An extraordinary performance, the result of a perfect tactical strategy, allowed Oscar Valdez (29-0-0, 23 KOs) to become the new WBC super featherweight world champion by dethroning the eve's favorite Miguel "El Alacran" Berchelt (37-2 -0.33 KO) with a brutal KO in the tenth round. The fight of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, from which a battle in pure Mexican style was expected, actually proved to be a true domination of the challenger, who never allowed the rival to enter the game. The reign of “Alacran” therefore ended in the seventh defense of the WBC title.
Those who anticipated a fierce battle from the start will be surprised to see three very tactical rounds at the opening, marked by a prolonged study phase. Since these initial skirmishes, however, a detail has emerged that would have affected the remainder of the fight, namely the considerable advantage of Valdez in terms of speed. The challenger approached the match by moving quickly on his legs and exploiting the width of the square, an attitude he had never exhibited in the past in such a marked way. In doing so he was able to track down the champion, constantly anticipating him with his jab and easily reading his intentions. On his own, Berchelt did not let go of his hands too much, limiting himself to a sterile pressure that, net of a decent right hook scored in the third round, produced little results.
The first twist took place in the fourth round: aware of having to raise the pace after a start favorable to his opponent, El Alacran began to park more frequently in front of Valdez who took the opportunity to score one of his infamous left hooks. The blow, which came precisely to the temple, made the champion stagger visibly, who for the remainder of the recovery was targeted with very hard combinations, remaining standing with only the strength of desperation until a few seconds from the saving bell, when yet another series of blows caused him to collapse against the ropes determining the first count of the evening. Despite having managed with great difficulty to cross the storm without sinking, Berchelt continued to show considerable discomfort in dealing with the evasive strategy and dangerous match-ups of his compatriot. His efforts to put the match back on track were based above all on nerves and courage, but not supported by a well-defined tactical idea, to the point that his attacks seemed more and more improvised and less and less convinced. Actually, after having had to take other very hard blows, the champion gave the illusory feeling of being able to reverse the trend during the strange seventh round, a fraction in which Valdez for two and a half minutes was limited to tie and run without react, as if he had run out of energy, before returning to activate his fearsome sudden hooks.
The challenger has begun to box with extreme safety, selecting his shots at best, risking very little and drunk the rival with his speed and his changes of direction. Achieved by a nice combination that started with a right uppercut and ended with two consecutive hooks, Berchelt collapsed again in the ninth round, managing to finish it with difficulty. However, nothing could save him in the next round, when a desperate and reckless attack attempt left him completely exposed, opening the way to a deadly match left hook. El Alacran collapsed forward and was immediately declared "out" by referee Russell Mora who cleared the entry of medical personnel as Valdez kicked off the celebrations. Minutes of intense apprehension followed, because the now former world champion lay for a long time and apparently unconscious before slowly recovering.
The superb victory of Valdez, in addition to leaving his unbeaten run intact, projects him in an overwhelming way among the great names of contemporary boxing. World champion in the second weight category after the featherweight one, the Mexican is in the prime of his boxing maturity, as evidenced by the considerable tactical improvements that have been seen in this circumstance and of which the great trainer Eddy Reynoso undoubtedly shares the responsibility. Moreover, there will be opportunities to continue to test themselves given the prominent names that the division offers at the moment, from the expert Leo Santa Cruz, to the insidious Joseph Diaz and Tevin Farmer, to the emerging Shakur Stevenson and several others.
On the other hand, it will be very difficult to recover for the loser after a blow of these proportions. Annihilated on all fronts, Miguel Berchelt will have to deal with the physical and psychological trauma that such a boxing lesson could leave him as his career progresses. the history of boxing is full of champions who have fallen and risen from their ashes, which is why it cannot be ruled out that the Mexican, who is still 29 years old, gets back on his feet and returns to give us fascinating battles as he has done in recent years.
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