Yokasta Valle has already moved on to the next one.
The three-division and reigning IBF/WBO strawweight titlist already had her next fight date booked prior to her latest win, a ten-round decision victory over former title challenger Maria Santizo. Valle won by scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 99-91 and remain unscathed to the point where she could confidently reveal plans for her third bout of the year.
“See you November 4 in Costa Rica,” Valle said after Saturday’s win, which aired live on DAZN from Commerce Casino in Commerce, California.
Neither an opponent nor firm location was confirmed for the planned event as this goes to publication.
Valle (29-2, 9KOs) made the eighth successful defense of her IBF strawweight title and second as a unified titlist in her win over Santizo (11-4, 6KOs). The 31-year-old from San Jose, Costa Rica has enjoyed a steady stream of activity even as her level of competition has increased by a considerable margin.
The next bout in November will mark her eighth in a span of less than two years, which included a four-fight campaign in 2022. Included among the mix one year ago was a November 26 majority decision victory over then-unbeaten IBF/WBO junior flyweight titlist Evelin Bermudez to become a three-division title holder.
Valle immediately dropped back down in weight to resume her strawweight title reign, with hopes of fully unifying the division. That would require a showdown versus WBC/WBO champ Seniesa Estrada (25-0, 9KOs), who is currently on the mend after surgery to repair an aggravated ligament in her right index finger suffered in a July 28 win.
That has prompted Valle—who has won sixteen in a row—to move forward with her career, both in the U.S. and in her native Costa Rica, where she is a national superstar.
“Whatever Golden Boy has planned, we will be ready,” vowed Valle. “That is all that I can guarantee, that I will be ready for any challenge.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox