José Valenzuela
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
Nickname | El Rayo ("Lightning") |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | José Arturo Valenzuela Gastélum 25 May 1999 Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Weight | |
| Boxing career | |
| Reach | 70 in (178 cm) |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 18 |
| Wins | 15 |
| Win by KO | 9 |
| Losses | 3 |
José Arturo Valenzuela Gastélum (born 25 May 1999) is a Mexican-born American professional boxer who held the World Boxing Association (WBA) super lightweight title from 2024 to 2025.
Professional career
Valenzuela turned professional in 2018 and compiled a record of 12–0 before suffering an upset KO loss against Dominican challenger Edwin De Los Santos on September 4, 2022.[1] He would also lose his next fight via controversial unanimous decision against Chris Colbert on March 25, 2023. Valenzuela would get revenge in his next fight by knocking Colbert out in the sixth round on December 16, 2023.[2]
WBA super lightweight champion
Valenzuela vs. Cruz
Valenzuela faced Isaac Cruz for the WBA super lightweight title at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on August 3, 2024.[3] He won the bout by split decision.[4]
Valenzuela vs. Russell
Valenzuela faced Gary Antuanne Russell in his first defense of the WBA super lightweight title at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on March 1, 2025 where he lost the bout via unanimous decision.[5][6]
Post championship reign
Valenzuela vs. Torres
Valenzuela fought Diego Torres at the Meta Apex in Enterprise, Nevada, on February 1, 2026.[7] He won by unanimous decision.[8][9]
Professional boxing record
| 18 fights | 15 wins | 3 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 9 | 1 |
| By decision | 6 | 2 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Win | 15–3 | Diego Torres Nunez | UD | 10 | 1 Feb 2026 | Meta Apex, Enterprise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 17 | Loss | 14–3 | Gary Antuanne Russell | UD | 12 | 1 Mar 2025 | Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | Lost WBA super lightweight title |
| 16 | Win | 14–2 | Isaac Cruz | SD | 12 | 3 Aug 2024 | BMO Stadium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | Won WBA super lightweight title |
| 15 | Win | 13–2 | Chris Colbert | KO | 6 (12), 1:46 | 16 Dec 2023 | Armory, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 14 | Loss | 12–2 | Chris Colbert | UD | 10 | 25 Mar 2023 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 13 | Loss | 12–1 | Edwin De Los Santos | KO | 3 (10), 1:08 | 4 Sep 2022 | Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | Lost WBC Continental Americas lightweight title |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Francisco Vargas | KO | 1 (10), 1:25 | 16 Apr 2022 | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, U.S. | Won vacant WBC Continental Americas lightweight title |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Austin Dulay | TKO | 4 (10), 0:02 | 18 Dec 2021 | Armory, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Deiner Berrio | UD | 10 | 18 Sep 2021 | Mechanics Bank Arena, Bakersfield, California, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Donte Strayhorn | TKO | 4 (8), 1:29 | 21 Aug 2021 | T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Nelson Hampton | KO | 1 (8), 2:59 | 15 May 2021 | Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Clay Burns | KO | 4 (8), 2:57 | 27 Feb 2021 | Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Zack Kuhn | KO | 1 (6), 1:48 | 29 Aug 2020 | Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Charles Clark | KO | 1 (4), 1:06 | 28 Sep 2019 | Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Eric Manriquez | UD | 4 | 23 Jun 2019 | Michelob Ultra Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Christian Velez | KO | 4 (4), 1:40 | 16 Mar 2019 | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Hugo Rodriguez | UD | 4 | 13 Oct 2018 | CHI Health Center, Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Humberto Tellez | UD | 4 | 22 Sep 2018 | Sam's Town Hotel, Sunrise Manor, Nevada, U.S. |
See also
- List of southpaw stance boxers
- List of Mexican boxing world champions
- List of world light-welterweight boxing champions
References
- ^ "Replacement foe Edwin De Los Santos shocks Jose Valenzuela, scores third round TKO". The Ring. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
- ^ "Jose Valenzuela Gets Revenge, Knocks Chris Colbert Out in Sixth Round". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
- ^ Iskenderov, Parviz (2 August 2024). "Isaac Cruz 'really well prepared' for title defense against Jose Valenzuela". FIGHTMAG.
- ^ Gray, Tom (August 3, 2024). "Isaac Cruz vs. Jose Valenzuela schedule, results from 2024 boxing fight". Sporting News.
- ^ Iskenderov, Parviz (19 January 2025). "Jose Valenzuela vs Gary Antuanne Russell set for Tank-Roach undercard". FIGHTMAG.
- ^ Stumberg, Patrick (18 January 2025). "Jose Valenzuela vs Gary Antuanne Russell joins Tank vs Roach on March 1st". Bad Left Hook.
- ^ "Jose Valenzuela-Diego Torres to top second Zuffa show, on February 1". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
- ^ "Jose Valenzuela Wins Entertaining Unanimous Decision Over Diego Torres". The Ring. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ^ "Experience pays off as Jose Valenzuela outpoints Diego Torres". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
External links
- Boxing record for José Valenzuela from BoxRec (registration required)
- José Valenzuela - Profile, News Archive & Current Rankings at Box.Live