Canelo Alvarez focuses on ‘history’ in encounter with Edgar Berlanga

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez insisted that the rivalry that exists between Mexico and Puerto Rico justifies the selection of Edgar Berlanga as his opponent on September 14.

The Mexican defends his WBA, WBO and WBC super-middleweight titles – he was recently stripped of their title by the IBF – against Berlanga at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, at a time when there are increased demands for him to instead fight David Benavidez or Terence Crawford next.

Those same demands were being made when Jaime Munguia was announced as his opponent for May – the all-Mexican fight on Cinco de Mayo weekend regardless proved a popular alternative – but Berlanga is a less respected opponent than was Munguia, contributing to observers of boxing and of Alvarez’s career being less than impressed.

In 2015 – when he was under growing pressure to fight Gennady Golovkin – Alvarez outpointed Miguel Cotto, a Puerto Rican great. Cotto’s rivalry with Antonio Margarito is the most memorable between a Mexican and a Puerto Rican in the modern era, but for all that the 27-year-old Berlanga has proved entertaining he is a considerably less proven fighter – which was something Alvarez did little to contest.

“This fight is a good fight for the people,” he responded when asked why it won’t be Benavidez or Crawford in the opposite corner on September 14. “Mexico versus Puerto Rico is always a good fight. It’s a good fight for the people.

“I never overlook my opponents. I know Edgar Berlanga. He’s shown he’s strong. But at the end of the day he has a big challenge in front of him. It’s gonna be a great fight; he’s gonna show something different, and the people is gonna enjoy this fight.

“I don’t expect anything else. He’s going to bring everything, and me too. I’m gonna enjoy it a lot.

“It means a lot because [the rival is] history. It’s history. We have great fights – Mexico versus Puerto Rico – and I think this is going to be another one.

“That’s why we have this fight, right? I’m going to put my best as always.

“It’s gonna be a really good night for boxing. I guarantee that.”

At a time when the promotional future of Alvarez, who remains the world’s highest-profile fighter, continues to be the subject of uncertainty, he pointedly thanked Premier Boxing Champions’ Al Haymon, and described Eddie Hearn of Matchroom – present in his role as Berlanga’s promoter, but also Alvarez’s former promoter – as “my boy”.

If it was tempting to interpret the latter as a subtle dig at his other former promoter, Oscar De La Hoya – with whom the 34 year old so memorably clashed in the build-up to his victory over Munguia – his long-serving trainer Eddy Reynoso was typically understated.

“It’s going to be a really exciting day,” said Reynoso.

Alvarez-Berlanga will compete with a UFC promotion being staged in Vegas on the same night; they will not contest the undisputed title because the IBF considered a fight with their mandatory challenger William Scull overdue.

“In Mexico, fighting is a huge thing,” Reynoso continued. “I am thankful all of you are here and looking forward to September 14.”