Promoter Oscar De La Hoya criticized the September 14th designation of the Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga fight as a Mexico vs. Puerto Rico clash.
(Credit: Esther Lin: Premier Boxing Champions)
Berlanga’s Nationality Questioned
De La Hoya points out that Berlanga is from New York, which makes him American, not Puerto Rican.
He says to be Puerto Rican, you have to be born there, and Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) was born in the U.S. For Berlanga’s fight against Canelo, he’s pushing the Mexico vs. Puerto Rico angle, even though it should be Mexico vs. the U.S.
It’s unclear whether Berlanga’s use of the Mexico vs. Puerto Rican slogan to try and sell his fight with Canelo will payoff in terms of more PPV buys. Fans don’t care about that, and Berlanga doesn’t sound like he’s from Puerto Rico.
Marketing Gimmick or Cultural Pride?
In the eyes of fans, he’s a New Yorker, so it’s a waste of time for him to continually push the Mexico vs. Puerto Rican angle, hoping it will create more PPV buys or sell tickets. It won’t.
“I think it’s real [the beef], but what I feel is not real is they’re building this fight as Mexico vs. Puerto Rico. I don’t know if that’s real because the last time I checked, Berlanga was from New York,” said promoter Oscar De La Hoya to Fighthype, remarking about Edgar Berlanga trying to pass himself off as Puerto Rican despite being born in New York, which makes him American.
Other fighters use the same tactics—ignoring their U.S. citizenship and focusing on their parents’ or grandparents’ nationalities—to help sell their fights. Some just have pride in where their distant genetic heritage and aren’t interested in calling themselves Americans.
Focus on the Fight, Not the Heritage
“The last time I checked, I think I’m more Puerto Rican than Berlanga,” said De La Hoya. “I lived there for six years. So, I know what people love. I know who they’re going to support. They supported [Felix] Trinidad because he was the king there, lived there, was born there.”
Ideally, the Canelo vs. Berlanga marketing should be angled on the actual fight, not where the two guys are from. Fans aren’t motivated to purchase the event on PPV just because of the rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico. De La Hoya is right. Berlanga isn’t Puerto Rican. You must be from there to be identified as a true Puerto Rican.
“I think it will be a good fight, but don’t build it as Mexico vs. Puerto Rico,” said De La Hoya about the Canelo vs. Berlanga clash.
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