Oscar Valdez returns home to Mexico for first fight there in 12 years

September 6: Oscar Valdez to meet Ricky "El Castigo" Medina in Nogales

Two-time world champion Oscar Valdez hopes to kickstart a world title run when he returns to action against San Antonio native Ricky "El Castigo" Medina in a 10-round junior lightweight main event on Saturday, Sept. 6, at Domo Binacional in his hometown of Nogales, Mexico.

A two-time Mexican Olympian, Valdez has not fought on home soil since his eighth pro bout way back in 2013.

“Oscar Valdez is a proud warrior, and this is a great opportunity for him to return home and prove he still has what it takes to contend at 130 pounds,” stated Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “Oscar has been with Top Rank since he turned pro, and we are in his corner as he attempts to become a three-time world champion.”

Valdez (32-3, 24 KOs) captured the WBO featherweight world title with a KO over Matias Rueda and defended it six times. He then moved up to junior lightweight, where he scored a highlight-reel knockout against Miguel Berchelt in February 2021 to claim the WBC strap.

The Mexican suffered his first pro loss in an April 2022 unification showdown against unbeaten American Shakur Stevenson. He returned to form with a decision over Adam Lopez the following May, setting up an all-Mexican war with Emanuel Navarrete in August 2023. Valdez dropped a unanimous decision to Navarrete, and following a TKO win over Liam Wilson in March last year, lost the Navarrete rematch by sixth-round knockout.

Medina (16-3, 9 KOs) went 13-0 with seven knockouts before a decision loss to eventual world champion Raymond Ford in June 2022. He rebounded later that year with a first-round stoppage of Steve Garagarza and outpointed Juan Antonio Lopez the following May.

Medina suffered back-to-back decision losses, first on enemy turf against SoCal native George Acosta in December 2023, then to unbeaten contender Geo Lopez last September. Medina bounced back in December by dispatching Angel Hernandez Pillado in three.

Promoted by Zanfer Boxing and Top Rank, tickets are available now via www.xticket.mx.