Valdez Silences Doubters
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Joshua Garcia
For all of Boxing’s faults from its scoring from judges and failure to provide the matchups fans clamor for, it is still the sport which can produce the most intriguing and awesome results. In no other sport can a tremendous favorite entering a contest be handed such a brutal ending, and it was witnessed yet again in a place all too familiar with it.
Although not in the big arena, and without fans, the MGM Grand showcased another amazing result for the ages last Saturday night when Miguel Berchelt and Oscar Valdez stepped through the ropes. The entirety of fight week was spent focused on the Champion Miguel Berchelt, who was seen as a mismatch for Oscar Valdez. A two-inch height and reach advantage combined with Berchelt’s attacking style which earned him the name “Scorpion” in Spanish, were responsible for the surge in money being shelled out on him at Vegas sportsbooks.
All of that changed when the fighters showed at the MGM for the weigh-in Friday afternoon. A visibly weak Berchelt who barely made the 130 lb maximum, jumped off the stage and ran to food, a sign of a fighter who starved and struggled to make weight. Following the scales, the tide began to change around Berchelt.
As the opening bell rang, Oscar Valdez led by Trainer of the Year Eddie Reynoso embarked on the toughest test of his undefeated 27-fight career, being the small man in the 130-pound division. Valdez started with a stiff left jab that found Berchelt’s face regularly, causing it to trickle blood as early as the second round.
While Oscar Valdez continued to annoy and assualt Berchelt with the jab he began to mix in his other shots behind it, making them all the more effective. Focusing on the stopping or even slowing the jab, Miguel Berchelt began to take hooks and uppercuts from the powerful and quick Valdez. Berchelt’s perceived advantage of reach became a downfall as Valdez used his quick footwork to step into and throw hooks while stepping out to avoid any kind of counter from Berchelt. An obvious tactic gained by his work with Eddie Reynoso.
In the fourth round Valdez took his opportunity when it came, striking Berchelt’s left temple completely throwing him into a dance reminiscent of a newborn deer. Berchelt was saved by the ropes but was visibly out on his feet as the referee started the 10-count against him.
Surviving would become the theme of the night for Miguel. Following round four, he endured shot after shot to making it several more frames to round 10. Already dropped to the canvas twice in rounds four and nine, Oscar ended the night with one of the most vicious knockouts you will ever see.
When asked how Oscar Valdez pulled off such a large upset, not in beating Berchelt, but in the fashion he did so, he credited his doubters. A day before fight night Valdez’s idol, legend Julio Cesar Chavez picked his opponent to win, as well as the President of Mexico face timing with Berchelt before the fight to show his support. Without the backing of his President or his idol, Valdez became only the fourth Mexican boxer in history to win championships in both the 126 and 130-pound division. A 27-0 undefeated champion and superstar in the making.
