Oscar Valdes showed true class in his post-match hug with Liam Wilson, telling the fallen Australian to never give up and even revealing that he had hurt him “many times”.
Despite a bright start at long and middle distances, Wilson's desire to participate in short distances took over and it remained in the hands of Valdez in a bout for the WBO super featherweight title in Glendale, Arizona. Crossed.
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Wilson was still landing big shots, but Valdez was too much for the tough Australian and stopped Wilson in the seventh round.
It was heartbreaking for Wilson, who fell short yet again in his bid for a world title, but Valdez, who suffered a similar fate twice in the space of 16 months, offered words of support for his rival. .
talk to ESPN Mark Kriegel revealed in his post-fight interview exactly what Valdez said to Wilson, who was reeling in the aftermath of a seventh-round barnburner.
“I told him not to give up,” Valdez said.
“I lost. It doesn't mean I'm done with sports. I'm a good example of that.
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“He (Wilson) almost caught me, almost caught the kettle of mine. I have nothing but hats off to Liam Wilson. I have nothing but respect for him and his team.
“I know he can be a champion.”
Kriegel followed up on Valdez's disclosure that Wilson hurt him, asking if he had told his rival that he had truly shaken him.
“Yes, (I told him many times),” Valdez said.
“He's got the punch. He can do it. Yeah, he hurt his ribs.”
Understandably, Wilson looked devastated after the game and knew his “spirit was lifted” by the game against Valdez.
The Queenslander also recognized that Valdez looked a bit worn down during the match, but was a “tough” customer to deal with when working inside.
“Actually, I knew we almost (got him),” Wilson said in the postgame interview.
“But inside he was a little tricky. He was very compact for a fighter, short and compact.
“At one stage I thought I hurt him physically, but I didn't know it hurt as much as he said it did. It's good to know.”
