Miguel Berchelt vs. Maxwell Awuku – Official weights

By Boxing News - 02/10/2018 - Comments

Image: Miguel Berchelt vs. Maxwell Awuku – Official weights

By Jim Dower: WBC super featherweight champion Miguel Berchelt (32-1, 28 KOs) weighed in at 130 pounds on Friday for his weigh-in for his title defense against 2nd tier fighter Maxwell Awuku (44-3-1, 30 KOs) for their fight this Saturday night at the Plaza de Toros, in Cancun, Mexico. The Ghanaian Awuku weighed in at 129 lbs.

(Photo credit: World Boxing Council)

The 5’7” Berchelt, 26, will be fighting in front of his Mexican boxing fans in Cancun, and he plans on giving them a show in what figures to be a mismatch against the taller but far less talented 5’8 ½” Awuku. This is title defense No.2 for Berchelt for his WBC belt that he won last year in stopping champion Francisco Vargas by an 11th round knockout in a one-sided fight in January 2017. That performance by Berchelt won over a lot of boxing fans worldwide. Berchelt looked equally impressive in his first defense of his belt in defeating former WBC 135 lb. champion Takashi Miura by a 12 round unanimous decision in July of last year in July in Inglewood, California. The victory for Berchelt sent Miura into retirement.

”Thanks to all those who have done their part to allow me to be here in Cancun fighting in front of my very own people. I thank my team and the people who`ve loyally followed my career,” Berchelt said.

Awuku is confident despite being over-matched as he is. He expects to beat Berchelt and shock the world on Saurday night. Awuku is a good puncher, so that will be his best chance of winning this fight. He’s not going to out-box a fighter like Berchelt. Awuku has lost only 1 fight in the last 8 years in losing to Daud Yordan by a 12 round unanimous decision in June 2015. Yordan is a good fighter. Awuku gave him a very tough fight in losing a close decision.

“I very much appreciate the hospitality of the people of Cancun. I know I’m not well known but I’m sure will win the WBC belt,” Awuku said.

Awuku is coming into the fight with Berchelt with a 4-fight winning streak against pedestrian opposition. That’s the one knock on Awuku. He’s not been losing, but the guys that he’s been facing have been poor fighters without the talent needed to beat him. When Awuku has fought good fighters he’s lost to them in Liam Walsh and Yordan.

Awuku plans on beating Berchelt and then enjoying himself afterwards by visiting the beautiful beaches in Cancun. Berchelt is going to make sure that when Awuku visits those beaches; he’ll be doing it in coming off of a loss to him on Saturday night.

Berchelt was going to defend against former champion Cristian Mijares, but he backed out, as did another scheduled opponent Carlo Magali.