By Aragon Garcia: A fight is in the works between WBC super featherweight champion Miguel ‘El Alacran’ Berchelt (37-1, 33 KOs) and undefeated Oscar Valdez (27-0, 21 KOs) for May 9, according to ESPNMX. The Berchelt vs. Valdez fight will take place one week after Saul Canelo Alvarez’s next fight on May 2, possibly in Las Vegas.
Thus far, only the date has been talked about for the Berchelt-Valdez fight. The venue still needs to be determined. The two-time Olympian Vargas has fought all over the U.S since he turned professional in 2012, but many of his fights have taken place in Las Vegas.
Berchelt will be hard fight for Valdez
For the 28-year-old Berchelt, this will be his 7th defense of his World Boxing Council 130-lb title he won against Francisco Vargas in 2017 in an 11th round TKO. Oscar Valdez has looked flawed in many of his fights as a professional, and he might not be ready for a seasoned fighter like Berchelt. This is a good opportunity for Valdez and Berchelt to get a nice payday.
Last year, Berchelt defeated Vargas in what many boxing fans saw as a pointless rematch in May 2019. That was more of a ‘business’ level fight than one that had any real meaning. Vargas clearly didn’t rate a second fight with Berchelt after taking 2 soft fights against Rod Salka and Stephen Smith. The casual boxing fans wanted to see Berchelt and Vargas fight again, so Top Rank put it together.
Berchelt hasn’t fought anyone that was dangerous to his title reign in his seven defenses. Miguel ‘Mickey’ Roman (62-13, 47 KOs) gave Berchelt a hard fight in 2018 before losing by a 9th round knockout. Former WBC super featherweight champion Takashi Miura staggered Berchelt in a losing effort in 2017
Valdez, 29, had a surprisingly tough time last November in beating Adam Lopez (13-2, 6 KOs) in Las Vegas. Although the former WBO featherweight champion Valdez stopped Lopez in the 7th round, he was dropped in round 2. Lopez was putting hands on Valdez, and making it look like he belonged in there with him. That was surprising to see Valdez struggle so badly against a fighter that he was supposed to beat with ease. The stoppage was controversial, as Lopez didn’t look hurt.
Valdez has been brought back slowly since Quigg fight
Top Rank Boxing has bringing Valdez back slowly since he suffered a broken jaw in his grueling fight against in March 2018. Valdez won the fight by a 12 round decision, but he battered by Quigg in the early rounds when he tried to slug with him. Once Valdez adapted started using his boxing skills, he was able to take control of the fight and cruise down the stretch.
Since Valdez’s hard fight against Quigg, Top Rank has matched him softly against these fighters:
- Carmine Tommasone
- Jason Sanchez
- Adam Lopez
All three of those fights for Lopez took place under the guidance of new trainer Eddy Reynoso. Lopez doesn’t look improved since taking on Reynoso as a trainer, and he may not be able to benefit from him as his coach. Reynoso trains Canelo Alvarez too, but he’s a fighter that would have blossomed under almost any trainer.
