In what many boxing observers expect to be a Fight of the Year candidate, Miguel Berchelt puts his WBC super featherweight title on the line Saturday against undefeated challenger Oscar Valdez, who is moving up a weight class to challenge for the belt. The main card from the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas is set for 10 p.m. ET. Berchelt (37-1-1, 33 KOs) will be seeking the seventh successful defense of his title, while Valdez (28-0, 22 KOs) vacated the WBO featherweight title in late 2019 in order to pursue a crown in another weight class.
No fans will be allowed in attendance due to the coronavirus pandemic. Berchelt is a -420 favorite (risk $420 to win $100), while Valdez is offered at +330 in the latest Berchelt vs. Valdez odds from William Hill Sportsbook. Before making any Valdez vs. Berchelt picks, see the latest boxing predictions from SportsLine analyst Peter Kahn.
A 2020 Boxing Writers Association of America Cus D’Amato Manager of the Year nominee, Kahn has his finger on the pulse of what’s going on inside and outside of the ring for many years. Kahn has managed numerous world champions and currently manages 20 fighters through his company, Fight Game Advisors. He can be seen and heard weekly on “The Fight Guys” on YouTube.
Kahn is uncanny when it comes to picking fights. He is an astounding 32-7 on SportsLine boxing picks since the hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic, returning $3,472 to $100 bettors. Anyone who has consistently followed him has cashed in big time.
In the first major fight of 2021 in January, Kahn predicted Ryan Garcia would knock out Luke Campbell in under 9.5 rounds. Garcia knocked Campbell out in the seventh round. In December, Kahn said Anthony Joshua would knock down Kubrat Pulev in the first three rounds, a 2-1 underdog pick. The result? Joshua delivered two third-round knockdowns on his way to a ninth-round TKO. Before that, Kahn predicted legends Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. would fight to a draw, and anyone who followed Kahn’s advice was rewarded with a 12-1 payout.
In October, Kahn called one of the year’s biggest upsets, predicting Teofimo Lopez would stun Vasiliy Lomachenko to become the unified lightweight champ. The result? Lopez outhit the pound-for-pound king from the first bell, winning convincingly for a monster payout. Anyone who followed Kahn’s advice won $350 for every $100 risked.
Now, with Saturday’s showdown fast approaching, Kahn has analyzed Berchelt vs. Valdez from every angle, identified the best value in the boxing odds and released three best bets. Head to SportsLine to see all of his boxing picks.
Berchelt vs. Valdez preview
Kahn knows boxing fans should expect an action-packed war between a pair of Mexican fighters who are both in their primes and prefer a straight-ahead brawling style that usually leaves little room for a feeling-out process.
Berchelt hasn’t defended his title since stopping Jason Sosa in the fourth round of their November 2019 fight in Indio, Calif. The 29-year-old had one bout last year but it came under unusual circumstances. He scored a sixth-round stoppage of Eleazar Valenzuela in Mexico City last June, but the fight was later ruled a no-contest because it was not sanctioned by the Mexico City Boxing Commission.
No such concerns surround the legitimacy of Saturday’s main event. Berchelt is looking to continue a streak of dominance that has seen just one of six title defenses go the distance. The matchmaking also reportedly was hitch-free as both fighters embraced the opportunity to challenge themselves against each other.
Valdez, 30, defended the WBO featherweight title six times before deciding to move up in a quest to become a champion in multiple weight classes. He proved his mettle in the new division with a 10th-round stoppage against Jayson Velez in July last year. It was the first stoppage defeat for Velez in 37 professional fights. You can see Kahn’s Berchelt vs. Valdez picks at SportsLine.
How to make Berchelt vs. Valdez picks
Kahn is betting the fight goes over 8.5 rounds. But he has an even stronger pick on who wins, saying one fighter “kicks it into high gear as fights go on.” You can see all his picks and analysis right here.
Who wins Berchelt vs. Valdez? Visit SportsLine now to see Peter Kahn’s best bets for Saturday, all from the fight game manager who is 32-7 on boxing picks since the sport returned, and find out.
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