Miguel Ángel Berchelt Cervera (born 17 November 1991) is a Mexican professional boxer who held the WBC super featherweight title from 2017 to 2021.
Berchelt defeated Berman Sánchez for the WBC Youth Intercontinental super featherweight by technical knockout after 2 rounds.
Berchelt made his US debut in March 2013 beating Claudio Ríos by TKO in the first round in the undercard of Ríos-Alvarado II at the Mandalay Bay.
Berchelt first fought for a world title by facing George Jupp for the vacant interim WBO super featherweight.
[10] Berchelt's first defense came on 15 July at The Forum in Inglewood, California against former WBC super featherweight champion Takashi Miura.
Berchelt knocked down Miura in the first round and proceeded to out-point the former champion en route to a comfortable win by unanimous decision (120-109, 119-108, 116-111).
[12] On 14 October, Sean Gibbons, Salido's manager, told the LA Times that the fight had been finalized to take place on 9 December, meaning it would fall on the same day as Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Guillermo Rigondeaux.
[15] On 23 January 2018 a deal was finalized for Berchelt to defend his WBC title against 31 year old Philippine boxer Carlo Magali (29-9-3, 12 KOs) on 10 February in Cancún, Mexico.
[24] Argentine boxer and former featherweight world champion Jonathan Victor Barros (41-5-1, 22 KOs) became the front runner to challenge Berchelt on 23 June 2018.
Barros was coming off a loss entering this bout following his failed world title challenge against then-IBF champion Lee Selby in July 2017 and at the time ranked #9 at featherweight by the WBC.
[36][37] The fight delivered as expected, in front of 5,420 fans, as Berchelt made a successful fourth defence scoring a 9th round TKO win against Román after dropping him twice.
The rematch was scheduled for 11 May 2019, for the undercard of the Emanuel Navarrete and Isaac Dogboe II WBO super bantamweight title bout.
He dominated the bout from the opening bell, with Vargas finding no success, which prompted his corner to retire their fighter at the end of the sixth round.
[44] Berchelt was booked to make his sixth title defense against the former WBA (Regular) super featherweight champion Jason Sosa (23-3-4, 16 KOs).
[45] The title bout was scheduled as the main event of an ESPN broadcast card, which took place on 2 November 2019 at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
[48] To help prepare for the fight, Berchelt sparred with Jesús Quijada, Daniel Lugo, Bryan Acosta and Pedro Campa.
Having lost two consecutive fights in 2017, Sosa picked up 3 wins, against fringe level contenders to put him back into title contention.
[52][53] Whilst waiting on the COVID restrictions which meant sporting events were being cancelled worldwide, Berchelt was hoping to stay busy.
[54] On 17 June, Zanfer Promotions confirmed a card to take place at TV Azteca Studios in Mexico with Berchelt headlining in a non-title bout.
[60] On 25 September 2020, it was revealed that Berchelt would make his seventh title defense against the undefeated former WBO featherweight champion Óscar Valdez (28-0, 22 KOs) on 12 December in Las Vegas.
[69] On 6 January 2021, the bout was rescheduled for 20 February headlining a ESPN card, to took place at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Paradise, Nevada.
There was some significance on the day of the weigh in, as it was 21 years to the date from Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales first meeting of their epic rivalry, which was also an all-Mexican fight.
[91] A month later, on 7 February, it was revealed that Berchelt would face the one-time WBO interim super featherweight title challenger Jeremiah Nakathila, who was also making his lightweight debut.
‘El Alacran’ is back, and I can’t wait to come to Resorts World Las Vegas to put on a show.” Berchelt was a heavy 6-1 favorite favourite.
The great champions are those who rise, and I will go home, spend time with my family, visit with them, get some rest and I am going to come back stronger than ever."
Berchelt felt he could continue when the fight was stopped, but ultimately respected referee Russell Mora's decision, who had been advised by the ringside physicians.
With the announcement, it was revealed Berchelt would headline the card against Argentine boxer Diego “El Profeta” Ruiz (24-7-1, 12 KOs) in a 10-round lightweight fight.
[103][104] Berchelt's next fight was scheduled to take place in Tlaxcala against Colombian boxer Jeremy Triana (15-5-3, 13 KO) for the Fecarbox lightweight title in a 10-round bout on 27 July 2024.
He was cleared to return to action, but the end was near as Berchelt stepped up the pace and landed some unanswered punches, causing the referee to stop the fight.
The scorecards suggested a dominant fight, however was closely contested until round 7 when Berchelt landed a left hook, dropping Hasan.