After arguably being robbed of a world title against a Mexican in Arizona last year, Liam Wilson is returning to the scene of the crime to face Oscar Valdez, Mexico’s former two-division champion.
A questionably long count came between the all-action Aussie and winning the WBO super featherweight title against Emmanuel Navarrete in Glendale last February, Wilson eventually getting stopped in the ninth round.
The Queenslander has since won two straight fights to put himself back in contention for the world title but in his way is Valdez, a 31-2 fighter, himself coming off a decision defeat to Navarrete.
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Wilson has developed a reputation as a hard-hitting, come-forward fighter and matchups with guys like Navarrete and Valdez are only going to enhance it.
“I always dreamed of being in these sort of fights,” Wilson told Sporting News.
“When the fight got brought to me I was like, ‘Yep, I can’t wait for that one.’ I know it’s going to be a classic.
“I’ve looked up to all the Mexican greats, [Marco Antonio] Barrera, [Erik] Morales, [Juan Manuel] Marquez, and in some sense, I’m fighting the modern day version of them, Navarrete, now Valdez and I just feel privileged to be in there with these guys.
“When I say that, I’m not in there to make up numbers and just to compete, I’m in there to win… and I’m very confident I’m coming away with the win on March 29.”
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In preparation for the fight, Wilson has spent several weeks in Las Vegas, training and sparring with high quality partners.
Such is his focus, his 28th birthday almost came and went without notice.
“It didn’t really feel like a birthday. I’ve been over here training really hard, I have no family around me to remind me that it’s my birthday,” he said.
“To be honest, I didn’t even know my birthday was coming up.
“I had an email from a gym saying, ‘Happy Birthday, Liam.’
“I was like, ‘F***, it’s my birthday.’ I’m zoned in over here and just focussed on fight night.”
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Following Wilson’s last fight, a narrow decision victory over Jackson England in Sydney in December, he floated a potential fight with former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos.
While Kambosos is currently tied up preparing for a blockbuster IBF lightweight title clash with Vasiliy Lomachenko in Perth on May 12, Wilson confirmed he’d still be interested in jumping up a division to take on the Sydneysider.
“I’ve definitely got the size to go up to lightweight whenever really,” Wilson said.
“I’m pretty big for this weight. I would like to move up for the right fight, I’m not going to move up for the sake of it.
“That’s [a Kambosos fight] the reason I’d probably go up, that’s a fight I’d definitely move up to lightweight for.
“I think it makes sense, by the time I fight Valdez, I would have a pretty good resume, he does as well, he’s a former world champion.
“I think Australia deserves an all-Australian showdown.
“We’re a division apart, I’ve already said I’m happy to move up.
“For the Australian public, I’m a true fighter, I know he definitely is, let’s make it happen. After this fight, after his fight with Lomachenko, let’s get it going.”
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