Roman Conquest

Berchelt retains his WBC crown by winning an all-Mexican war.

- Kenneth Bouhairie

BEFOREHAND, Miguel Berchelt versus Miguel Roman was touted as a Fight of the Year candidate. Las Vegas had Berchelt as a significant betting favourite. Turns out both were right. Roman took the fight to Berchelt from the opening bell, but the WBC super-featherweight champion was in peak form, dropping Roman three times en route to a ninth round stoppage win.

The 5,420 in attendance at the Don Haskins Convention Center cheered themselves hoarse, even as the action grew increasingly one-sided in this Top Rank headliner. Roman, 32, displayed a champion’s heart. Berchelt possesses that and the skills to match. Like a Mexican Felix Trinidad, the lanky boxer-puncher moves in tight circles in search of openings. He may not be as powerful as “Tito” (who is?), but his 86 per cent KO ratio suggests he isn’t far behind.

The vastly experienced Roman, of Ciudad Juarez, wasn’t a shrinking violet. He set a brisk pace in the first as the aggressor, landing an overhand right that caused the crowd to erupt. Merida’s Berchelt, 26, was unbothered, responding with a one-two to the ribs.