson fought back, but inside was what Valdez wanted. A few uppercuts landed. Valdez tried to get off in round six. He connected with jabs and a lead right hand. Wilson pushed forward but ran into a big blow. Valdez jarred Wilson with uppercuts. Wilson landed a right but ate a short left hook. 

Valdez had the edge through six rounds. Both fighters landed left hooks in round seven. Valdez moved to his left and jabbed. A right followed. Wilson switched to southpaw. Valdez outworked him - the momentum was on his side.

A big left hook wobbled Wilson. The Australian stayed upright, but Valdez unloaded various shots until referee Mark Wilson waved the fight off. 

“It means a lot,” said an emotional Valdez after the fight. ”I proved a lot of people wrong.”

After months of verbal back and forth, titleholders Seniesa Estrada Yokasta Valle went ten spirited rounds, with Estrada judged the winner. 

All three judges had Estrada (26-0, 9 KOs) winning the fight by a 97-93 tally. (seven to three in rounds).

I didn’t see that. I saw a close battle of opposites with the flashy Estrada boxing, while Valle (30-3, 9 KOs) moved forward, firing the straighter punches. Estrada started most rounds well, but Valle closed with punches. 

Estrada is now undisputed at 105 pounds.