Polyforum Zam Na, Merida, Yucatan - Miguel Berchelt (29-1-0 26 KOs) captured the WBO's interim-super featherweight world championship with a brutal sixth round knockout of Englishman George Jupp (13-3 with 4 KOs), who took the fight on late notice.
Berchelt was too strong and too accurate for Jupp, who had no firepower to hold off the strong Mexican puncher. Jupp took a lot of punishment in each round, taking hits to the head and body. He went down in the fourth from a series of punches and was dropped again in the fifth, where he was lucky to be saved by the bell.
The save didn't last long after Berchelt stalked, pound away and leveled Jupp with a vicious uppercut for a knockout in the sixth. The shot broke Jupp's legs and the referee did not even issue a count. Jupp laid down on the mat for a few minutes to regain his senses while medical physicians were tending to him.
Berchelt was initially scheduled to face WBO super featherweight champion Roman 'Rocky' Martinez, who withdrew last week with a hand injury. Zanfer Promotions, who staged the card with Max Boxing, quickly secured Jupp, who was ranked at #3 by the WBO, on late notice.
Promoter Fernando Beltran of Zanfer submitted a request to sanction Berchelt-Jupp for the WBO's interim-super featherweight championship. The approved the request on the basis that the winner will now have to face Martinez, once he fully recovers, in a mandatory bout.
Prior to this bout, Jupp hwon his last nine bouts, including an upset ten round decision over previously unbeaten Mitchell Smith last December.
According to Puerto Rico Best Boxing, who promote Martinez (29-3-2, 17 KO's), the champion will have to take a break from training for at least four weeks time. Dr. Jose M. Santiago Figueroa, a hand surgeon and an orthopedic surgeon, said Martinez had bruised his left hand and was suffering from tendinitis in the same area.
