LAS VEGAS – Many expected the fight for the junior WBC lightweight title on Saturday between Miguel Berchelt and Oscar Valdez to be a round-trip fight between two Mexican fighters. Ultimately, the violence was mainly in one-way traffic.
Valdez (29-0, 23 KOs), a former two-time WBO featherweight titleholder, marked a significant turn against Berchelt (38-2, 34 KOs) at the MGM Grand, swinging him with a left hook at the second final of the 10th round in one of the immediate favorites to the knockout of the year.
Valdez, who entered the fight as an over-240 underdog, claimed the WBC title from Berchelt and won the biggest victory of his professional career.
The impressive final shot may have overshadowed the fact that much smaller Valdez dominated the fight. He scored knockdowns in the fourth and tenth rounds and was well ahead on the scorecards of the three judges at the time of submission.
Judges had Valdez, who was born in Mexico but grew up in Arizona, ahead by scores of 89-80, 88-81 and 87-82.
Berchelt, whose only other professional loss came by technical knockout in 2014, remained with his back to the screen for several minutes, but eventually managed to sit and stand with help.
The left hook and jab were Valdez’s attack of choice, as he was skillful against Berchelt’s aggression. He had Berchelt out of his mind since the opening round, as he shot in and out with the jab, then surprised him with the left hook on top. Berchelt seemed to want to strike back with his characteristic power, but he was never comfortable with Valdez’s skill and speed.
In the third round, Berchelt was more or less chasing Valdez around the ring. The third round ended with Berchelt running after him and shooting forward.
Although it was not the strategy that Berchelt proposed, he had his moments. He scored with powerful kicks in Valdez’s body, and it looked like he could be turning the tide in the seventh, with Valdez repeatedly tying him in clinches to slow down.
But in the eighth, Valdez returned to his effective jab work, and made Berchelt miss along the strings.
The tenth round was brilliant for Valdez, who opened with combinations and made the referee look closely at Berchelt. The left hook removed proved to be a suitable ending.
Valdez surpassed Berchelt 149-99 in total punches and 103-64 in energy punches, according to CompuBox.
The win, which is Valdez’s third consecutive appearance with 130 pounds, could create a junior title fight between Valdez and Shakur Stevenson of Top Rank (15-0, 8 KOs), which was present inside the “bubble” in Saturday and has expressed interest in hiring Valdez. Top Rank President Todd DuBoef said he would love to set up a fight between the two undefeated junior lightweights.