Check out our live coverage of the WBC super-featherweight title fight between Mexican sluggers Miguel Berchelt and Oscar Valdez at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT on ESPN and ESPN+.
Top Rank Boxing is back with a main event that promises to be action packed.
WBC super-featherweight champion Miguel Berchelt (37-1-1 NC, 33 KOs) will put his belt on the line against friend and fellow Mexican power-puncher Oscar Valdez (28-2, 22 KOs) at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.
Berchelt has held that version of the 130 lbs title since 2017 and has wrecked nearly all of his opposition in subsequent defenses. He is a whirlwind of offense who can lead the dance and work off the counter, all while firing off combinations that attack the head and body and usually leave his opposition in a world of pain. Valdez is a former featherweight champion who’s recent move up in weight did have the intrigue of this fight potentially happening. Well now after a two-month delay due to Berchelt’s positive COVID-19 test, this fight is now reality.
While not as aggressive as Berchelt, Valdez is a willing scrapper and his recent efforts to rebrand himself as a more methodical boxer-puncher figure to be at odds with the fact that Berchelt will make you work at all times. It should be not just a great fight but if we’re lucky it’s a classic.
How to Watch, Start Time
Main card action on ESPN/ESPN+ begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT. The main event has an estimated 11 PM ET/8 PM PT start time, but it may be later depending on how long the co-main event goes. Prelims stream on ESPN+ at 6::30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT but chances are you’ll be watching the UFC at this time.
International viewers can catch this card on Fite.tv.
Here’s the full lineup. We will have play-by-play, results, and highlights for the main event:
Main Card – 10 PM ET/7 PM PT on ESPN & ESPN+
Miguel Berchelt vs. Oscar Valdez
Round 1 – Valdez probes with the jab to the body. Hard right to the body by Valdez. Berchelt with the jab in return. Feeling out process here. They land jabs on each other. Good jab by Berchelt. Miguel misses on the left hook. Doesn’t miss on the jab. Left hook and a right by Valdez and both of them miss. Slow burner. 10-9 Valdez.
Round 2 – Left hook by Berchelt. A 1-2 and the right lands partially for Berchelt. Quick combo by Valdez. Berchelt with a couple of jabs. The jab working well for Valdez and he’s made Berchelt bleed out of his nose. More good jab work by Valdez. 20-18 Valdez.
Round 3 – Still not a lot of action here in this highly anticipated fight but it looks like Valdez is getting the better of things. Lands another sharp jab. Two jabs by Berchelt. Left hook by Valdez and another jab scores. Valdez looks like the quicker fighter and he avoids a Berchelt combination. Berchelt looks quite sluggish. Good right hand by Berchelt but he looks a step slow. Left hook is blocked by Berchelt as he futilely chases Valdez. 30-27 Valdez.
Round 4 – Good jabbing by Valdez. And a left hook upstairs. Berchelt stalking and lands a good right hand. Left hook and a right hand by Berchelt who is swinging wildly. Left hook hurts Berchelt! He’s rocked! His legs are gone! Valdez has his chance! They’re swinging away ! And there’s a huge uppercut! Berchelt is in all sorts of trouble! Berchelt landing some shots in return! And now back comes Berchelt as Valdez is unable to seal the deal! At least not yet! Left hook and HOW IS BERCHELT NOT DOWN YET?! VALDEZ ROCKS BERCHELT AGAIN AND HE STUMBLES AGAINST THE ROPES! TECHNICAL KNOCKDOWN SCORED! WOW! He is wobbly as he gets back to the corner. 40-35 Valdez.
Round 5 – Can Valdez go for the finish early? Berchelt’s legs still don’t look good and he gets cracked with another left hook! One more left hook and he staggers! Russell Mora tells Berchelt he has to show him something or else it’s over. Berchelt lands a right hand. Hard jab by Valdez pushes Berchelt back. Body shot by Valdez. Another jab and another by Valdez. Berchelt cracked by a big right hand. Good left hook by Berchelt! Left hook by Valdez. Left by Berchelt. He works Valdez into a corner and fires off a combination. That might have been Berchelt’s best round but I still think he lost it. 50-44 Valdez.
Round 6 – Left hook by Berchelt. Counter left by Valdez. Right hand connects for Berchelt. Jab again by Valdez as is the theme of the night. Big body shots by Berchelt and Valdez backs up. Is Berchelt making a comeback here? Valdez initiates a hold. Big left hook by Valdez! Berchelt takes it well. A 1-2 by Berchelt. Right hand by Valdez. Body shot again by Berchelt. Valdez initiating a lot of clinching and he’s admonished for a rabbit punch. Wicked body shot by Valdez. Body shot and a hook by Berchelt. Right hand gets around Valdez’s guard. I think it’s a Berchelt round. 59-54 Valdez.
Round 7 – Leaping left hook by Berchelt as he tries to swarm Valdez. This might actually be working. Valdez ties up. Straight right by Berchelt. Double body shot and Berchelt is starting to find more success. Good left hand by Berchelt. Right to the body by the champion. Jan and now a combination by Berchelt. The champ is stalking Valdez and lands two shots upstairs. Good right by Berchelt and a left uppercut! Good left hook by Valdez! And another one! And a big right hand! But Berchelt does not seem affected. What a left hook by Valdez! What a round! 68-64 Valdez.
Round 8 – Beautiful right hand by Valdez! And Berchelt absorbs another one. Left hook gets through for the challenger. Body shots by Berchelt forces a clinch by Valdez. A 1-2 by Berchelt. Jab by Valdez and a left hook. Good boxing by Valdez off the backfoot and a swift right hand. Left hook stops Berchelt in his tracks momentarily. Right hand by Berchelt. And another one. Valdez switching stances periodically. Slow right hand by Berchelt does no damage at all. Body blows by Berchelt and Valdez getse pushed down to the mat. Three low looking shots by Berchelt. Left hook by Valdez. Good round for Oscar. 78-73 Valdez.
Round 9 – Two sharp punches upstairs land for Valdez, followed by a jab. Left hook glances off of Valdez. Snapping jab and a right hand by Valdez. Left hook by Valdez stiffens Berchelt. And another one stuns him. What a chin! Body shot by Berchelt but man he looks slow and winded. Another big left hook by Valdez! And a quick right hand as he ducks away from the ropes. DOWN GOES BERCHELT! He gets up at 8 but he is in huge trouble. Right hand by Valdez. Left hook and a right hand! Oscar swarming Berchelt against the ropes. Thirty seconds to go. Brutal left hook by Valdez who looks fantastic. Right hand thus home once more! 88-81 Valdez.
Round 9 – Ref says he’ll stop it if things don’t improve for Berchelt. And his corner even asked if he wants to stop it and of course he said no. Ripping jab by Valdez and then a body shot and a hook upstairs! Valdez going for the finish and he really can sense it. Right hand over the top. Berchelt absorbs another hook and more jabs and a brutal straight right. We might be in corner stoppage territory. Another jab and it’s looking effortless. Left hook again by Valdez. Berchelt not really landing anything of note. Valdez slips and falls down thanks to pesky water in the corner. Three more jabs by Valdez. Right hand blocked by Berchelt but the jab was not blocked. BIG LEFT HAND BY VALDEZ AND BERCHELT IS OUT COLD AS THE ROUND ENDS! WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!
Official result: Oscar Valdez def. Miguel Berchelt by KO at 2:59 of round 10 to become the new WBC welterweight champion
Gabriel Flores Jr. def. Jayson Velez by TKO at 1:47 of round 6
Preliminary Card – 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT on ESPN+
Esquiva Falcao def. Artur Akavov by RTD, 3:00 of round 4
Elvis Rodriguez def. Luis Alberto Veron by unanimous decision (78-74, 79-73, 79-73)
Xander Zayas def. James Martin by unanimous decision (60-54 x3)
Javier Martinez def. Billy Wagner by TKO at 1:51 of round 1
Omar Rosario def. Uriel Villanueva by KO at 2:38 of round 2