Berchelt retains WBC crown dropping Roman thrice and overwhelming him

World Boxing Council super featherweight champion, Mexican Miguel “Alacran” Berchelt, successfully defend his crown for the fourth time, with a blistering TKO over incredibly brave Miguel “Mickey” Román,  with just two seconds of the ninth round remaining, at the Don Haskins Convention Center, of El Paso, Texas.

As they`d promised it was a war from beginning to end, between two Mexicans, both of whom were utterly determined to KO the other.  In the opening round, “Alacran” was intitially prudently keeping his distance sticking out spear like left jabs. It took Mickey most of the round to launch an  attack on his body and head.  Similarly in round two Alacran was constantly moving from side to side proving an elusive target,  trying not to allow Mickey to plant his feet, corner him and launch a short range onslaught.  Alacran landed a hard hurtful right hand,  and impassive faced Mickey surprisingly snapped his head with two left jabs.   Everything Mickey was achieving was being trumped by the taller, larger Alacran, who was effectively using his height and reach advantages.

The third round was the turning point of the fight.  Rugged Mickey landed a right hook to Alacran`s head but was then tagged by two rights which badly hurt him and then another.   In the fourth Alacran was still moving laterally, keeping Mickey at arm`s length, but even so  collected a stinging right to the face. So Alacran switched downstairs to severely punish the shorter man`s body. A right hook to the head checked Mickey and then Alacran let his hands go.  The tide was most certainly turning and sweeping over Mickey Roman.

No person can doubt or question Mickey`s absolute bravery.  He may have been under constant fire, but he seldom flinched, yet his mouth was open and he was visibly tiring.  In the fifth he attacked but was met with precise and measured counter punching.

The fight reached a crescendo in the sixth.  Mickey was under intense attack to body and head.  A looping overhead right put him down real hard on his back.  Tremendous physical condition but more so mind over matter saw him somehow get up at the count of six.  Alacran repeated the dose with a short right hook to the head and this time Mickey barely beat the count.  How he survived the last thirty seconds of the round few people apart from him will ever know. Until you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes.  It must have seemed like that distance and more…to the stool in his corner, for a battered, outgunned but still defiant Mickey.

Mickey was close to exhaustion, but tried to evade all incoming, so  Alacran scenting victory maintained the pressure and badly hurt him just before the bell.  The body attacks continued in the eighth and Mickey stumbled, more from weariness than the immediate punishment be was shipping.  under this unremitting welter of punches, only Mickey could have gestured to Alacran to keep coming.  What magnificent courage, yet the end was almost in sight.   He was caught by a huge right hook, a left right combination, wide angled body shots and was in a pitiful condition as the bell rang.

Miguel “Alacran” Berchelt closed the one sided show in the ninth.  Severely punishing Mickey Roman to head and body,  he pounded all the fight and remaining embers of resistance out of him.  A very hard right to the ribcage stopped Mickey in his tracks and a left hook to the head slumped him on to the canvass.  He got up yet again, but Alacran backed him into the ropes and unleashed a frightening non stop and unanswered barrage on to his head.  Finally…Referee Jon Schorle stepped in to fold his arms around the stricken Mickey.  He had demonstrated a huge heart, but it`s likely this will be his third and final attempt at a world title.