After losing his WBA junior welterweight title last time out, the pressure is on for Valenzuela when facing Torres in a 10-round lightweight bout in the Zuffa Boxing 2 main event Sunday.

While moving back down in weight to face an opponent of Torres' caliber represents a difficult task, the 26-year-old wouldn't have it any other way.

"I've been in this position before," Valenzuela told The Ring. "I love the pressure, it's just who I am. It makes me better. My back is against the wall, and that's when the best of me comes out."

In the co-main event, Serhii Bohachuk (26-3, 24 KOs) faces Radzhab Butaev (16-1, 12 KOs) in a 10-round middleweight matchup. Bohachuk, The Ring's No. 10-rated junior middleweight contender, is also coming off a wide decision defeat after being outpointed in his Brandon Adams rematch on September 13.

The main card starts with a 10-round light heavyweight bout between former WBC light heavyweight champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk (21-2, 17 KOs) and longtime contender Radivoje Kalajdzic (29-3, 21 KOs). 

Valenzuela (14-3, 9 KOs) lost his WBA 140-pound title in a one-sided unanimous decision to Gary Antuanne Russell (18-1, 17 KOs) in March 2025. The 26-year-old from Renton, Washington, won the title in August 2024 with an upset split decision win over Isaac Cruz. 

"I feel like myself," Valenzuela said of moving back down to lightweight. "Fast and furious is just who I am as a fighter. I'm explosive. In my last fight, I put on too much weight, and obviously, that was not like me with my performance. You will see a more recognizable Rayo this weekend."

If Valenzuela can get past Torres, he has his sights set on an Edwin De Los Santos rematch, who posted that he'd signed with Zuffa Boxing earlier this week. Valenzuela and De Los Santos fought in September 2022 and exchanged knockdowns before the latter won by third-round knockout. 

"First things first, I’ve got to take care of business and give my opponent his respect, because he's coming to fight," Valenzuela said. “He's coming to win. With that being said, I can't help but think I saw the news that Edwin's back in town. I feel like God does everything for a reason, and maybe he's doing this so I can make things right again."

Torres, 28, of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, has won four straight fights, all in his home country. IBF lightweight champion Raymond Muratalla inflicted his career-first defeat, via seventh-round stoppage in November 2023.

"I think he's a great fighter," Valenzuela said of Torres. "He only has one defeat, and that's against another great fighter, Muratalla, who we just saw fight Andy Cruz. [Torres] is a warrior — that's my first reaction. He's a warrior, he comes to fight and has a big heart.

"I've got to be focused, be ready. This is a huge opportunity for him as well, trying to make a name off me. I'm well aware of that, and I've taken this fight very seriously."