'Brutal as you'll see': Boxing world in shock over terrifying moment
Oscar Valdez put on the performance of his young life on Saturday, pummelling Miguel Berchelt and knocking him out cold with a crushing left hook at the end of the 10th round.
Valdez lifted the WBC super featherweight belt from Berchelt at the MGM Grand Conference Center, showing speed and power and a total game.
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It could set up a fight with WBO champion Shakur Stevenson, who sat ringside and said, “That’s the only fight to make now.”
Valdez’s speed helped him build an early lead, but he was also consistently hurting Berchelt with a quick left hook.
He scored a knockdown in the fourth when referee Russell Mora ruled the ropes held Berchelt up. Berchelt started to turn the tide late in the sixth when he was using his jab and slowing Valdez’s attack.
Berchelt, being the champion he is, mounted a rally at the midpoint by pushing Valdez back and stunning him with a hard jab.
He seemed to be turning the fight in his direction, but Valdez began to create space and it instantly opened room for his left hook.
Brutal knockout leaves boxing fans stunned
The left was the money punch that ended the fight. They were in a neutral corner as the seconds in the 10th wound down. Valdez landed a short, quick hook on the point and Berchelt was instantly out. He did not move for several seconds and had to be assisted into a seated position.
“He was absolutely brilliant,” Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said of Valdez. “He fought his entire career for us and that was the best he’s ever looked.”
It was a fight that lived up to its billing, but Valdez made a huge point.
“There’s nothing better in life than proving people wrong,” he said.
“I have a list of people who doubted me. My idols doubted me. Boxing analysts doubted me. They said Berchelt was going to knock me out.
"I have a message to everybody: Don’t let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do.”
Fans blew up over the stunning KO on social media.
Oh my god! Miguel Berchelt knocked COLD with one second left in Round 10 and Oscar Valdez is now champion at 130 pounds. Scary stuff. As brutal a KO as you’ll ever see #BercheltValdez
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) February 21, 2021
Did you guys just see that Oscar Valdez knockout??? OmG.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) February 21, 2021
Absolutely brutal KO from Valdez. Referee Russell Mora tried to catch Berchelt as he went down face first. #boxing #BercheltValdez
— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) February 21, 2021
Valdez’ boxing ability got him the lead, but his character got him the knockout; he never gave into the momentum when Berchelt started to come on and impose his size. KO of the year so far. Hope Berchelt is ok.
— Max Kellerman (@maxkellerman) February 21, 2021
Oh gosh. Oscar Valdez with a vicious KO! Miguel Berchelt faceplanted and is still out cold. Damn. What a night in Vegas.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) February 21, 2021
Yahoo Sport US/Kevin Iole
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