By Anson Wainright
January 6, 2022
Source: The Ring
Photo Source: Chris Farina, Top Rank
Note: Miguel Berchelt, former 130-pound titlist, moving up to 135 for March return on ESPN.
The last time we saw Miguel Berchelt, he yielded his WBC junior lightweight title to Oscar Valdez when he was knocked out in 10 rounds, in February 2021.
Since then, Valdez tested positive for the banned substance phentermine, which cast a shadow over his career-best win over his fellow Mexican. Berchelt isn’t pointing the finger at his former rival and says there were several reasons why he lost.
“I don’t want to demerit Valdez but it wasn’t me that night,” Berchelt (38-2, 34 knockouts) told The Ring through his promoter Mario Abraham. “Everything was wrong; my training camp wasn’t the best. I was listening the wrong people that affected my concentration and I wasn’t 100 percent back after COVID but I wanted to fight and I paid the price for it.”
The 30-year-old, who made seven – six of those successfully – defenses of the WBC 130-pound title over a four-year period, is ready to return, this time at lightweight.
“I took a long rest; now my mind is clear and I know what I want,” Berchelt said. “I want to concentrate on my comeback fight hopefully in March.”
“I had great years with Alfredo Caballero,” he said of his former trainer. “I become a world champion with him but I felt that I needed a change – new air.
“Now I am training in Las Vegas with Jorge Capetillo. I am feeling very well and motivated; I just extended my contract with my promoters [Top Rank and Zanfer Boxing].”
Although Berchelt hasn’t been active, the big-punching former titlist has been intently watching the division he is about to invade.
“I think Teofimo [Lopez was] mistaken [in] his fight plan; he wanted to win with one punch,” said “El Alacran.” “Maybe he didn’t feel good anymore making 135 pounds. [The Ring Magazine lightweight champion George] Kambosos [Jr.] had a great night and was a fair winner.
“[Devin] Haney vs. [Joseph] Diaz fight: I think ‘JoJo’ had to be more aggressive that night to win the fight. [Vasiliy] Lomachenko had a great performance and [Richard] Commey did his best. Gervonta [Davis] was affected by the hand injury but [Isaac] ‘Pitbull’ [Cruz] didn’t disappoint. He didn’t win the fight but was it was a positive fight for him.”
Berchelt is now seeking new targets in the crowded 135-pound division.
“I want the big fights,” he said. “There are a lot of great fighters in the division, Loma, Gervonta, Haney, Kambosos, Ryan García. I would love to fight any of them.
“I hope at the end of 2022 or 2023, I become a world champion at 135.”
Abraham, the president of MAX Boxing Promotions, co-promotes Berchelt with Zanfer Promotions and feels his fighter is almost ready to return to action.
“I haven’t seen him with that hunger and motivation for a long time,” said Abraham. “I hope he will have a great comeback fight to recover his confidence and then go for the big fights.”
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