Maxboxing 2021 Knockout of the Year: Oscar Valdez KO 10 Miguel Berchelt

The knockout. Explosive, dynamic, sudden, and shocking.

A combustible reaction to a landed punch.

2021 saw several examples:

Efe Ajagba brutally dispatched Brian Howard.

Brandon Lee’s right-hand put Samael Tea to sleep.

Tyson Fury sends Deontay Wilder to dreamland.

Gabriel Rosado turns out Bektemir Melikuziev’s undefeated lights.

But for the most dramatic and to many most improbable knockout of 2021, we go back ten months to the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, NV.

Days before the fight, 18 of 19 experts picked super featherweight champion Miguel Berchelt to win. He was too big, they said. Too powerful.

His opponent, Oscar Valdez, had hardly looked sharp in his last few bouts. His defense was iffy at best. He looked lost between the two styles. He had struggled mightily against Adam Lopez, touching the canvas, before winning by controversial stoppage.

Valdez was aware that most figured he’d lose. He was OK with that, he said. More motivation, he added.

Making Berchelt the favorite was logical, but perhaps a bit narrow-minded.

Had they forgotten who Berchelt fighting?

Valdez was undefeated and a world champion. He had engaged in 28 fights, winning 22 of them by knockout. Three years ago, Valdez fought and won with a broken jaw. The break came early in the fight. Valdez ignored it. Paid no mind to the blood in his corner.

Berchelt was outrageously confident before the fight stating, “Look at my face. I’m smiling.”

Seconds before the opening bell, Valdez stood in his corner staring at Berchelt. The determination was obvious. I muttered, “Valdez is going to win.”

And boy, did he.

The fight began slowly. Respect. Valdez was moving and punching. He likely banked the opening stanza. His jab was on point.

Berchelt connected with a solid right in round three. Valdez, unfazed, snapped his head back with more jabs. He also landed a sweet left hook. Berchelt was stalking, but not rocking. He had said he’d knock out Valdez.

Instead, in round four, he was the almost unconscious one. A counter left hook staggered him. Valdez opened up, sending Berchelt to the ropes - an automatic knockdown.

In round five, Valdez went right back to work. He landed another left to the head. Berchelt looked weak and confused. Valdez connected with a hard right. Berchelt was still hurt but hung on. He finally landed a right to Valdez’s ear. Gutsy.

Berchelt looked fully recovered in round six. He went to the body. Valdez connected with a left.

Valdez went back to boxing in round seven. He was fighting the perfect fight. Berchelt chased Valdez - landing a right. Valdez fought back with hooks that landed. In the next heat, he connected with a beauty of a one-two.

In a move that foreshadowed the end, Berchelt ran into a punch.

Berchelt was told he was likely behind on the scorecards. His pressure became more intense.

Valdez continued to get off first in round nine. A three-punch combination put Berchelt on the seat of his pants. Valdez kept his cool. The assassin-in-waiting. Berchelt made it to hear the bell. Valdez went back to the stick in round 10. Berchelt’s face swelled, his legs wobbled.

The end was near.

Near the conclusion of the round, as Berchelt chased after him again, Valdez exploded with a left hook that landed flush on Berchelt’s chin. The now ex-champion pitched forward and fell on his face.

The fight was emphatically over.