Jose Valenzuela avenged his 2022 defeat by stopping Edwin De Los Santos with a devastating second-round knockout at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. Four years ago, De Los Santos handed Valenzuela his toughest career loss with a third-round stoppage, making him the only fighter to previously defeat Valenzuela inside the distance.

The former 140-pounder came out aggressively from the opening bell, landing a massive left hand in the closing seconds of round one that immediately signaled his intentions. Valenzuela carried that momentum into the second round, drawing De Los Santos into exchanges before unleashing a right hook that sent his opponent crashing to the canvas for the full count.

This victory improved Valenzuela's record to 16-3 with his 10th knockout, positioning him firmly in the lightweight title picture. In the co-main event, undefeated Omar Trinidad secured a unanimous decision win over former super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas.

Valenzuela has openly targeted Shakur Stevenson as his next opponent, recognizing the American as the premier lightweight talent following Terence Crawford's retirement. The win clears the path for what could become a defining moment in Valenzuela's career at 135 pounds.