Berchelt lost by technical knockout to Nakathila

Miguel ‘Alacran’ Berchelt’s 135-pound debut did not turn out as the Mexican had hoped.

Jeremia Nakathila dominated Berchelt for six rounds, even sending him to the canvas in the third round with a jab en route to a surprise technical knockout victory over El Alacran.

The fifth round was the best for the Mexican, who seemed to hurt the African with his left jabs to the body and face, but the Namibian fighter weathered the storm and continued to punish Berchelt.

The sixth round was more of the same for Berchelt, taking punches repeatedly, forcing referee Russell Mora to keep a close eye on the Mexican, who lost his mouth guard and was sent to his corner in poor condition to put it back on.

At the end of the round, while being attended by his corner, Mora approached Berchelt and decided to stop the fight, decreeing the win by technical knockout for Nakathila.

“Surprised, I was ready to continue, I am a Mexican warrior, the referee I don’t know why he stopped it [the fight], I wanted to continue, but he is the highest authority and I have to respect him,” Berchelt stated after the fight. “I felt good, as long as there is time and a chance to win, I have the power to change the fight with one punch, but you have to respect the referee who made the decision to stop the fight.”

This was Berchelt’s first fight since a dramatic knockout loss to Oscar Valdez in February 2021, when he lost the World Boxing Council Super Featherweight title.

Although this is the first time in Berchelt’s career that he has lost consecutive fights, El Alacran is only thinking about recovering to return to the ring.

“Get up, I’m going to rest first,” Berchelt indicated when asked about what’s next for him. “The great champions are not the ones who always win, they are the ones who fall and get up, I will come back stronger.”

With this loss, Berchelt stagnated at 37-3 with all of his losses coming by knockout, while Nakathila improved his record to 24-2.