Now that's how you take a world title.
Oscar Valdez delivered the best performance of his career, beating the WBC super featherweight championship off of Miguel Berchelt with an absolutely electric 10th-round KO, live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
After generating two knockdowns earlier in the bout, Valdez punctuated his brilliant boxing by launching a pulverizing left that knocked Berchelt out cold, with him lying unconscious on the canvas for a few tense moments before being taken to the hospital out of precaution. With the victory, Valdez (28-0, 22 KOs) is now a two-time world champion, as he previously enjoyed a reign as WBO featherweight champion for nearly three years.
The scintillating ending completed Valdez's magical night, as the Mexican warrior did everything from box on the back foot, switch to southpaw, and slug it out with Berchelt to become the new WBC super featherweight titleholder. More than anything, Valdez fought with the urgency to become champion, and it showed with the two knockdowns that he scored earlier in the bout for a pair of 10-8 rounds before the thrilling end.
Valdez's first knockdown of Berchelt came in the fourth round when he unleashed a nasty left hook that drove a wobbly Berchelt to bounce off the ropes, as the ref registered a count right then and there. Berchelt was badly hurt then and arguably saved by the bell during the waning seconds of the same frame, as Valdez poured on the offense.
Although Valdez hammered Berchelt in the fifth, Berchelt did a nice job settling in and digging back into the fight to take rounds six and seven. However, Valdez's overhand right that connected in the eighth served as a precursor for another knockdown in the ninth — this one coming on a lightning-quick combination.
Altogether, Valdez landed 103 power punches — none more ferocious than the knockout blow in the 10th, as the super featherweight division officially has a new problem on its hands.