Miguel Berchelt vs. Oscar Valdez Close To Done Deal For Nov. 7
By
Manouk Akopyan
Published On Fri Aug 21, 2020, 06:22 AM EST
Miguel Berchelt and Oscar Valdez have been on a collision course to fight one another ever since Valdez vacated his featherweight title last year and joined the ranks of the 130-pound division.
After two fights as a junior lightweight, Valdez (28-0, 22 KOs) is inching ever so closer to fighting one of the hardest punchers in the sport in the WBC champion Berchelt (37-1, 33 KOs).
Valdez’s manager Frank Espinoza told BoxingScene.com in an interview Thursday that a deal between both fighters is close to being finalized for a Nov. 7 date at the MGM Grand Bubble.
“Right now things are looking good. We’re in the middle of negotiations, and we should know soon,” said Espinoza. “We just have to come to an agreement with Top Rank that’s good for both sides. We’re close. We could wrap it up today, if things work out quick with the back and forth and we close the deal. … Oscar really wants to fight Berchelt, and that’s the bottom line. He feels that it’s a fight he can win.”
Both fighters are promoted by Top Rank, and the plan was for them to face off against one another all along. Before the pandemic earlier this year, Carl Moretti, Top Rank's vice president of operations, told BoxingScene.com that he was targeting for the Berchelt-Valdez fight to take place at The Forum in Los Angeles.
With fans not allowed at fights for the time being, that plan was no longer feasible, but the matchup still was, especially now that big-time, Saturday night college football is off ESPN airwaves, and the sports network looks to fill the dates with flagship programming.
The Athletic’s Lance Pugmire was first to report that a deal between both fighters was close to being finalized.
The bout will be a true test for Valdez, who has looked shaky as a 130-pounder, having even been dropped by Adam Lopez last year in his division debut. Valdez cannot afford to have an off night against Berchelt, a champion for over three years who packs power in both hands.
Both fighters have already worked off the coronavirus-caused ring rust in return bouts with KO wins.
Espinosa has been working hard from home trying to get the deal across the finish line despite the fact that he’s been sidelined with a broken ankle that’s required two surgeries in the last two weeks. The incident occurred at home while Espinosa was moving appliances around.
“I had a fight with the refrigerator, but I lost,” said Espinoza. “But I like Valdez’s chances against Berchelt a whole lot better.”
.......First they said he was gonna fight Saunders. Then some Asian dude. Then Derevyanchenko. Then smith. Now yilgrim. You need to calm down and let the shyt play out. You have no idea what’s gonna happen at this point. First you said Canelo was gonna cement his legacy with the kovalev fight and doubted he could pull it off. Now that fight was ass. 4 months ago you said Canelo fought everybody in front him. Now he’s the biggest ducker in the sport. Smh. You don’t know what you believe 
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