Jose Valenzuela celebrates his upset victory over Isaac Cruz. (Picture by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Three days after he climbed a mountain within the 140-pound class, it was ironic that Jose Valenzuela felt the pure impression of his upset win over Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz on his means down a mountain. The newly minted 25-year-old WBA junior welterweight titlist had gone on a mountain climbing journey in his house state of Washington when he got here throughout a younger couple who observed his face.
Valenzuela (14-2, 9 knockouts) did one thing not many thought he may do when he handed Cruz a split-decision loss on August 3 on the Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov undercard at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Ever since Valenzuela wrested the WBA title from Cruz (26-3-1, 18 KOs), the younger southpaw has discovered his world altering.
“It was three days after the (Cruz) battle and I needed to do one thing with household,” Valenzuela not too long ago instructed The Ring. “All my household from Mexico got here as much as see the battle. I had been in coaching camp for 4 months, and I missed house (Renton, Washington, 20 minutes south of Seattle). I miss the bushes and the woods. I couldn’t wait to take my household out to do one thing collectively. We had been within the woods mountain climbing, spending good household time alone.”
That’s when he bumped into just a few followers coming down the facet of a mountain. It blew him away that anybody would acknowledge him in that setting.
“I used to be pondering like, ‘Wow, man, I’m on a hike, and these individuals know me,’” Valenzuela stated. “What are the percentages? We had been coming down a mountain path and as soon as we got here again down, this couple knew me. They requested if I used to be Jose Valenzuela. Then they stated, ‘You have to be resting.’ They may not imagine they had been on a hike and bumping into me. I didn’t see that coming. That caught me off guard. It additionally instructed me at that second immediately everybody was watching that battle. The occasion was large. Give it some thought, I get these individuals who discover me on the facet of a mountain mountain climbing path.
“How typically does that occur?”
Ever gracious, “Rayo” took some selfies with the passing couple. As he and his household reached the bottom of the path, the surge of consideration started to construct. He wound up taking selfies with everybody.
The Cruz victory modified his life, Valenzuela stated. He made a career-high payday within the six-figure vary.
“I acquired paid properly, however this win opened the door for million-dollar paydays,” stated Valenzuela, who writes right-handed and does all the things else left-handed. “I’m not huge into costly vehicles, I reside in a pleasant little loft right here in Washington with my girlfriend. I don’t do costly issues. However I’m pondering of larger issues personally, and as quickly as I turned a world champion, I at all times thought it was time to construct a household.
“Yeah, beating Cruz was life altering.”
He and his household lived in Mexico till he was three. Jose is the youngest of two older sisters, one now 29, the opposite 26. He jokes that his sisters used to beat on him rising up. He was so tiny for his age when he entered puberty that the older sister nearest in age felt like she had man power, he says laughing. She helped toughen him up. They fought each day.
As he acquired older, he turned extra of a foundational piece for the household. “I’m form of a father to my two nephews, 8 and a pair of, and my niece, who’s 12,” he stated. “I instructed my older sister to clarify to her children what their Uncle Jose was doing and what this battle means to our household. I’m the one who tries to show my nephews and niece life classes.”
Valenzuela harassed that beating Cruz meant a lot to his complete household. He remembers the time the household didn’t manage to pay for to pay the electrical invoice. Valenzuela believed he carried the burden of his household behind him the evening he beat Cruz. It’s why Valenzuela fell to his knees and cried when the phrases “… and new” got here from the announcer.
He lived the trials and tribulations they endured. When he was youthful, his household moved round looking for stability. In 2008, his father, Jose Valenzuela Sr., turned in poor health from working building below a pounding solar. His mom, Yagna, took on numerous jobs in eating places, cleansing homes, a fish manufacturing unit, something to assist pay for Jose Jr.’s boxing bills.
Jose Sr. now has his personal building firm.
Valenzuela is seeking to get again into the ring someday late this yr or early subsequent yr. He’s open for a Cruz rematch.
“I might like to battle Cruz once more,” Valenzuela stated. “I gained that battle. There was little doubt I gained that battle. Cruz is a tricky man. He and his dad felt that they acquired robbed. There’s a little little bit of conceitedness to him. I caught to our recreation plan, and it labored out. I do know going into that battle I had doubters.”
If a rematch takes place, not many will doubt Valenzuela once more. He’s been to a mountain prime.
He vows there may be extra to climb.
Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter who has been working for Ring Journal/RingTV.com since October 1997 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America.
Comply with @JSantoliquito [twitter.com]
