Jose Valenzuela is climbing mountains and preparing for a new world since defeating Pitbull Cruz

Three days after he climbed the mountain in the 140-pound class, it was ironic that Jose Valenzuela felt the raw impact of his upset win over Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz on the way down the mountain. The 25-year-old newly-crowned WBA junior welterweight was on a hiking trip in his hometown of Washington when he met a young couple who recognized his face.

Valenzuela (14-2, 9 knockouts) did what many thought he would do when he handed Cruz a split decision loss on August 3 on the undercard of Terence Crawford-Israel Madrimov at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Ever since Valenzuela took the WBA title from Cruz (26-3-1, 18 KOs), the young southpaw has found the world changing.

“It was three days before the (Cruz) fight and I wanted to do something with the family,” Valenzuela recently told The Ring. “All my Mexican family came to see the fight. I had been in training camp for four months, and I missed home (Renton, Washington, 20 minutes south of Seattle). I miss trees and forests. I couldn't wait to get my family out to do something together. We were in the forest hiking, spending some nice family time alone.”

It was then that he met a few followers coming down the side of the mountain. It just struck him that anyone would see him in that state.

“I was thinking, 'Wow, man, I'm walking, and these people know me,'” Valenzuela said. “What are the chances? We went down the mountain path and when we came back down, this couple recognized me. They asked if I was Jose Valenzuela. Then they said: 'You must rest.' They couldn't believe they were hiking and bumped into me. I didn't see that. That caught me off guard. He told me and at the same time everyone was watching that fight. The event was great. Think about it, I get these people noticing me on the side of the hiking trail.

“How often does that happen?”

Always gracious, “Rayo” took selfies with a passing couple. As he and his family reached the bottom of the trail, attention began to increase. He ended up taking selfies with everyone.

Cruz's victory changed his life, Valenzuela said. He made a career high payday in the six-figure range.

“I was paid well, but this win opened the door to earning millions of dollars,” said Valenzuela, who writes with her right hand and does everything with her left hand. “I'm not big on expensive cars, I live in a nice little house here in Washington with my girlfriend. I don't do expensive things. But I think about bigger things personally, and as soon as I became world champion, I always thought it was time to start a family.

“Yeah, beating Cruz was life-changing.”

He and his family lived in Mexico until he was three years old. Jose is the youngest of two older sisters, one is 29 and the other is 26. He jokes that his sisters used to beat him growing up. He was so young for his age when he first hit puberty that an older sister who was close to him felt like he had male strength, she said with a laugh. He helped her and strengthened her. They are shared every day.

When he grew up, he became part of the family foundation. “I am a kind father to my two nephews, 8 and 2, and my niece, who is 12,” he said. “I told my older sister to explain to her children what Uncle Jose is doing and what this war means to our family. I am the one who tries to teach my nieces and nephews life lessons.”

Valenzuela stressed that beating Cruz meant a lot to his entire family. He remembers when the family did not have enough money to pay the electricity bill. Valenzuela believes he carried the weight of his family behind him the night he beat Cruz. That's why Valenzuela fell to his knees and cried when the words “… namasha” came from the announcer.

He lived the trials and tribulations they endured. When he was young, his family moved around trying to settle down. In 2008, his father, Jose Valenzuela Sr., fell ill due to construction work under the scorching sun. His mother, Yagna, took various jobs in restaurants, cleaning houses, fish factory, anything to help cover Jose Jr.'s boxing expenses.

Jose Sr. now he has his own construction company.

Valenzuela is looking to return to the ring later this year or early next year. You are open to a duplicate of the Cruz.

“I would love to fight Cruz again,” Valenzuela said. “I won that battle. There is no doubt that I won that battle. Cruz is an excellent host. He and his father felt that they were being robbed. There is a little pride in him. I stuck to our game plan, and it worked. I know going into that fight I had doubts.”

If a rematch happens, not many will doubt Valenzuela again. He has been to the top of the mountain.

He swears there is more to come.