"This is what you call the opportunity of a lifetime. It's the opportunity I've been waiting for. I have a setback already and then I have another controversial loss that set me back another 2 years...this is a fight that I've been waiting for and it's just another fight. That's the way I'm approaching it and Diego doesn't have anything that I haven't seen. My experience will prevail...it's going to be fireworks. It's going to be a very big upset," stated super bantamweight Luis Del Valle, who talked about his upcoming clash with Diego De La Hoya on the undercard of Canelo vs. Smith. Check it out!
PC: You were scheduled to fight August 27th. I'm sure that fight went to the backburner when this September 17th opportunity against Diego De La Hoya was put on the table.
LDV: The August 27th fight got cancelled because we got this big opportunity, so we're moving on to September 17th.
PC: I'm sure that wasn't a tough decision for you.
LDV: Not at all!
PC: De La Hoya is an undefeated kid. He looks really good in his fights. What does this fight mean to you?
LDV: This is what you call the opportunity of a lifetime. It's the opportunity I've been waiting for. I have a setback already and then I have another controversial loss that set me back another 2 years. I was patiently working on my craft and waiting on another opportunity and I couldn't have asked for a better opportunity on a bigger stage. It's just another fight and I'm going to go and do what I gotta do.
PC: Both of you guys have competed recently at 126 and 122. What weight class will this one be contested at?
LDV: This fight will be at 122 pounds.
PC: Is that your more comfortable weight?
LDV: Yeah, definitely! We shooting to fight for a world title at that weight class.
PC: What are your thoughts on Diego? Have you watched a lot of him?
LDV: Diego is a good fighter. He has talent, speed and he likes to fight, but I'm a young veteran in this game and I also have a big amateur pedigree. So this is a fight that I've been waiting for and it's just another fight. That's the way I'm approaching it and Diego doesn't have anything that I haven't seen. My experience will prevail.
PC: You are the veteran in this fight. How do you think you could use your experience as an advantage in this fight?
LDV: It's going to be my will to win. You can't predict anything because everybody goes to the ring with a game plan until they get punched in the face, like Mike Tyson said, but experience is going to be the key and it's going to play a big factor in the later rounds. I know it's going to be a very competitive fight in the early rounds and then it's going to start picking up and that's when we will see what's going to happen. I can't predict anything, but that I'm coming to do whatever it takes to win.
PC: You were already preparing for a fight, so I'm sure you have been putting in work.
LDV: Oh yeah, most definitely. I was getting ready for August 27th. And I'm coming off of 2 quick wins, one in April and one in May, so I couldn't ask for a better situation. They asked me to fight 3 weeks later on a bigger event, Canelo-Smith, and I was like, "Why not?" And now, here we are.
PC: You are fighting a De La Hoya on a Golden Boy card. Do you have any reservations or concerns there?
LDV: I mean, by us winning by knockout, that would leave no doubts. In my previous fight, when we lost against [Luis] Rosa, I dropped him in the 5th round and we got a point deduction in the 7th and we felt comfortable that we were ahead, and when it came down to it, I don't think they gave me a round in the fight. I can't think about if that's going to happen because when you go in thinking about that, you add more pressure on yourself. I'm just going to be me and do what I gotta do. I've already been on HBO. I've seen the bigger fights and I know what the atmosphere will be like. When it's time to fight, I fight and I don't get gun shy, so it's my time.
PC: Rosa was the last undefeated guy you were in the ring with and you just spoke on that controversial loss. Now you're back in with another opportunity to take someone's undefeated record away. What would it mean to you to take Diego De La Hoya's 0 off of his record?
LDV: It will mean the world because we know that besides bringing me closer to a title shot, it will also bring me better financial purses for future fights. Us winning this fight will solve a lot of problems. Winning this fight will help my career and my family will be secure.
PC: After September's fight, are you looking to compete again, if all goes well, before year end?
LDV: We going to take care of business with Diego and Cotto is coming back in December, and then you have Andre Ward and Kovalev and I'm with Roc Nation and both of those cards will be with Roc Nation, so I'm looking forward to preparing to winning this fight and then moving on to bigger and better things in November or December.
PC: I look forward to your fight on September 17th against Diego De La Hoya. Best of luck and we will speak again before the fight. Is there anything else you want to say in closing?
LDV: Everybody who has been following my career knows that I show up to fight. I don't come here to dance or play no games and whoever doesn't know me, tune in early because we are opening up the card and it's going to be fireworks. It's going to be a very big upset.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]