Manny Pacquiao vs Jessie Vargas: 5 reasons to watch

3) Oscar Valdez

If Manny Pacquiao-Jessie Vargas doesn’t have you sold, look to the undercard. Although it isn’t exactly a stacked line-up of fights, WBO featherweight champion Oscar Valdez will be featured, and that’s something that should excite everyone.

Although he’s only 25, Valdez represented Mexico at both the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, nearly claiming a medal in the latter competition. Valdez (20-0, 18 KOs), though, has fared even better as a pro, where his combination of raw power, elite boxing skills and appealing, aggressive style has him pegged for eventual pound-for-pound consideration.

In his last fight, Valdez bludgeoned Matias Rueda — an admittedly hapless foe — in two frightening rounds to claim his first world title. And even though he’s facing another relative no-hoper in Hiroshige Osawa on Saturday, Valdez is quickly becoming the type of fighter worth watching simply because of what he’s able to produce — sort of like Gennady Golovkin (although he’s obviously not at that level yet).

Plus, watching Valdez now, as he gains some valuable experience, serves as a worthwhile prelude to the massive fights he could find himself in at featherweight as early as 2017. Now that Top Rank’s Bob Arum is willing to do business with Al Haymon, Valdez could soon find himself in with the likes of Carl Frampton, Leo Santa Cruz, Lee Selby, Gary Russell Jr. and Jesus Cuellar. And frankly, Valdez may one day emerge as the best of that vaunted bunch.