Steve Spark Reflects On Gabriel Valenzuela Defeat And Reveals Plan To Headline Show In Australia In His Next Fight
– Steve Spark Wants A Rematch With Gabriel Valenzuela Following Controversial Defeat
– Eddie Hearn Has Told Spark That He Wants Him To Headline In Australia Later This Year
– The Australian Would Love To Share The Ring With Liverpool’s Robbie Davies Jr
Australia’s Steve Spark (16-3, 14 KOs) suffered a controversial 10-round split decision loss to Mexico’s Gabriel Valenzuela last Saturday on the DAZN Canelo-Ryder undercard.
Very few people outside two of three judges at ringside had Valenzuela winning the contest, another controversial decision in favour of the home corner, except this one was a little different.
The teams had agreed on three neutral judges for the contest but on the night two local judges were assigned the match despite neither being announced for the bout beforehand.
The two judges from Guadalajara scored the fight in favour of the Mexican whilst the neutral judge had it for Spark and the Aussie lost a bout that most people feel he shouldn’t have. The 140-pound contender is hopeful of a no-contest and a rematch but accepts it is unlikely that Valenzuela does give him a second fight.
Spark’s WBA Inter-Continental Super Lightweight title was not on the line though and the Australian has revealed to NoSmokeSport.com that officials from the IBF have informed him he would not be dropping in the world rankings due to the nature of the decision.
The 26-year-old won’t be dwelling on the loss too much either with more emphasis on the positives of the experience. “No (I don’t regret taking it). You’ve got to take risks in this sport. I gained a whole lot of fans, they know I come to fight.”
The Australian told the outlet that his promoter Eddie Hearn loves the fighting style of Spark and will still continue to showcase him on Matchroom cards following the defeat.
Not only is Spark ‘must-watch TV’ but he has taken difficult fights time and again and that attitude has earnt him more opportunities despite being on the wrong end of a decision.
“He wants to put me back here in Australia”, Steve Spark told NoSmokeSport, “He wants me to headline my own event here. Hopefully headlining in August.”
Matchroom has only done one Australian show to date since their extravagant launch last summer when Liam Paro stopped Brock Jarvis in the opening round in Queensland. Hearn has told Spark that he could headline his own fight card when Matchroom return to Australia later this year.
In terms of potential opponents, NoSmokeSport mentioned three boxers under the Matchroom banner to Spark; Jack Catterall, Montana Love and Robbie Davies Jr. Spark expects Catterall to land a fight with newly-signed WBC champion Regis Prograis should they get through their respective bouts.
“He needs to man up and take that fight with Richardson Hitchins”, Spark said when asked about a rematch with Love.
Spark does seem keen on a bout with Davies Jr though. “I like Robbie Davies Jr, and if he’s up for it I’d definitely love to share the ring with Robbie who’s had a hell of a career.”
NoSmokeSport reached out to Davies Jr for comment about a potential Steve Spark fight. “Stevie is a good lad, and an improved fighter, every time I see him he’s getting better and better.”
“I honestly want to rematch Foley more than anything firstly. If Eddie delivers me the Foley rematch I’d return the favour and go to Australia for Stevie. I still feel hard done by over the Foley fight and still super confident I beat him. But we’ll see how things play out, I would definitely be interested”
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