Teddy Atlas discusses Edgar Berlanga vs Padraig McCrory
Famed boxing trainer and fight analyst, Teddy Atlas, has offered his thoughts ahead of Edgar Berlanga’s upcoming showdown with Padraig McCrory, labelling it as a ‘coming home party for the proud New Yorker.
‘The Chosen One’ astonishingly began his career with 16 straight first-round knockout wins, before going the distance in his next five contests.
Now the 26-year-old will seek to prove that he can challenge on the world stage, where he takes on Ireland’s McCrory this Saturday night, who is ranked as high as #3 with the WBA.
On his YouTube channel, Atlas explained why Berlanga’s impressive start to life as a professional has hindered his development.
“It didn’t teach him anything. It didn’t improve him. It didn’t improve him on his trajectory to being a better fighter, because at the end of the day, yeah you want to build a record, you want to make money, you want to build a fan base, but you want to become a better fighter. Sixteen straight one-round knockouts doesn’t make you a better fighter. He’s started fighting better guys – guys he could’ve fought a little earlier – and he’s looking for the knockout.”
“I think he’s starting to get better now, he’s starting to turn the corner a little bit in that way and develop a little, but coming off 16 straight one-round knockouts, he was thinking, ‘I’m going to hit the guy; I’m going to go home’ and he wasn’t developing the things that all fighters have to develop. All of the assets and qualities that you have to develop to be a top pro; to be a world champ.”
“I really thought that stagnated him a little bit, but I think now he’s getting to where he needs to be able to identify who he needs to be.”
“I think this fight is a coming out party. Really, we’ve forgot about him a little bit.“
Berlanga-McCrory goes ahead on February 24, and is available to watch live on DAZN.