By Ryan Burton

BoxingScene.com recently spoke to Golden Boy Promotions prospect Niko Valdes (2-0) who returned to the ring Friday night and scored an easy knockout over Michael Andrews (0-2) in a bout which took place at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles.  He made his pro debut in April and stopped Roberto Ramirez in the opening round.

The 23-year-old prospect trains at the legendary 5th St. Boxing in Miami Beach, Florida and said that many of the top fighters make the trek to South Florida to get a glimpse of the gym that Muhammad Ali trained at.

"My gym is slowly becoming the Wild Card of Florida. You can hardly walk in there. World champions come to my gym. I've sparred with Andre Dirrell. I've sparred with James DeGale. I've sparred with everybody because everybody wants to come to 5th Street Gym where Muhammad Ali trained so I get great sparring," Valdes explained while saying that he held his own against those upper level fighters.

"I sparred Dirrell before he fought DeGale then I sparred DeGale when he was getting ready for Dirrell because he found out I sparred Dirrell. Both are really good. They are great and I didn't get beat up. It went good."

Valdes mentioned an interesting tidbit about the direction he is going with his pro career.  He said that even though he fought as high as heavyweight as an amateur, he plans on competing for his first world title in the super welterweight division.

"I fought in the amateurs at 178. In my pro debut I fought at 168 and my next fight is 165 and I am planning on making way down to 154. In the amateurs I even fought as high as 201. I've always fought big guys. I recently sparred a 154 pounder and it felt like I was bro hit by a baby. It's a big difference," Valdes stated.

He also said that his weight cutting program was set up by the same team who work with unbeaten 140 pound WBO champion Terrence Crawford.

"Getting down is going good. I have these nutritionists who work with Terence Crawford.  They are really good. They are called Perfecting Athletes and they are really helping me with cutting weight," Valdes told BoxingScene.com.

Valdes hopes to stay busy and wants at least two more fights before the year is over.

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