‘The Scorpion’ Miguel Berchelt says he is ready to strike and unleash his venom when he meets fellow Mexican Oscar Valdez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
In what looks a scintillating bout in prospect, the heavy-handed Berchelt will be making the seventh defence of his WBC super-featherweight crown, having scored 16 stoppages in his last 17 contests.
Former WBO featherweight king Valdez is widely pegged as the underdog, with Betfred currently listing the Eddy Reynoso trained fighter as a 7/2 outsider, but champion Berchelt is expecting another keenly contested encounter, in keeping with Mexico’s fine tradition in the lower weights.
“I have worked so hard to get to this fight. This will be the 154th [title] fight between Mexicans and the 93rd for the WBC super-featherweight title. We are happy and content,” Berchelt told ESPN Deportes. “I’m coming in with all this poison and we are going to go for that knockout. Mexico is going to be paralysed that day, it is one of the most anticipated fights of the year.
“From the moment the fight was agreed upon, I have received many messages of encouragement. A lot of people are going for Berchelt, a lot of people are going to Valdez and the important thing is that they see an even [fight]. I am going to make an intelligent fight. The power of my fists… they already know, we hope to release the poison, all the poison, and that the knockout will come from this side.
“The name of Berchelt and Valdez, in a main event like this in Las Vegas, is very important because I know that all of Mexico, my entire race, is going to be watching me, and may the best man win. There have been great fights between Mexicans, I don’t like to make comparisons, because fights between Mexicans have always been wars, that’s why they like them so much. The styles make the fights and Oscar’s and mine fit perfectly together to give everyone a great fight.”