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Berchelt vs Valdez: Pros react to Oscar Valdez upset, stunning knockout over Miguel Berchelt

It wasn’t just a win, it was domination for Oscar Valdez against Miguel Berchelt.

Miguel Berchelt v Oscar Valdez - Fight Night Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images
Scott Christ is the managing editor of Bad Left Hook and has been covering boxing for SB Nation since 2006.

Oscar Valdez didn’t just take the WBC junior lightweight title from Miguel Berchelt tonight, he took it by force, dominating over 10 rounds before knocking Berchelt out hard to become a two-weight world champion.

Valdez (29-0, 23 KO) has had a good career, had a good run at featherweight, won a belt there, but he’s never been as good as he was tonight, never as complete and focused and dominant a fighter against this good an opponent. He’s struggled somewhat with worse opponents, and Berchelt (37-2, 33 KO) came into this on a great run.

People will talk about the weight — Berchelt legitimately had some struggles making 130 on Friday — but man, Valdez was just better. Styles made the fight, and Valdez’s style was superior, full stop. He was a better fighter in basically every way.

With Valdez now arguably the top dog at 130, here’s what some of his fellow pros had to say after his excellent performance, huge KO, and big, big win:

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