Two years ago, Miguel Berchelt (36-1, 32 KOs) stopped then WBC champion Francisco Vargas (25-2-2, 18 KOs). Fast forward to 2019 and Berchelt stopped Vargas yet again, this time in more convincing fashion.
From the Convention Center, in Tucson, Arizona, Berchelt successfully defended his WBC Super Featherweight title via sixth-round corner stoppage. The first fight between these two men was a barnburner, the rematch didn’t disappoint either.
The first round started off fast, both men let their punches fly throughout. At the end of the round, CompuBox indicated that there were over 120 punches thrown. It was clear that these fighters didn’t want the match to go to the scorecards.
As the contest continued there was plenty of back-and-forth action but, it was clear that Berchelt was getting the better of it.
Vargas has always been known as an action-packed, come-forward fighter. Berchelt has fight ending power, but it didn’t dissuade Vargas from continuing to press forward. Berchelt not only landed the harder and more eye-catching shots but, he also was doing a good job of utilizing the entire ring and making Vargas pay for coming forward.
At the end of the sixth round, Vargas seemed like a defeated fighter. Both of his eyes were swelling shut and he was losing on the scorecards. He wasn’t getting completely dominated as he had a few good moments of his own, but he was clearly getting battered.
As Vargas sat on his stool at the end of the round, his corner indicated to the ring doctor and the referee that their fighter was no longer able to continue. The win stamped Berchelt as a true force in the division. As for what he wants to do next, he made it clear that he wanted to fight the best to prove that he is the best in the division.
“I want to prove that I’m the best,” said Berchelt during his post-fight interview. “Herring and Ito will be fighting in two weeks, I want the winner.”
I think fans around the world would sign up for that contest.
