Tag: Miguel Berchelt

Good, bad, worse: Oscar Valdez’s masterpiece, Adrien Broner’s dubious victory

Oscar Valdez recorded a career-defining win over Miguel Berchelt while Adrien Broner was lucky to get a decision against Jovanie Santiago.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkUCINYpVkM

It remains to be seen whether Oscar Valdez will evolve into a great fighter but he certainly was great for at least one night.

Everything he has learned and dreamed of came together to produce one of the more remarkable performances in recent memory, utter demolition of Miguel Berchelt that was punctuated by three knockdowns and what probably will be the Knockout of the Year in Round 10.

Remember: Berchelt was considered one of the best fighters in the world pound-for-pound – he’s Honorable Mention on Boxing Junkie’s list – and was on a hot streak heading into the fight.

Indeed, he was no ordinary titleholder, of which there are many. He was a fighter who seemed to be heading in the direction of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, a superb fighter in his prime. And Valdez outclassed him.

That’s why the magnitude of Valdez’s accomplishment cannot be overstated. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Of course, we shouldn’t be shocked. Valdez (29-0, 23 KOs) was an outstanding amateur; he was a 2008 Olympian for his native Mexico. He reigned as a featherweight titleholder for three years. He obviously has punching power, as his record indicates. And he’s tough. He fought through a broken jaw to beat Scott Quigg.

However, he didn’t look great in his previous two fights. Late replacement Adam Lopez put him down in the second round of their fight before he was knocked out himself in seven. And while he stopped Jayson Velez in the 10th round this past July, something was missing.

Nothing was missing on Saturday.

Valdez was too quick for Berchelt, as new trainer Eddy Reynoso said he would be. He was too athletic; Berchelt couldn’t corner him consistently enough to turn the tide. He was too powerful, as the three knockdowns and a monumental fight-ender demonstrated.

And, most important, he was just too good for Berchelt. If Oscar Valdez wasn’t considered one of the best fighters in the world before Saturday, he is now.

***

BAD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hx9vBHgkrg

I don’t want to be too hard on Adrien Broner in the wake of his controversial unanimous-decision victory over Jovanie Santiago on Saturday in Uncasville, Conn.

“The Problem” hadn’t been in the ring for more than two years, which probably played a role in his slow start in the fight. He reportedly lost 35-plus pounds, which also could’ve affected his performance.

And Santiago, a relative unknown going into the fight, appeared to be a capable, tough opponent who could end up becoming a contender.

All that said, the version of Broner we saw in the ring was not a legitimate threat to 140-pounders like Josh Taylor, Jose Ramirez and Regis Prograis, as he wants to portray himself. I doubt he could even beat next-tier 140-pounders like Jose Zepeda or Viktor Postol.

The judges had Broner winning 117-110, 116-111 and 115-112 but I thought Santiago deserved the decision, scoring it 114-113 (seven rounds to five) for the Puerto Rican. And I know I’m not alone.

Broner, 31, was typically inactive, landing an average of only 8.2 of 28.2 punches per round. That sort of output didn’t work in his most-recent setbacks – including losses to Mikey Garcia and Manny Pacquiao — and some would argue it wasn’t enough against Santiago.

Maybe, as the ESPN broadcasters suggested, he remains gun shy after taking so many big shots in his loss to Marcos Maidana in 2013.

Of course, it’s important to note that Broner picked up his pace in the second half of the fight against Santiago, which might indicate that he needed to shed rust from his layoff.

And he said after the fight that he planned to get right back into the gym to continue his comeback, which is a good sign. He also said he wants to fight regularly to avoid falling back into his self-destructive habits. Smart.

I would suggest he spend as much time as possible working on his craft — and his mindset — because he’s a long way from where he wants to be.

***

WORSE

Jovanie Santiago (right) did good body work against Adrien Broner most of their fight. Amanda Westcott / Showtime

I’m not big on conspiracy theories but it’s difficult to understand the scoring in the Broner-Santiago fight. And a decision by Mohegan Sun officials, who oversaw the fight, added to my disgust.

I thought the fight was close and could’ve gone either way. Judge Glenn Feldman had it 115-112 for Broner, which was reasonable. That’s not the case for Tom Carusone and especially Peter Hary, who scored it 116-111 and 117-110 for Broner.

That means Hary gave Broner nine of the 12 rounds, which wasn’t reasonable.

I’m also not big on CompuBox statistics, which I believe are sometimes inaccurate and certainly inconclusive. However, they often provide another perspective from which to analyze a fight. And the numbers seemed to reflect reality on Saturday.

Consider that Broner didn’t out-land Santiago in any round yet Hary gave him nine of them. Yes, Broner had some success with his jab but Santiago landed 2½ times more power shots (124 to 49) than he did. Even if CompuBox is off — and I’m not saying it was — it’s clear that Santiago landed more meaningful blows.

Doesn’t make sense.

And while a point deduction for punching after the bell in the fourth round played no role in the decision – thank goodness – it was a genuine head scratcher. A commission official acknowledged what was clear on replay video, that both fighters threw punches after the bell rang.

According to the broadcast team, the official justified the decision to dock only Santiago a point because his punch came “way after the bell.” Huh? It was almost as if they wanted Broner to win.

Again, doesn’t make sense.

I don’t have a problem with Broner getting the decision. He rallied in the later rounds to close the gap, from my perspective. At the same time, scores that are far too wide and a strange decision by the officials leave a bad taste in my mouth.

***

RABBIT PUNCHES

As Broner has said, A.B. is going to be A.B. He’s going to make outlandish comments. That’s who he is and it’s obviously one reason people find him interesting.

However, his profanity-laced tirade against unofficial Showtime scorer Steve Farhood was unnecessary. Farhood scored the fight as I did, 114-113 for Santiago, which obviously irked Broner.

“F— Steve Farhood,” he said to punctuate his comments on the subject.

The guess here is that Broner has had objections to Farhood’s scoring or comments in the past, which might explain his over-the-top anger. That doesn’t excuse his reaction, though. Everyone who knows Farhood knows he’s an honest and capable broadcaster. He didn’t deserve that verbal attack. …

Otto Wallin (22-1, 14 KOs) probably isn’t in the class of Tyson Fury (against whom he lost a decision) or Anthony Joshua but he might be the next best thing.

The 6-foot-5½-inch Swede looked sharper than ever against 6-foot-7 Dominic Breazeale (20-3, 18 KOs) on the Broner-Santiago card, outclassing the former title challenger to win a well-deserved unanimous decision.

Wallin is quick and athletic for a man his size. He’s a good, disciplined boxer. He doesn’t have unusual power but he can do some damage. Breazeale’s battered face was an indication of that.

And you have to love Wallin’s post-fight comments. He was asked who he’d like to fight next and he responded by saying he only wants to get better.

I believe he’s a legitimate threat to any heavyweight contender and could one day pose a problem even for Fury or Joshua. …

Robert Easter Jr. (23-1-1, 14 KOs) gave a strong performance in his unanimous-decision victory over Ryan Martin (24-2, 14 KOs) on the Broner-Santiago card. His jab should be a model for other fighters. It found the mark the entire fight and threw Martin completely off his game.

Easter, a former lightweight titleholder, is ready to face a contender at junior welterweight.

[lawrence-related id=17977,17966,17962,17959,17956]

Good, bad, worse: Oscar Valdez’s masterpiece, Adrien Broner’s dubious victory

Oscar Valdez recorded a career-defining win over Miguel Berchelt while Adrien Broner was lucky to get a decision against Jovanie Santiago.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkUCINYpVkM

It remains to be seen whether Oscar Valdez will evolve into a great fighter but he certainly was great for at least one night.

Everything he has learned and dreamed of came together to produce one of the more remarkable performances in recent memory, utter demolition of Miguel Berchelt that was punctuated by three knockdowns and what probably will be the Knockout of the Year in Round 10.

Remember: Berchelt was considered one of the best fighters in the world pound-for-pound – he’s Honorable Mention on Boxing Junkie’s list – and was on a hot streak heading into the fight.

Indeed, he was no ordinary titleholder, of which there are many. He was a fighter who seemed to be heading in the direction of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, a superb fighter in his prime. And Valdez outclassed him.

That’s why the magnitude of Valdez’s accomplishment cannot be overstated. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Of course, we shouldn’t be shocked. Valdez (29-0, 23 KOs) was an outstanding amateur; he was a 2008 Olympian for his native Mexico. He reigned as a featherweight titleholder for three years. He obviously has punching power, as his record indicates. And he’s tough. He fought through a broken jaw to beat Scott Quigg.

However, he didn’t look great in his previous two fights. Late replacement Adam Lopez put him down in the second round of their fight before he was knocked out himself in seven. And while he stopped Jayson Velez in the 10th round this past July, something was missing.

Nothing was missing on Saturday.

Valdez was too quick for Berchelt, as new trainer Eddy Reynoso said he would be. He was too athletic; Berchelt couldn’t corner him consistently enough to turn the tide. He was too powerful, as the three knockdowns and a monumental fight-ender demonstrated.

And, most important, he was just too good for Berchelt. If Oscar Valdez wasn’t considered one of the best fighters in the world before Saturday, he is now.

***

BAD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hx9vBHgkrg

I don’t want to be too hard on Adrien Broner in the wake of his controversial unanimous-decision victory over Jovanie Santiago on Saturday in Uncasville, Conn.

“The Problem” hadn’t been in the ring for more than two years, which probably played a role in his slow start in the fight. He reportedly lost 35-plus pounds, which also could’ve affected his performance.

And Santiago, a relative unknown going into the fight, appeared to be a capable, tough opponent who could end up becoming a contender.

All that said, the version of Broner we saw in the ring was not a legitimate threat to 140-pounders like Josh Taylor, Jose Ramirez and Regis Prograis, as he wants to portray himself. I doubt he could even beat next-tier 140-pounders like Jose Zepeda or Viktor Postol.

The judges had Broner winning 117-110, 116-111 and 115-112 but I thought Santiago deserved the decision, scoring it 114-113 (seven rounds to five) for the Puerto Rican. And I know I’m not alone.

Broner, 31, was typically inactive, landing an average of only 8.2 of 28.2 punches per round. That sort of output didn’t work in his most-recent setbacks – including losses to Mikey Garcia and Manny Pacquiao — and some would argue it wasn’t enough against Santiago.

Maybe, as the ESPN broadcasters suggested, he remains gun shy after taking so many big shots in his loss to Marcos Maidana in 2013.

Of course, it’s important to note that Broner picked up his pace in the second half of the fight against Santiago, which might indicate that he needed to shed rust from his layoff.

And he said after the fight that he planned to get right back into the gym to continue his comeback, which is a good sign. He also said he wants to fight regularly to avoid falling back into his self-destructive habits. Smart.

I would suggest he spend as much time as possible working on his craft — and his mindset — because he’s a long way from where he wants to be.

***

WORSE

Jovanie Santiago (right) did good body work against Adrien Broner most of their fight. Amanda Westcott / Showtime

I’m not big on conspiracy theories but it’s difficult to understand the scoring in the Broner-Santiago fight. And a decision by Mohegan Sun officials, who oversaw the fight, added to my disgust.

I thought the fight was close and could’ve gone either way. Judge Glenn Feldman had it 115-112 for Broner, which was reasonable. That’s not the case for Tom Carusone and especially Peter Hary, who scored it 116-111 and 117-110 for Broner.

That means Hary gave Broner nine of the 12 rounds, which wasn’t reasonable.

I’m also not big on CompuBox statistics, which I believe are sometimes inaccurate and certainly inconclusive. However, they often provide another perspective from which to analyze a fight. And the numbers seemed to reflect reality on Saturday.

Consider that Broner didn’t out-land Santiago in any round yet Hary gave him nine of them. Yes, Broner had some success with his jab but Santiago landed 2½ times more power shots (124 to 49) than he did. Even if CompuBox is off — and I’m not saying it was — it’s clear that Santiago landed more meaningful blows.

Doesn’t make sense.

And while a point deduction for punching after the bell in the fourth round played no role in the decision – thank goodness – it was a genuine head scratcher. A commission official acknowledged what was clear on replay video, that both fighters threw punches after the bell rang.

According to the broadcast team, the official justified the decision to dock only Santiago a point because his punch came “way after the bell.” Huh? It was almost as if they wanted Broner to win.

Again, doesn’t make sense.

I don’t have a problem with Broner getting the decision. He rallied in the later rounds to close the gap, from my perspective. At the same time, scores that are far too wide and a strange decision by the officials leave a bad taste in my mouth.

***

RABBIT PUNCHES

As Broner has said, A.B. is going to be A.B. He’s going to make outlandish comments. That’s who he is and it’s obviously one reason people find him interesting.

However, his profanity-laced tirade against unofficial Showtime scorer Steve Farhood was unnecessary. Farhood scored the fight as I did, 114-113 for Santiago, which obviously irked Broner.

“F— Steve Farhood,” he said to punctuate his comments on the subject.

The guess here is that Broner has had objections to Farhood’s scoring or comments in the past, which might explain his over-the-top anger. That doesn’t excuse his reaction, though. Everyone who knows Farhood knows he’s an honest and capable broadcaster. He didn’t deserve that verbal attack. …

Otto Wallin (22-1, 14 KOs) probably isn’t in the class of Tyson Fury (against whom he lost a decision) or Anthony Joshua but he might be the next best thing.

The 6-foot-5½-inch Swede looked sharper than ever against 6-foot-7 Dominic Breazeale (20-3, 18 KOs) on the Broner-Santiago card, outclassing the former title challenger to win a well-deserved unanimous decision.

Wallin is quick and athletic for a man his size. He’s a good, disciplined boxer. He doesn’t have unusual power but he can do some damage. Breazeale’s battered face was an indication of that.

And you have to love Wallin’s post-fight comments. He was asked who he’d like to fight next and he responded by saying he only wants to get better.

I believe he’s a legitimate threat to any heavyweight contender and could one day pose a problem even for Fury or Joshua. …

Robert Easter Jr. (23-1-1, 14 KOs) gave a strong performance in his unanimous-decision victory over Ryan Martin (24-2, 14 KOs) on the Broner-Santiago card. His jab should be a model for other fighters. It found the mark the entire fight and threw Martin completely off his game.

Easter, a former lightweight titleholder, is ready to face a contender at junior welterweight.

[lawrence-related id=17977,17966,17962,17959,17956]

Oscar Valdez’s thunderous knockout of Miguel Berchelt stunned the boxing world

Have we already seen the knockout of the year?

Oscar Valdez stopped Miguel Berchelt with a thunderous knockout with one second left in Round 10 of their junior lightweight bout Saturday night.

Valdez, a 30-year-old from Mexico, was an underdog but bothered Berchelt, his 29-year old countryman, all night with his quickness and a relentless barrage of left hooks and jabs to claim the WBC super featherweight belt at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.

Valdez landed 50 more punches that Berchelt (149 to 99) and it showed, as many on Twitter were calling for the fight to be stopped before the final sequence that left Valdez — who had lost only one pro fight, in 2014 — sprawled on the mat.

There’s that left hand again.

Berchelt stayed down on the canvas for several frightening minutes before being taken to a nearby hospital. A CT scan reportedly came back clear and he was expected to be released, according to his camp.

We’re early in the year, obviously, but the Twitter hype train immediately dubbed this the knockout of the year. I’m not sure that we should be giving that title to a punch thrown at a clearly staggered fighter, but let’s look at some angles of this anyway.

Here’s my favorite one. Slow motion makes you realize exactly how Valdez won against the bigger fighter:

Valdez, who was raised in Arizona, previously held the WBO featherweight title and is a two-time Olympian. His win moves him to 29-0 with 23 knockouts and sets up a potential fight with former American Olympian Shakur Stevenson, who won Silver in Rio and is 15-0 in his professional career.

Stevenson was in attendance last night:

And had one clear takeaway from that stunning win:

Valdez heard that Stevenson wanted to fight and said, “Let’s do it. I just want to keep on fighting and give the fans what they want.”

Oscar Valdez gives virtuoso performance, stops Miguel Berchelt

Oscar Valdez dominates Miguel Berchelt en route to a 10th-round knockout Saturday in Las Vegas.

Sometimes it all comes together in a magic moment on the biggest stage. That’s what happened with Oscar Valdez on Saturday.

Valdez, an underdog against highly regarded Miguel Berchelt, took him apart before stopping him with a monstrous left hook in the 10th round to take Berchelt’s 130-pound title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Valdez (29-0, 23 KOs) was a respected contender entering the fight – he’s a former featherweight titleholder – but he had looked so-so in his past few fights. Meanwhile, Berchelt (37-2, 33 KOs) was making the seventh defense of his WBC title. All but one of his successful defenses ended inside the distance, a testament to his punching power.

Hence the odds in Berchelt’s favor, around 3½-1 at the opening bell.

The problem for Berchelt is that the best possible version of Valdez showed up on Saturday. He was too quick, too athletic and – surprise, surprise – too powerful for his fellow Mexican.

Valdez opened the fight boxing cautiously, jabbing, throwing power shots here and there, taking his time. Then, about two minutes into Round 4, Valdez hurt Berchelt with a left hook and it was downhill for the then-champion.

Oscar Valdez (left) had his way with Miguel Berchelt all night. Mikey Williams / Top Rank Inc. via Getty Images)

Valdez continued to throw – and land – big shots, including another left hook that sent Berchelt into the ropes for the first knockdown in the final seconds of the round.

Berchelt regained his footing by the middle of Round 5  and had his best rounds in six and seven, in which he put heavy pressure on Valdez and landed enough to punches to begin to get back into the fight.

However, Valdez got back to landing hard shots in Round 8 and then put Berchelt down again in Round 9, courtesy of a right uppercut followed by a left-right-left combination. Berchelt got up and survived but he was struggling.

Then came the end. Valdez was in control of Round 10 when, a split second before the bell rang, Berchelt ran into a perfect left hook and fell flat on his face.

Referee Russell Mora didn’t bother to count, waving off the fight immediately. The official time was 2:59.

Berchelt, who was rolled onto his back by one of his handlers, gave fans some scary moments as he lay motionless but he was able to walk to out of the ring with some help. He was later taken to a hospital.

For Valdez, it was the performance of his career, a dominating victory over one of the hottest fighters in the world that gave him a coveted championship belt. To say that it was a defining moment for him is an understatement.

He was understandably ecstatic after the fight. And defiant.

“There’s nothing better than proving people wrong,” he said. “I have a list of people who doubted me. My idols doubted me. Boxing analysts doubted me. They said Miguel Berchelt was going to knock me out.

“I got a message to tell everybody: Don’t let nobody tell you what you can and can’t do. Always work hard and be disciplined in life, try to do your best, and anything is possible.”

Valdez was asked who he wants next but was still in the moment.

“I don’t know,” he said. “… Any champion out there. I heard that Shakur Stevenson wants to fight. Let’s do it. I just want to keep on fighting and give the fans what they want.”

The fans want to witness great fights and great performances, like the one Valdez gave them on Saturday.

Oscar Valdez gives virtuoso performance, stops Miguel Berchelt

Oscar Valdez dominates Miguel Berchelt en route to a 10th-round knockout Saturday in Las Vegas.

Sometimes it all comes together in a magic moment on the biggest stage. That’s what happened with Oscar Valdez on Saturday.

Valdez, an underdog against highly regarded Miguel Berchelt, took him apart before stopping him with a monstrous left hook in the 10th round to take Berchelt’s 130-pound title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Valdez (29-0, 23 KOs) was a respected contender entering the fight – he’s a former featherweight titleholder – but he had looked so-so in his past few fights. Meanwhile, Berchelt (37-2, 33 KOs) was making the seventh defense of his WBC title. All but one of his successful defenses ended inside the distance, a testament to his punching power.

Hence the odds in Berchelt’s favor, around 3½-1 at the opening bell.

The problem for Berchelt is that the best possible version of Valdez showed up on Saturday. He was too quick, too athletic and – surprise, surprise – too powerful for his fellow Mexican.

Valdez opened the fight boxing cautiously, jabbing, throwing power shots here and there, taking his time. Then, about two minutes into Round 4, Valdez hurt Berchelt with a left hook and it was downhill for the then-champion.

Oscar Valdez (left) had his way with Miguel Berchelt all night. Mikey Williams / Top Rank Inc. via Getty Images)

Valdez continued to throw – and land – big shots, including another left hook that sent Berchelt into the ropes for the first knockdown in the final seconds of the round.

Berchelt regained his footing by the middle of Round 5  and had his best rounds in six and seven, in which he put heavy pressure on Valdez and landed enough to punches to begin to get back into the fight.

However, Valdez got back to landing hard shots in Round 8 and then put Berchelt down again in Round 9, courtesy of a right uppercut followed by a left-right-left combination. Berchelt got up and survived but he was struggling.

Then came the end. Valdez was in control of Round 10 when, a split second before the bell rang, Berchelt ran into a perfect left hook and fell flat on his face.

Referee Russell Mora didn’t bother to count, waving off the fight immediately. The official time was 2:59.

Berchelt, who was rolled onto his back by one of his handlers, gave fans some scary moments as he lay motionless but he was able to walk to out of the ring with some help. He was later taken to a hospital.

For Valdez, it was the performance of his career, a dominating victory over one of the hottest fighters in the world that gave him a coveted championship belt. To say that it was a defining moment for him is an understatement.

He was understandably ecstatic after the fight. And defiant.

“There’s nothing better than proving people wrong,” he said. “I have a list of people who doubted me. My idols doubted me. Boxing analysts doubted me. They said Miguel Berchelt was going to knock me out.

“I got a message to tell everybody: Don’t let nobody tell you what you can and can’t do. Always work hard and be disciplined in life, try to do your best, and anything is possible.”

Valdez was asked who he wants next but was still in the moment.

“I don’t know,” he said. “… Any champion out there. I heard that Shakur Stevenson wants to fight. Let’s do it. I just want to keep on fighting and give the fans what they want.”

The fans want to witness great fights and great performances, like the one Valdez gave them on Saturday.

Miguel Berchelt, Oscar Valdez make weight for title fight

Miguel Berchelt and Oscar Valdez on Friday both weighed in at the division limit of 130 pounds for their fight Saturday.

Miguel Berchelt and Oscar Valdez cleared the final hurdle before their fight Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas (ESPN).

Berchelt, who will be defending his WBC junior lightweight title, and No. 1-ranked Valdez weighed in at the division limit of 130 pounds on Friday afternoon.

The Mexicans were scheduled to meet in December but the bout was postponed after Berchelt tested positive for COVID-19.

Berchelt (37-1, 33 KOs) is about a 3½ favorite but that means nothing to him.

“I’m not going to step into the ring feeling that way,” he said through a translator. “All I know is I’m going to go in there and give everything. More important, you’ll see all the hard work I put in in gym.

“We’re going to come way with the huge victory.”

[lawrence-related id=17874,17858]

Valdez (28-0, 22 KOs) said his mental toughness will be the difference in the fight.

“I prepared myself 100 percent for this,” he said. “I seriously doubt he trained harder than me. … [And] I’ve been tested before. I fought with an injured rib, a broken jaw, and I’ve been sent to the canvas several times. And I always fight through it.

“So there’s nothing I haven’t seen.”

Berchelt will be making the seventh defense of the belt he won by stopping Francisco Vargas in the 11th round of a classic brawl in January 2017.

The 29-year-old, a terrific boxer who can also end any fight in an instant, has stopped his past five official opponents.

He was last in the ring this past June, when he knocked out Eleazar Valenzuela in six rounds in Mexico City. However, the fight wasn’t sanctioned as a result of coronavirus restrictions. Thus, the result is not recognized.

Valdez, a 30-year-old who lives in the Los Angeles area, is a former 126-pound beltholder who will be fighting for a 130-pound title for the first time.

He’s coming off a solid performance against Jayson Velez this past July, putting the Puerto Rican veteran down three times and stopping him in the 10th and final round. That was his second fight at 130 pounds.

Valdez has been training alongside Canelo Alvarez in the camp of Eddy Reynoso.

On the undercard, junior lightweight prospect Gabriel Flores (19-0, 6 KOs) of Stockton, Calif., will face Puerto Rican Jayson Velez () in a scheduled 10-round bout.

Flores and Velez both weighed 132 pounds.

Miguel Berchelt, Oscar Valdez make weight for title fight

Miguel Berchelt and Oscar Valdez on Friday both weighed in at the division limit of 130 pounds for their fight Saturday.

Miguel Berchelt and Oscar Valdez cleared the final hurdle before their fight Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas (ESPN).

Berchelt, who will be defending his WBC junior lightweight title, and No. 1-ranked Valdez weighed in at the division limit of 130 pounds on Friday afternoon.

The Mexicans were scheduled to meet in December but the bout was postponed after Berchelt tested positive for COVID-19.

Berchelt (37-1, 33 KOs) is about a 3½ favorite but that means nothing to him.

“I’m not going to step into the ring feeling that way,” he said through a translator. “All I know is I’m going to go in there and give everything. More important, you’ll see all the hard work I put in in gym.

“We’re going to come way with the huge victory.”

[lawrence-related id=17874,17858]

Valdez (28-0, 22 KOs) said his mental toughness will be the difference in the fight.

“I prepared myself 100 percent for this,” he said. “I seriously doubt he trained harder than me. … [And] I’ve been tested before. I fought with an injured rib, a broken jaw, and I’ve been sent to the canvas several times. And I always fight through it.

“So there’s nothing I haven’t seen.”

Berchelt will be making the seventh defense of the belt he won by stopping Francisco Vargas in the 11th round of a classic brawl in January 2017.

The 29-year-old, a terrific boxer who can also end any fight in an instant, has stopped his past five official opponents.

He was last in the ring this past June, when he knocked out Eleazar Valenzuela in six rounds in Mexico City. However, the fight wasn’t sanctioned as a result of coronavirus restrictions. Thus, the result is not recognized.

Valdez, a 30-year-old who lives in the Los Angeles area, is a former 126-pound beltholder who will be fighting for a 130-pound title for the first time.

He’s coming off a solid performance against Jayson Velez this past July, putting the Puerto Rican veteran down three times and stopping him in the 10th and final round. That was his second fight at 130 pounds.

Valdez has been training alongside Canelo Alvarez in the camp of Eddy Reynoso.

On the undercard, junior lightweight prospect Gabriel Flores (19-0, 6 KOs) of Stockton, Calif., will face Puerto Rican Jayson Velez () in a scheduled 10-round bout.

Flores and Velez both weighed 132 pounds.

Miguel Berchelt one level above Oscar Valdez … at the moment

Miguel Berchelt is a level above Oscar Valdez going into their fight Saturday in Las Vegas.

Miguel Berchelt and Oscar Valdez are setting a high bar for themselves.

The fighters, undoubtedly egged on by their promoters, are describing their fight on Saturday in Las Vegas as an all-Mexican matchup worthy of such classics as Marco Antonio Barrera vs. Erik Morales or Rafael Marquez vs. Israel Vazquez.

And who knows? It might turn out that way.

However, there’s a reason Berchelt is a 4-1 favorite, which is a wide spread for boxing. Berchelt is one of the best fighters in the world pound for pound while Valdez is still trying to establish himself as one of the best in the business.

Berchelt (37-1, 33 KOs) is a superb boxer-puncher who slipped up in his 22nd fight – getting stopped by the forgettable Luis Florez in one round – but he has been virtually untouchable since then.

The 29-year-old resident of Merida is 16-0 (15 knockouts) after his setback, 17-0 if you count his fight in June that was not sanctioned. And he hasn’t been knocking off pushovers. During that stretch, he beat Francisco Vargas, Takashi Miura, Jonathan Barros, Miguel Roman, Vargas again and Jason Sosa.

Berchelt (right) last fought last June, when he stopped Eleazar Valenzuela in a non-sanctioned bout.  Mikey Williams / Top Rank

Berchelt won his WBC 130-pound title in that first fight with Vargas, a classic brawl in 2017 that ended in a dramatic 11th-round knockout. He has successfully defended six times.

It’s one of the most impressive ongoing runs of any fighter in the world.

Berchelt has tight technique but he’s known for his power. Those 15 knockouts in his last 16 fights – against mostly top-tier talent – catches the eye. Power comes naturally but he’s also an unusually big 130-pounder, which adds to ability to hurt opponents.

And he seems to push himself unusually hard to realize the destiny he sees for himself. He’s not satisfied winning a world title or two. He thinks bigger than that.

“I believe when you dream, you have to dream big,” Berchelt told ESPN recently. “My first dream was to become a champion. I did that. Right now, I know that there’s another level, there’s a top level.”

Valdez (28-0, 22 KOs) is much farther from that top level than Berchelt.

Oscar Valdez (left) defeated Jayson Velez last July but looked only so-so. Mikey Williams / Top Rank

That doesn’t mean he’s isn’t an elite fighter. He is. He’s a two-time Olympian who held the WBO featherweight title from 2016 to 2019, making six successful defenses. That’s impressive stuff.

The problem is that he hasn’t quite reached the highest echelons of the sport, as many expected of him. And he hasn’t looked particularly good in his last two fights, a decision over late replacement Adam Lopez (in which Valdez went down) in November 2019 and a 10th-round knockout of Jayson Velez last July.

Obviously, Valdez got the job done in both fights. He just didn’t look like a threat to someone like Berchelt in the process.

One possible reason for that is this: Those were his first two fights as a full-fledged junior lightweight. He might’ve been growing into the division, which begs the question: Is he still growing into the division?

If he is, that might not bode well for him against a beast like Berchelt.

Of course, Valdez has heard such talk. He knows what the odds are, he knows what people are saying. And he couldn’t care less. He has the confidence of a two-time Olympian and former world titleholder, even against Berchelt.

“Just because some expert or boxing analyst says somebody is going to lose doesn’t mean that’s going to happen,” he said on a conference call. “… I wake up every morning and visualize myself as a winner. I’ve always done that … [and] so far it has gone well.

“I know it’s not going to be an easy fight … but no opponent out there is invincible. That’s why I work hard, to prove everyone wrong and achieve my dream.”

We’ll see whose dream comes true.

[lawrence-related id=17858,10994,11995]

Miguel Berchelt one level above Oscar Valdez … at the moment

Miguel Berchelt is a level above Oscar Valdez going into their fight Saturday in Las Vegas.

Miguel Berchelt and Oscar Valdez are setting a high bar for themselves.

The fighters, undoubtedly egged on by their promoters, are describing their fight on Saturday in Las Vegas as an all-Mexican matchup worthy of such classics as Marco Antonio Barrera vs. Erik Morales or Rafael Marquez vs. Israel Vazquez.

And who knows? It might turn out that way.

However, there’s a reason Berchelt is a 4-1 favorite, which is a wide spread for boxing. Berchelt is one of the best fighters in the world pound for pound while Valdez is still trying to establish himself as one of the best in the business.

Berchelt (37-1, 33 KOs) is a superb boxer-puncher who slipped up in his 22nd fight – getting stopped by the forgettable Luis Florez in one round – but he has been virtually untouchable since then.

The 29-year-old resident of Merida is 16-0 (15 knockouts) after his setback, 17-0 if you count his fight in June that was not sanctioned. And he hasn’t been knocking off pushovers. During that stretch, he beat Francisco Vargas, Takashi Miura, Jonathan Barros, Miguel Roman, Vargas again and Jason Sosa.

Berchelt (right) last fought last June, when he stopped Eleazar Valenzuela in a non-sanctioned bout.  Mikey Williams / Top Rank

Berchelt won his WBC 130-pound title in that first fight with Vargas, a classic brawl in 2017 that ended in a dramatic 11th-round knockout. He has successfully defended six times.

It’s one of the most impressive ongoing runs of any fighter in the world.

Berchelt has tight technique but he’s known for his power. Those 15 knockouts in his last 16 fights – against mostly top-tier talent – catches the eye. Power comes naturally but he’s also an unusually big 130-pounder, which adds to ability to hurt opponents.

And he seems to push himself unusually hard to realize the destiny he sees for himself. He’s not satisfied winning a world title or two. He thinks bigger than that.

“I believe when you dream, you have to dream big,” Berchelt told ESPN recently. “My first dream was to become a champion. I did that. Right now, I know that there’s another level, there’s a top level.”

Valdez (28-0, 22 KOs) is much farther from that top level than Berchelt.

Oscar Valdez (left) defeated Jayson Velez last July but looked only so-so. Mikey Williams / Top Rank

That doesn’t mean he’s isn’t an elite fighter. He is. He’s a two-time Olympian who held the WBO featherweight title from 2016 to 2019, making six successful defenses. That’s impressive stuff.

The problem is that he hasn’t quite reached the highest echelons of the sport, as many expected of him. And he hasn’t looked particularly good in his last two fights, a decision over late replacement Adam Lopez (in which Valdez went down) in November 2019 and a 10th-round knockout of Jayson Velez last July.

Obviously, Valdez got the job done in both fights. He just didn’t look like a threat to someone like Berchelt in the process.

One possible reason for that is this: Those were his first two fights as a full-fledged junior lightweight. He might’ve been growing into the division, which begs the question: Is he still growing into the division?

If he is, that might not bode well for him against a beast like Berchelt.

Of course, Valdez has heard such talk. He knows what the odds are, he knows what people are saying. And he couldn’t care less. He has the confidence of a two-time Olympian and former world titleholder, even against Berchelt.

“Just because some expert or boxing analyst says somebody is going to lose doesn’t mean that’s going to happen,” he said on a conference call. “… I wake up every morning and visualize myself as a winner. I’ve always done that … [and] so far it has gone well.

“I know it’s not going to be an easy fight … but no opponent out there is invincible. That’s why I work hard, to prove everyone wrong and achieve my dream.”

We’ll see whose dream comes true.

[lawrence-related id=17858,10994,11995]

Fight Week: Miguel Berchelt vs. Oscar Valdez, Adrien Broner’s return

Fight Week: Miguel Berchelt vs. Oscar Valdez and Adrien Broner’s return highlight a busy weekend.

FIGHT WEEK

Miguel Berchelt vs. Oscar Valdez and the return of Adrian Broner highlight another busy weekend of boxing

***

JANELSON FIGUEROA BOCACHICA (16-0, 11 KOs) VS.
MARK REYES JR. (14-0, 12 KOs)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7JnwNWwdBU

  • When: Wednesday, Feb. 17
  • Where: Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Conn
  • TV/Stream: Showtime (ShoBox: The Next Generation)
  • Division: Welterweight (147 pounds)
  • At stake: No titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Vladimir Shishkin vs. Sena Agbeko, super middleweights; Alejandro Guerrero vs. Abraham Montoya, lightweights; Timur Ferefov vs. Argenis Espana, middleweights
  • Prediction: Bocachica KO 8
  • Background: Bocachica and Reyes are legitimate 147-pound prospects. The former might be best known for having knocked down Teofimo Lopez in sparring a few years ago (see video) but the 22-year-old boxer-puncher from Detroit seems to be a complete fighter. He last fought this past October, when he stopped Nicklaus Flaz in the first round. That was Bocachica’s ShoBox debut. Reyes, a 24-year-old from Tampa, Fla., is building a reputation as power puncher. He has stopped 12 of his 14 opponents, including his last nine. He’s coming off a 47-second knockout of Diego Vicente Perez in November. Both Bocachica and Reyes are fighting in their first scheduled 10-rounder.

***

SEAN MCCOMB (11-0, 5 KOs)
VS. GAVIN GWYNNE (12-2, 2 KOS)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zW5EBJvGaUA

  • When: Friday, Feb. 19
  • Where: Bolton, England
  • TV/Stream: ESPN+
  • Division: Lightweight (135 pounds)
  • At stake: Vacant Commonwealth title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: DP Carr vs. Dean Dodge, junior lightweights; Darren Tetley vs. Samuel Antwi, welterweight
  • Prediction: McComb UD
  • Background: McComb, a 28-year-old southpaw, is one of the top young fighters from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He isn’t particularly powerful but he has demonstrated consistently against second-tier opposition that he’s good boxer. He’s coming off a unanimous-decision victory over Siar Ozgul this past August, which was the second scheduled 10-rounder of his career. Gwynne, a 30-year-old Welshman, had been a good prospect but ran into problems in 2019 and last year. He has lost two of his past three bouts, both setbacks coming in British title fights. Joe Cordina outpointed him in August 2019 and James Tennyson stopped him in six rounds a year later. McComb hopes to build on his momentum; Gwynne is fighting to remain relevant.

***

MIGUEL BERCHELT (37-1, 33 KOs)
VS. OSCAR VALDEZ (28-0, 22 KOs)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPNLEZCyUeo

  • When: Saturday, Feb. 20
  • Where: MGM Grand, Las Vegas
  • TV/Stream: ESPN
  • Division: Junior lightweight (130 pounds)
  • At stake: Berchelt’s WBC title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: Berchelt, Honorable Mention
  • Odds: Berchelt 3-1 favorite
  • Also on the card: Gabriel Flores Jr. vs. Jayson Velez, junior lightweights
  • Prediction: Berchelt KO 10
  • Background: The Mexicans were scheduled to meet in December but the bout was postponed after Berchelt tested positive for COVID-19. Berchelt will be making the seventh defense of the belt he won by stopping Francisco Vargas in the 11th round of a classic brawl in January 2017. The 29-year-old, a terrific boxer who can also end any fight in an instant, has stopped his past five official opponents. He was last in the ring this past June, when he knocked out Eleazar Valenzuela in six rounds in Mexico City. However, the fight wasn’t sanctioned as a result of coronavirus restrictions. Thus, the result is not recognized. Valdez, a 30-year-old who lives in the Los Angeles area, is a former 126-pound beltholder who will be fighting for a 130-pound title for the first time. He’s coming off a solid performance against Jayson Velez this past July, putting the Puerto Rican veteran down three times and stopping him in the 10th and final round. That was his second fight at 130 pounds. Valdez has been training alongside Canelo Alvarez in the camp of Eddy Reyenoso.

[lawrence-related id=10994,6976]

***

ADRIEN BRONER (33-4-1, 24 KOs)
VS. JOVANIE SANTIAGO (14-0-1, 10 KOs)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM9zTdzI98k

  • When: Saturday, Feb. 20
  • Where: Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Conn.
  • TV/Stream: Showtime
  • Division: Junior welterweight (140 pounds)
  • At stake: No titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Broner 14-1 favorite
  • Also on the card: Robert Easter vs. Ryan Martin, junior welterweights; Otto Wallin vs. Dominic Breazeale, heavyweights
  • Prediction: Broner KO 7
  • Background: Broner garners the attention of a elite athlete but the truth is he hasn’t had success for years. The four-division titleholder hasn’t won a fight since he narrowly outpointed Adrian Granados in February 2017, four years ago. He is 0-2-1 since then, although the losses came against Mikey Garcia (140 pounds) in July 2017 and Manny Pacquiao (147) in January of 2019. He drew with Jessie Vargas between those setbacks. The good news for Broner is that he’s only 31. And he will be fighting Santiago at 140 pounds, at which he won’t be giving away size and strength advantages. Broner will have been out of the ring since the Pacquiao fight, which was more than two years ago. Santiago is a 31-year-old unknown from Puerto Rico. He has a gaudy record but has faced no one of note. His highest-profile victory might’ve been a decision over a faded DeMarcus Corley in 2017. He has won 12 consecutive fights since a draw in his third outing. On the undercard, heavyweights Otto Wallin and Dominic Breazeale hope to position themselves for a title shot. Wallin (21-1, 14 KOs) bounced back from his loss to titleholder Tyson Fury by stopping Travis Kauffman in August. Breazeale (20-2, 18 KOs) is coming off a first-round knockout loss against then-champion Deontay Wilder in May 2019. The Los Angeles-area fighter  has failed in two attempts to win a major title.

[lawrence-related id=17652]

***

DAVID AVANESYAN (26-3-1, 14 KOs)
VS. JOSH KELLY (10-0-1, 6 KOs)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQXyDHoQpyw

  • When: Saturday, Feb. 20
  • Where: SSE Arena, London
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Welterweight (147 pounds)
  • At stake: No titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Kelly 1½-1 favorite
  • Also on the card: Anthony Fowler vs. Jorge Fortea, junior middleweights; Amy Timlin vs. Carly Skelly, junior featherweights; Florian Marku vs. Rylan Charlton, welterweights
  • Prediction: Kelly SD
  • Background: Avanesyan, a 32-year-old Armenian-Russian based in the U.K., hopes to bolster his position as a title contender. The pressure fighter is the European welterweight beltholder and is ranked in the Top 10 of all four major sanctioning bodies. He lost to Lamont Peterson and Egidijus Kavaliauskas in a span of three fights in 2017 and 2018 but has scored three consecutive knockouts since, the last against Jose del Rio in December 2019. Kelly, a 26-year-old from England, is at a crossroads. He was a rising prospect until he drew with Ray Robinson in June 2019, a fight many believe the American deserved to win. The 2016 Olympian must prove against Avanesyan that he can compete at a high level if he hopes to contend for a world title one day.