This fight date has carried an extra sense of urgency for Yokasta Valle.
It’s not necessarily the stakes, though she risks her unified WBA and IBF strawweight titles versus Maria Santizo this weekend. More so, the work done in training camp has left her more eager than ever to get in the ring.
“I’m very excited about this fight,” Valle told BoxingScene.com. “I’ve been antsy this entire camp and just can’t wait for that opening bell. My last fight, we did that show on the beach in Guanacaste (Costa Rica). It was such a great experience; a fun event and we got the win.
“Now we’re ready to move forward with my career.”
Valle will do so in a scheduled ten-round bout versus Guatemala’s Maria Santizo (11-3, 6KOs). Their bout is the DAZN-aired co-feature on a show topped by the William Zepeda-Mercito Gesta lightweight fight this Saturday from Commerce Casino In Commerce, California.
The venue is more than 3,600 miles from her San Jose, Costa Rica hometown but mere minutes from the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood where Valle (28-2, 9KOs)—a three-division titlist—has spent the duration of her training camp. The next-level sparring she received for this bout has left her with a feeling of a career-best performance on tap.
“My trainer Coach G [Gloria Alvarado] is great friends with Freddie Roach. They welcomed us with open arms,” noted Valle, who has won fifteen straight. “We get such better sparring in Los Angeles than I do in Costa Rica.
“They really push me to the limit at Wild Card. That will only make me a better fighter.”
Valle will attempt her eighth overall defense of at least one strawweight title and second as the division’s unified titlist. Her most recent win came in a ten-round decision over then-unbeaten Jessica Basulto Salazar on March 25 in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox