Canelo Alvarez’s WBC super middleweight mandatory, Edgar Berlanga, was at Friday’s weigh-in, on a scouting mission for a potential fight against him this September on DAZN PPV.
Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) says he’s waiting to see if he gets picked by King Canelo for his next title defense of his undisputed super middleweight championship if he wins on Saturday night against Jaime Munguia in Las Vegas.
DAZN’s Spotlight on Berlanga
DAZN gave the 26-year-old Berlanga a lot of air time on Friday, letting him talk about him being the possible next opponent for Canelo, and he seems eager to be next.
Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing promotes Berlanga and has put him in with two easy opponents, Jason Quigley and Padraig McCrory, to ensure he doesn’t lose.
Now, Berlanga is on the doorstep to make life-changing money fighting Canelo next if everything plays out as he and Hearn hope.
Berlanga has taken some heat for his weak resume and for choosing to swerve David Morrell after his win over McCrory made him the Cuban talent’s WBA mandatory last January.
Canelo Holds the Key
It’s understandable why Berlanga didn’t fight Morrell because, in my opinion, that’s a match-up that he’d have zero chance of winning. If Canelo wants to fight Berlanga, who can blame the New Yorker for swerving Morrell, David Benavidez, and other talented fighters at 168?
If Canelo insisted on Berlanga earning his spot against the killers, Morrell and Benavidez instead of giving it to him, he wouldn’t be getting this potential opportunity to fight him in September. Canelo is the one who is giving Berlanga this chance without making him earn it.
Berlanga Eager for the Spotlight
“1000%. He’s done a lot in the sport of boxing,” said Edgar Berlanga to DAZN Boxing when asked today at the weigh-in if Canelo Alvarez is still the best at super middleweight. “He’s going down as one of the best Mexican fighters that ever lived.
“I don’t see any decline in him. If anything, I see him getting better, but he has a tough opposition in front of him on Saturday to focus on.
“I feel like it’s there, it’s the right time,” said Berlanga when asked how it feels that he’s so close to being Canelo’s next opponent for September. “I always wanted to share the ring with that man since I turned pro.”
In a perfect world, Canelo would tell Berlanga to prove himself against Morrell, Caleb Plant, Benavidez, and Christian Mbilli before he gives him a chance to fight him. We know that’s not going to happen.
This is business, and it doesn’t matter if Berlanga is a manufactured fighter with a fluff record and just marketed to take advantage of his large following in the New York area with his large Puerto Rican fanbase.
He doesn’t have to prove himself against the talented fighters because it’s about money, and he’s not a threat to beating Canelo. This is a cherry pick. If Berlanga chose to work his way to a position to fight Canelo by fighting these talented killers, maybe he could improve enough to give him problems. He’s not going to do that.
“I’ve had dreams of me and him fighting. So for me to share the ring with him. I know it’s going to be one for the history book. Puerto Rico vs. Mexico, I keep saying it. I’m a superstar and I got an island behind me. A big boxing island behind me,” said Berlanga, pointing out that he has a large following in Puerto Rico.
“He has Mexico. What better way than to square it off in the ring? Two superstars, you know? Yeah, we’re definitely going to sit out until September. We’re waiting this one out. We got to see how this plays off.”
If Canelo were going to fight someone else besides Berlanga in September, he would have already tipped the fans off. That’s not going to happen. Berlanga is the guy that Canelo will be fighting next, and that’s going to be a mismatch.
“I already know what the move is for September. We’re leaving it in Canelo’s hands. He’s the King of the 168-lb division. He has all the titles. He brings in all the money. So you’ve got to respect where respect is due,” said Berlanga.
“We have to sit it out, wait it out, and see what the numbers do,” said Berlanga.
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