Miguel Berchelt wants Oscar Valdez Next!
On November 30, WBC super featherweight champion Miguel “El Alacran” Berchelt (37-1, 33 KO’s) went on a scouting mission for his next bout. Apparently, Berchelt has his eyes set on former WBO featherweight champion Oscar Valdez (27-0, 21 KO’s).
The two have been familiar with one another since the amateurs and even consider themselves to be friends. Yet, friends or not, the two professional fighters are not going to allow warm feelings to prevent the business at hand. Speaking through a translator, Berchelt shared his feelings regarding Valdez to FightHype.
“I’ve known Oscar for a long time, since we were in the amateurs. We were both in the same weight in the amateurs.
“The fight didn’t happen in the amateurs but now it can happen in the pros and it should be a great fight when you have two Mexicans in the ring.”
FRIENDSHIP WONT STOP THE FIGHT!
Berchelt admits being worried when Valdez was floored by late replacement Adam “Blunose” Lopez (13-2, 6 KO’s) in the second round. The Valdez v Lopez prizefight was a title eliminator to become the mandatory for Berchelt’s WBC strap.
Despite the knockdown, Valdez weathered the early storm and would go on to stop Lopez in the seventh round. Although it should be noted that while Valdez fought like a champion the stoppage was highly questionable.
With the briefly worrisome prizefight in his rear view mirror Valdez can now focus on the future. If Berchelt has his way the fellow Mexican pugilists will face each other next.
While the WBC champion’s end game goal is to unify, he doesn’t have any problem with taking on Valdez before the other belt holders.
“I was a little worried at first because you don’t normally see a 126 pounder knock down a super featherweight the way that he did.
“But, you know Oscar got up and he was able to fight after that and Lopez didn’t just come to lay down, he came there to give a good fight.
“And you have to give him [Valdez] credit, he was hurt, he came back strong and he was able to finish him [Lopez] off in a close fight.”
BERCHELT THE DESTRUCTIVE PUNCHER
Since the amateurs Berchelt and Valdez have flirted with an in-ring confrontation. Despite occupying the same weight division, the two skillful fighters never had the opportunity to clash inside the squared-circle.
El Alacran is confident that they will change that reality in the professional ranks.
At the moment, Berhcelt would have to be labeled as the favorite going into a Valdez fight. The stone-knuckled boxer has been extremely dominant in his seven title defenses, six of which have been won by way of knockout.
This is even more pronounced after Valdez’s second round scare with Lopez. Overall, Berchelt totes a formidable 87% knockout percentage.
To make matters a bit more daunting, Valdez just moved up to super featherweight. Instead of looking more physically dominant, the former WBO champion came across as notably more vulnerable.
Ahead of an impending duel with Berchelt this was the absolute worst time to display such a perceived weakness. Yet, with or without the knockdown, barring injury, the upcoming super featherweight showdown appears to be a “go.”
3kingsboxing will continue to keep an eye on this friendly feud.
By: Bakari Simpson
