Jose Valenzuela ‘hungrier than ever’ ahead of his challenge of Isaac Cruz

Jose Valenzuela had heroes he looked up to while he was growing up.

The irony is one of those heroes could be the key to winning a world title belt, and putting an exclamation point on overcoming personal issues outside the ring.

Valenzuela will challenge Isaac Cruz for the WBA junior welterweight title Saturday night at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. The 12-round bout will precede the main event bout between Ring welterweight champion Terence Crawford against WBA world junior middleweight titleholder Israil Madrimov.