JAMESTOWN, Calif. – Marc Farrait, the coach of super middleweight contender Edgar Berlanga, sees a purpose to his next fight.
Berlanga returns to action March 15 against undefeated Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida.
The initial news of the fight announcement caught some fans by surprise. Berlanga, a Puerto Rican from New York City, had just gone 12 rounds with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in a world title fight and won the respect of many fight fans, even in a loss. That was in September. Now he is returning against an unknown 35-year-old Puerto Rican.
“I think every fight serves some form of purpose,” Farrait told BoxingScene. “When you’re in the ring, you’re going to learn something, whether it’s someone you think you can walk through, or someone you think you’re gonna have a hard night with.”
Berlanga, 22-1 (17 KOs), made waves in the boxing industry as he won his first 16 fights all by way of first-round knockout. During that time, he also fought frequently, often three times a-year.
“Activity, being in the ring, under the lights, going through the motions and getting that feel again,” Farrait said. “I think it’s more about the mental preparation and being ready.”
It also serves as a way for Berlanga, 27, to build off his last fight in the prime of his career, staying active as opposed to waiting around. Gonzalez-Ortiz holds a record of 20-0-1 (16 KOs) and fought two times last year, but hadn’t fought before that since 2014.
“I think Edgar should have no problems in this fight, nothing against his opponent,” Farrait said.
As for what he learned from Alvarez in their fight last September, Farrait was candid: “I can’t even give you an answer. I guess we’ll see as he grows,” Farrait said.
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