By Miguel Rivera
According to promoter Oswaldo Kuchle, the mandatory fight between the official challenger, Miguel Román , and the super featherweight champion of the World Boxing Council , Miguel Berchelt , could be held at the end of September, after both fighters fulfill their respective commitments next month.
Both Roman and Berchelt will rise to the ring in different fights on June 23.
Roman has not yet confirmed an opponent, but it could be the Argentinean Fernando Saucedo, while the WBC champion at 130 pounds will make a voluntary defense against Jonathan Barros at the Poliforum Zamna, in Merida, in the headline bout of a show that Zanfer Promotions will organize.
Berchelt (33-1, 29 KOs) captured the world title in January 2017 with a stoppage win over Francisco Vargas. He's retained the title twice since then, with a dominating decision over Takashi Miura and a TKO win over Maxwell Awuku.
The upcoming bout with Barros will be the final voluntary before his obligation to satisfy the WBC's mandatory order.
Roman (59-12, 46 KOs) started 2017 with a TKO defeat to Miura, but secured the world title shot when he knocked out Orlando Salido in December. Saldio was the WBC's mandatory challenger at the time. He then fought in February with a TKO win over Aristides Perez.
"Roman will fight on the same day that Berchelt will defend his belt. We hope that the two of them will come away with their hands raised. We would project the fight between them to take place at the end of September," Kuchle told ESTO .
Kuchle confirmed that "the purpose of taking the upcoming fight in Juarez, is because the mayor of Juarez wants it to take place in the city. 'Mickey' is a big ticket seller... the last time he put nine thousand fans over there. If he continues like that, we are positive that we can fill a stadium of great capacity."