Miguel Marriaga scores body shot knockout in co-feature
Miguel Berchelt and Miguel “Mickey” Roman promised to deliver a Fight of the Year contender. The all-Mexican showdown delivered.
(Photo Credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank)
Berchelt defended his WBC super featherweight title for the fourth time, scoring a ninth-round TKO against Roman in front of 5,420 fans at the Don Haskins Center on Saturday evening.
“This was the toughest of my four world title defenses,” Berchelt said. “I give my respect to Mickey as an opponent. The key was my body work. He kept getting up and fighting with all of his heart. He’s a valiant Mexican warrior.”
It was a phone booth battle for the first five rounds, and in the sixth, Berchelt knocked down Roman twice. The first knockdown was a crisp right hand that nearly had Roman out for the count. But he got up, and Berchelt applied more pressure, knocking down Roman again as the round ended.
Roman (60-13, 47 KOs) somehow survived, but Berchelt continued to pour it on until referee Jon Schorle called it off with two seconds remaining in the ninth round.
Said Roman: “I feel fine. I gave it 100 percent. I’ll be back.”
Marriaga Knocks Out Estrella in Four
Miguel Marriaga has had three cracks at world title. He is well on his way to a fourth.
Marriaga (27-3, 23 KOs) knocked out Jose Estrella (20-15-1, 14 KOs) with a left hook to the body in the fourth round to stake his claim as a top featherweight contender. Marriaga, a Colombian power puncher, has won two straight fights since defeats in world title bouts against Vasiliy Lomachenko and Oscar Valdez.
“He was a very tough and strong opponent,” Marriaga said. “I know he trained hard for this fight, but I trained harder. In the end, my experience was key in getting the victory. The plan was to attack the body and that’s exactly what I did. I knocked him out with a huge left hook to the body.
“I know that I have what it takes to become a world champion. I want to challenge for another world title!”
Super Featherweight: Robson Conceicao (10-0, 5 KOs), unanimous decision, 8 rounds, Joey Laviolette (9-2, 5 KOs). Scores: 80-72 3X.
Conceicao said: “This is my second bout fighting eight rounds and I felt great. I always train hard and I am always in great physical condition. I feel like I’m prepared to go the 12-round distance. I want to face the best. I’m ready to battle against the champions of the junior lightweight division. I want Tevin Farmer, Miguel Berchelt, Alberto Machado, or Gervonta Davis. I don’t care who it is. I want a title!”
Lightweight: Saul Rodriguez (22-0-1, 16 KOs), TKO 2, 1:57, Claudio Tapia (28-19-4, 13 KOs).
Rodriguez said: “I was anxious and excited to get back in there after such a long time out of the ring. It was a long time coming, but I did what I had to do and got the job done.”
Welterweight: Nicklaus Flaz (6-1, 4 KOs), unanimous decision, 8 rounds, Sagadat Rakhmankul (3-1, 1 KO). Scores: 78-73, 77-73, 76-75.
Super Middleweight: Janibek Alimkhanuly (4-0, 1 KO), split decision, 8 rounds, Vaughn Alexander (12-2, 8 KOs). Scores: 79-73 Alimkhanuly, 77-75 Alexander, 78-74 Alimkhanuly.
Middleweight: Zach Prieto (4-0, 3 KOs), KO 1, :45, Michael Andrews (1-3, 0 KOs).
* Right hand knocked Andrews down for the count
