‘A Miracle That I Survived’

When Jose Valenzuela was three-years-old, he suffered a near-death experience as a result of a hit-and-run in his native Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico. 

“I was playing soccer in the neighborhood, passing the ball back and forth with my mother watching. But she had to go into the laundromat for a second. That’s when the ball rolled under a car and I went to get it. I was under the car when this guy, high on drugs, got in the car and just took off. Our neighbors called out to him and got him to stop,” Valenzuela said.

“But he had already dragged me and broken a lot of the bones in my body. All of the neighbors lifted the car and got me out of there, but I was really close to death. At the hospital, doctors said that the next 72 hours were critical in determining my survival, that they couldn’t operate because they said the procedure might kill me. It’s a miracle that I survived, and it took me nearly a year to learn how to walk again.”

Valenzuela is the youngest of three siblings with two older sisters born to a hard-working mother and father, the latter in landscaping and construction. 

“When I was little, I always had a lot of energy,” said Valenzuela, who had moved with his family to Seattle, Washington, by the age of four. “My Dad said I was like a ball of lightning and fast with my hands. He would always say, ‘He’s el rayo,’ which means ‘The lightning,’ in Spanish. I’m so used to  being called by that nickname.”

An eight-year-old Valenzuela “tried soccer, but I was fighting my teammates, so they kicked me out and told my Dad I needed to try Karate and stuff like that.”

Two years later, Valenzuela walked into the Azteca Boxing Club in Renton, Seattle, and discovered the sport he has loved ever since. 

Valenzuela’s amateur record of 53-5 included winning the Ringside World     Championship and Washington State Golden Gloves Championship as a 16-year-old in 2015.

A Bond Built With The Benavidez's

It was two years later through a mutual friend that an 18-year-old Valenzuela met current trainer, Jose Benavidez Sr., whose sons are unbeaten two-time 168-pound world champion David Benavidez and current 154-pound contender Jose Benavidez Jr. 

“I was living in Seattle, had no coach and was training myself at the gym of our mutual friend, Isaac Tadeo. Isaac reached out to Mr. Benavidez time after time until Mr. Benavidez finally got annoyed and told him to bring me down to Oregon where they were staying. I stayed across the street from them in a hotel and was put through some of the hardest work week after week. Coach Benavidez said I had raw talent but the only problem was where I was going to live,” said Valenzuela, a southpaw.

“My parents, having low income, couldn’t afford me living in a hotel. On our way home we stopped at the grocery store where my mom asked a lady if she knew anyone who was renting a room. The woman said ‘Yes I do.’ I slept on an  air mattress at a woman’s house for a couple of weeks. In the meantime, David, Jose Jr. and I clicked really well. They noticed my living situation, took me under their wing and asked me to move in with them. They've treated me like family ever since.”

A 19-year-old Valenzuela weighed 128 ½  and 128 pounds for his first pair of professional four-round unanimous decision victories in 2018, over Humberto Tellez in September and Hugo Rodriguez in October. 

“Rayo” stopped two of four opponents in 2019 and 2020, the former comprising a fourth-round knockout of Christian Velez in March, a four-round unanimous decision over Eric Manriquez in June and a one-knockdown, 66-second stoppage of Charles Clarke in September. 

Valenzuela was 6-0 (3 KOs) following a three-knockdown first-round stoppage of Zack Kuhn in August 2020, having benefited from the guidance of Jose Sr. and working alongside the Benavidez siblings. 

“I’m a very active fighter, because I grew up watching and appreciating fighters like Manny Pacquiao and Julio Cesar Chavez,” Valenzuela said. 

“I’m a good boxer and I’m good on my toes, but I sometimes get bored of that. I like to fight in the trenches, but I know I have to be smart and use my defense also.”

‘Ready To Make A Big Statement’

Valenzuela went 5-0 (4 KOs) in 2021, including a three-knockdown, fourth-round stoppage of Clay Burns in February, a one-knockdown, first-round stoppage of Nelson Hampton in May, and a one-knockdown, fourth-round stoppage of Donte Strahorn in August. 

In September, Valenzuela earned a unanimous decision over Deiner Berrio, who entered at 22–3–1 (13 KOs). Valenzuela dominated his last fight in December by four-knockdown, fourth-round stoppage of southpaw Austin Dulay, who slipped to 14-3, 10 KOs. 

“I’m ready to put on a show and make a big statement against any of the champions. I just want to fight the best. I have to let the whole division know that I’m here,” Valenzuela said. 

“I’m happy that I was successful. I showed everyone that I'm a solid fighter and that I'm here to stay. The greatest thing is that a lot of people got to know me based on my performances, but I’m never satisfied. I believe I'm the future of this game.”

Valenzuela continued to make it look easy as the level of opposition increased. On April 16, 2022, he took on former world champion Francisco Vargas at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, texas, on the Spence-Ugas SHOWTIME pay-per-view. 

Valenzuela (12-0, 8 knockouts) made a startling statement about his punching power and future in the lightweight division, landing a looping left hand that sent Vargas crashing to the canvas, prompting the referee to immediately stop the scheduled 10-round lightweight bout at 1:25 of the first round. Valenzuela has now stopped seven of his last eight opponents.

“I worked hard for this and stayed calm, and I stayed patient and went for it when I saw the opening,” said Valenzuela, who referenced the support of Benavidez, standing in the ring next to him. “Working alongside this guy right here, David Benavidez, he has shown me a lot of things in and out. I look to see what he does and what he goes through. He tells me to be patient and that’s what I did. I was expecting (Vargas) to get up but when I took a look back, I knew. It was a good knockout.”

A SHOCKING LOSS

Valenzuela was scheduled to face former champ Jezreel Corrales as part of a FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. When Corrales had to withdraw due to VIDA issues, in stepped in hard-hitting Dominican Edwin De Los Santos on just days' notice. 

De Los Santos (15-1, 14 KOs) delivered, scoring an upset via third-round TKO as he dropped the previously unbeaten Valenzuela three times before referee Ray Corona waived off the bout 1:08 into the round.
 
“I didn't expect De Los Santos to be as aggressive as he was in the fight,” said Valenzuela. “He gave it out as he good as he took. I just want to focus on getting back in the ring and redeeming myself."
 
De Los Santos looked sharp from the outset, staggering Valenzuela in round one, although Valenzuela was able to survive the round. Early in round two Valenzuela was staggered again, but was able to shift the momentum temporarily, landing a powerful left hook that put De Los Santos down.
 
After rising to his feet, De Los Santos was able to regain momentum with a series of right hooks that put Valenzuela down hard. De Los Santos was penalized by the referee for throwing an extra shot while Valenzuela was down, which gave Valenzuela extra time to recover and make it through the round.
 
De Los Santos looked the fresher fighter heading into the round and was able to drop Valenzuela again early in the frame. Valenzuela again was able to get back on his feet but after a follow up flurry from De Los Santos, the referee jumped in and officially waived off the fight.

A DISPUTED DECISION

On March 25, 2023, Valenzuela lost a close, 10-round decision to Chris Colbert at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. All three judges saw the fight 95-94 in favor of Colbert, who stated his willingness to give Valenzuela a rematch in his post-fight interview.
 
“I beat him,” said Valenzuela. “I want to thank everyone who came out here to support me. I thought I won. I was hitting him with the harder shots. I dropped him. I dominated. But it is what it is.”
 
In the first, Valenzuela sent a charging Colbert stumbling to the mat with a picture perfect counter left hook. Throughout the fight Valenzuela held the edge in power punching, landing 117 power shots to Colbert’s 77.
 
“He over-extended and I caught him with a left hook (on the knockdown),” said Valenzuela. “He didn’t hurt me once in this fight. I was having fun. I enjoyed every minute of it. I won. I was having fun. I wanted to show the world what I could do. I can box and I can bang.”
 
Colbert, who also came into the fight off his first loss, was able to show his fortitude in rising to his feet after the knockdown and making it through the round with a significant amount of time left in the frame. The Brooklyn native Colbert was able to box effectively throughout the remainder of the fight and avoid a return trip to the mat, using a jab that he out landed Valenzuela with at a 47 to 15 clip.

 The middle rounds saw tremendous back and forth action from both competitors. After Valenzuela spent much of round six blitzing Colbert and forcing him to the ropes, Colbert responded in round seven with effective movement and pot shots. After Valenzuela was again successful pushing Colbert to the ropes in round eight, Colbert responded smartly and fought at an effective distance in round nine.
 
In the final round, Valenzuela appeared to punctuate a victory by hurting Colbert in the closing seconds with a volley of power shots, but he was ultimately edged on all three cards before calling for a rematch with Colbert.
 
“I felt like I put it on him,” said Valenzuela. “Definitely I’d like a rematch. I have to be fair and square. I went through a lot. I worked hard. It was tough and to come out like this – it sucks.”

REVENGE AND REDEMPTION

Valenzuela and Colbert would meet again on December 16, 2023 at The Armory in Minneapolis. This time, “Rayo” got his revenge, scoring a vicious sixth-round knockout in the WBA Lightweight Title Eliminator.

“As soon as I went home I went straight to work,” said Valenzuela. “I want to thank Chris, he’s a hell of a fighter. If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be here. It takes two to tango, so I’m grateful for him.”

Just like in their first showdown, Valenzuela came out hot and again dropped Colbert early in round one. This time it was with a flurry that pushed Colbert up against the ropes before he was eventually forced to take a knee, part of a staggering 33 punches landed for Valenzuela in the round. In another repeat of their first fight, Colbert was able to show his grit and use his ring IQ to survive the round, and even went on to have some strong moments over the first few rounds. After Colbert got the unanimous decision in their first fight, largely behind a strong and steady jab, Valenzuela showed improved foot work and patience to set up the eventual victory.

“I gotta tip my hat off to him because he brought out the best in me,” said Valenzuela. “He made me adjust. I knew I was conditioned to go 12 rounds, so I just was being patient. I didn’t want to rush it and punch myself out. I was just teeing off on him. I was throwing combinations to the body and to the head, mixing it up.”

After a big fifth round, Valenzuela came out in round six stalking Colbert around the ring looking for another spot to hurt his opponent. Midway through the round Valenzuela found his moment with a leaping right hook that badly hurt Colbert and forced referee Joel Scobie to stop the bout 1:46 into the round.

“The second time he turned left he saw I was gonna throw a jab so he could catch it up front, but I dipped a little bit and shot the right hook,” said Valenzuela in describing the finishing blow.