Mexican standoff will be Saul about Berchelt & Valdez

SAUL ALVAREZ has the annual Cinco de Mayo date – May 8 this year – locked down for Mexico’s big holiday fight night when he meets Billy Joe Saunders.

But there is no doubt the scrap all Mexico will be looking forward to most is Oscar Valdez versus Miguel Berchelt (both above) in Las Vegas on February 20.

Think Marco Antonio Barrera vs Erik Morales. Well, almost.

After a three-year reign as WBO featherweight champion, the undefeated Valdez stepped up to super featherweight in 2019, but this is his first big challenge at 130Ibs.

Valdez is a fighting machine and so exciting to watch.

But as his defences against Miguel Marriaga and Scott Quigg (inset) showed, he can be vulnerable when his opponents do not fold.

And Berchelt is no folder.

The WBC champion is the gold standard at super featherweight, a tall, rangy banger. He is effective more than stylish, teak-tough and gets the job done.

Berchelt has held his belt for four years, making six successful defences since the win against Francisco Vargas in January 2017.

Though Berchelt was three times the Mexican featherweight champion in the amateurs, Valdez was the undoubted star, winning the World Youth title in 2008 and, a year later, taking bronze in the World Amateur Championships, a first for Mexico. He attacks with speed and aggression. He can be predictable at times and a little open, but thrilling in that Mexican way, fighting with his heart on his sleeve.

Some claim his decision to step up to 130Ibs was to avoid the brilliant Shakur Stevenson at featherweight. He is about to discover Berchelt is no bargain either.

Berchelt, 29, is not as classy as Valdez but he will go for broke, wanting to put him away.

You can smell the machismo in these fights, especially with these two, who are only a year apart and were around each other from their amateur days.

There is a lot of pride at stake.

Though they never met in the amateurs, Berchelt had to play second fiddle to the young superstar groomed for stardom on the international stage.

Berchelt will want to make a statement here and, in my view, starts favourite in this fight.

It will be a spectacular occasion, one deserving of the MGM Grand stage.

I just don’t see how Valdez, 30, can bulldoze Berchelt, who I believe wins either by late stoppage or decision.