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Rejuvenated John Joe Nevin ready to begin Óscar Valdez chase


John Joe Nevin [10(4)-0] has underlined WBO World Champion Óscar Valdez on his wishlist.

The Mullingar fighter defeated Valdez secure a bronze medal back at the London 2012 Olympics where he eventually claimed silver – but the Mexican has overtaken the Irish fighter in the pros.

Valdez [24(19)-0] was a World champion by 2016 and has defended his WBO title four times in the two years since.

Nevin, on the other hand, has had a stop-start pro innings thus far and has only traded leather twice since 2016 – although, Valdez now looks set for an extended period on the sidelines having had his jaw broken by Scott Quigg on Saturday and requiring it to be wired shut.

Irish amateur legend Nevin comfortably defeated the previously undefeated Alex Torres Rynn Stateside over eight rounds on Friday last in America and is adamant he will get busy this year.

Now settled, training with Jim McDonnell in London and Bozy Ennis in Philidelphia, Nevin is finally ready to start delivering in the pros.

A World title fight seems some distance off, but Nevin seems aware his past with Valdez – who has also been name checked by Carl Frampton – means that is a fight that could be marketable and has put the Mexican on his hit list.

“Whatever comes our way,” Nevin told Boxing News as he looked ahead. 

“Oscar Valdez you saw him beat Scott Quigg on Saturday night, I beat him as an amateur in the Olympic Games. Seeing him a world champion now and in top fights like that.”

“His style was always made for the pros. He was always going to be a world champion and do well. I’d love to be in with someone like him. To share the ring with him as an amateur was an honour and now to get the chance to fight him as pro I would do.”

Nevin is convinced 2018 is the year he will inject some real momentum into his career and believes a few wins could open the doors to big fights.

The 28-year-old outlined how “I’m starting to build some momentum now and we’re ready to go. We’re going to have a big year this year hopefully.”

“There are some big fights for me, this side of the pond and over in the States.”

dpg

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