Pride, guts, and world champions: Miguel Berchelt and Oscar Valdez throw hands

WBC super featherweight champion Miguel Berchelt and former WBO featherweight champion Oscar Valdez, will collide Feb.20 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV.

Their combined records show sixty-six fights, fifty-six knockouts, and 11 title defenses.

Berchelt, nicknamed “The Scorpion,” struck championship gold when he systematically carved up defending champion Fernando Vargas in 2017. The bout was bloody and brutal. Vargas was tough and determined, but Berchelt was better.

The fight almost ended early. Vargas was reeling, but survived and rallied in the middle rounds. Berchelt kept working. By round 11, Vargas could hardly see, blood leaking from both eyes. Referee Raul Cruz waved off the fight.

Valdez captured the WBO featherweight title four years ago, when he blasted out previously undefeated Carlos Adrian Rueda in less than two rounds. The fight was as one-sided as it sounds. He stopped Hiroshige Osawa in his first title defense, and won exciting decisions against both Miguel Marriaga and Genesis Servania.

Nothing boring about a Valdez fight. Down in round four, he floored Servania a few minutes later.

Berchelt went 12 rounds against Takashi Miura, winning the match by wide-decision. Since then, he’s stopped five opponents in a row. “The Scorpion’s” bite is fierce.

Valdez suffered a broken jaw in 2018 against ex-champion Scott Quigg, but fought on, winning the fight. He was back 11 months later, knocking out undefeated Carmine Tommasone.

A move up in weight culminated in wins over Adam Lopez and Jayson Velez. Neither bout was easy, but that isn’t the Valdez way. Valdez, working with new trainer Eddy Reynosa, appears to be stuck between two styles. He’s always been a stalker and rocker. Reynosa has been working on his boxing and defense.

The results have been spotty at best, but Reynosa is pleased.

“I feel that I have a complete fighter in Oscar,” Reynosa said in an interview on www.figtnews.com.”He can box, he can counterpunch and he can go forward.

Berchelt is a great champion but has only one style and that is to come forward. Oscar can do that. He can bang and has power in both hands. We have a great game plan.”

Berchelt is looking forward to the fight.

“This fight is the one that I dreamed of since we were both amateur fighters,” Berchelt said during a virtual press conference a few weeks ago. “Valdez is a great fighter, and it will be a great fight. I am preparing with everything to win by knockout and leave no doubt that I am the best super featherweight in the world.”

Valdez also is ready to go.

"Berchelt says he is going for the knockout," he told Miguel Rivera of www.boxingscene.com “I’m not going to crack, but the knockout could show up for the other side. It will be a tough fight but not impossible.

“Whenever there are two Mexicans in the ring, it is a guaranteed war," he said. “It will be an honor for me to bring a great war to my fans.”

Expect that-- a war, Feb.20 in Sin City.