Miguel Berchelt has arrived in Las Vegas for one of the biggest fights of his career.
As confident as he is of emerging victorious this weekend, the defending WBC junior lightweight titlist is equally certain that the entire team will be in tow to bask in the celebration.
For now, Berchelt awaits the arrival of head trainer Alfredo Caballero ahead of this weekend’s title defense versus Oscar Valdez, which airs live on ESPN from MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas. As previously reported by BoxingScene.com, the renowned cornerman remains in Mexico as he is working with U.S. immigration officials to clear up a visa discrepancy in order to cross the border in time for this weekend’s fight.
“I’m not worried about the situation with Alfredo Caballero,” Berchelt insisted during a recent Zoom media conference call. “I am confident that it will get resolved and that he will be by my side and in my corner for this great fight.”
Cancun’s Berchelt (38-1, 34KOs) will attempt the seventh defense of the WBC 130-pound title he snatched in an 11th round stoppage of Francisco Vargas in Jan. 2017. The first win over Vargas saw Berchelt fight on competitive terms before applying pressure late in the fight to force the stoppage.
Since then, the 29-year old knockout artist has emerged as arguably the best fighter in the 130-pound division or at least right alongside unbeaten titlist Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis (24-0, 23KOs). Berchelt carries that distinction along with a 17-fight win streak into the ring, with all but one fight over that stretch ending inside the distance.
Much of the transformation is credited to the teachings of Caballero, whose world class stable also includes World junior bantamweight king Juan Francisco Estrada. Naturally, there is concern as to whether the trainer can make his way stateside and into the Las Vegas bubble in time to be cleared for fight night.
For now, the defending junior lightweight titlist remains focused on the game plan necessary to retain that very status.
“I consider myself to be like a first-class vessel. He is the captain of my ship,” acknowledges Berchelt. “Right now, he is considered one of the best trainers in Mexican boxing.
“I’m not thinking about it at the moment and I’m confident he will make it in time to be in my corner.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox