Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez vs Edgar Berlanga fight preview, tale of the tape, betting odds and predictions
By James Blears
The nickname of Edgar Berlanga is ’’The Chosen One,’’ and he’s the upcoming opponent of WBC, WBA and WBO super-middleweight champion Saul Canelo Alvarez on September 14th at the T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Canelo has teased Edgar saying it would take 20 of him to present any sort of a tangible problem, adding: “He’s good, he’s strong, he’s young and he’s hungry. But it’s nothing new for me. I’m just going in there to do my business.
‘’If he’s dreaming of fighting me, that’s perfect. The dream is coming true for him… but it’s going to hurt. I’m going to do my best and let him feel so much pain. He’s going to get the beating of a lifetime. I’m focused on that. I hope he prepares really well because he’s going to need it.
‘’Mexico and Puerto Rico is boxing history. There have been so many great fights and this is going to be another one. It’s going to be a great night of boxing.’’
Canelo says he will KO Edgar around the eighth. While Edgar says he’ll stop Canelo in the sixth. Edgar commented, ‘’There’s a lot of doubt out there on me. But I’ve been facing adversity all of my life. This is my opportunity to be legendary.’’
Edgar (22-0, 17 KO’s) is a physically big super-middleweight. He’s been a pro since 2016. Canelo started in 2005.
Aged 27, Edgar stands six feet one inches tall with a seventy-three inches reach. He KO’d his first 16 opponents in less than one round, equalling Young Otto’s record, before going the distance with Demond Nicholson in his 17th outing, winning a UD.
He overcame a knockdown in round nine by Marcelo Estean Coceres to win a UD in the next fight. Two fights later, controversy against Roamer Alexis Angulo who he nibbled on the shoulder on the way to a UD win. The New York Athletic Commission suspended him for six months and fined him $10,000.
Thus far, Edgar has fought 72 rounds and his KO percentage is 77.27 percent. By contrast, Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KO) who is seven years older, has fought four hundred and ninety- six rounds. His KO percentage is 63.93 percent. If this fight goes further than halfway, it’ll be interesting to assess the balance of seasoned experience against freshness and comparative youth yet not that many long drawn-out stamina testing bouts for the challenger.
Canelo has accomplished so much already winning world titles in four different weight divisions, being unified champion in three of them and he was the first undisputed champion at super middleweight. He now holds the WBC, WBA and WBO belts. Starting at the age of just 15, he’s been a pro boxer for almost 20 years now.
Canelo is five feet seven and a half inches tall and his reach extends seventy and a half inches. Charismatic and decisive with a streak of ’’My Way’’ independent stubbornness, he’s often said, ’’I want to create my own history.’’
His favourite punches are the overhead right to the head and the left to the liver. Not only is he throwing the shots he’s become adept at calling them too.
Edgar who is of Puerto Rican heritage was born in Brooklyn and is a proud New Yorker.
As a child his hero was Felix Trinidad. Puerto Rico has given us some legendary champions. Carlos Ortiz, Wilfredo Gomez, Hector Camacho, the aforementioned ‘Tito’… and of course Miguel Cotto.
The greatest fight in the ongoing rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico was 43 years ago in 1981, when Salvador Sanchez and Wilfredo Gomez went to war, with Sal prevailing in a veritable slugfest with an eighth round TKO.
It still sends shivers down the spine and has secured its place in history as absolutely overwhelmingly awesome. The Chavez vs Macho Camacho fight was also a thriller.
The fact that Canelo vs Berlanga is slated for the Mexican Independence weekend also adds a touch of spice and verve. Canelo has already fought three Puerto Ricans. His most competitive rival from that trio was Miguel Cotto. Canelo defeated the mighty Miguel by UD to win the WBC middleweight belt in a highly competitive fight with two nicely matched skillsets.
Canelo has been knocking down opponents, namely John Ryder, Jermell Charlo and Jaime Munguia. But when they get up, he hasn’t been able to apply the finishing touches and stop them.
We have to go back six fights to when he TKO’d Caleb Plant in the eleventh, following two knockdowns. Since then, there’s been a stoppage drought. He really needs to get back on to the KO trail and tally. As an opponent, Edgar has been Canelo’s choice, rather than’’Hobson’s Choice,’’ but he could present problems.
Edgar has used his hard- earned money astutely and wisely, buying property and establishing a tow truck company with his father.
Fighting the already famous and fabulously wealthy Canelo, is a potential jackpot for him. He mused, ’’This is my opportunity of a lifetime. September 14th is going to be something to remember and I’m going to make history.’’
Canelo is grimly determined to put a stop to what he sees as an upstart and will be determined to exert and inflict maximum pressure, stress and distress. Aged 27, Edgar is no fledging, yearling, youngster or novice. He is at his physical peak, in his prime and primed for this opportunity. By his age Canelo had achieved so much and more.
I think that Edgar will go all out and try to draw Canelo into an all-out fight early on. In so doing, he will have to be careful, watchful and smart, because Canelo is an excellent counter puncher who can also lure opponents into traps by utilising cunning feints.
Considered the freckled, fresh face kid for so long, Canelo is now approaching veteran status. He’s fought a lot of fights in order to march to the top of the hill, but along the way, he has inevitably accumulated some wear and tear as well as assimilating sage experience.
Edgar ’The Chosen One’ Berlanga, hasn’t minced his words and let fly with some verbal ripostes in the New York and Los Angeles Pressers. It’s gained Canelo’s attention, amusement and irritation.
Now it’s time to see if Edgar can back them up… or he himself will get backed up?
Betting Odds
1/12 Canelo
10/1 Berlanga
33/1 Draw
Prediction
Tim Rickson BBN Editor: “I think is not only too soon for Berlanga I also believe the jump up in levels is too high. Canelo is a 65-fight veteran, he’s wily and experienced and he’s been operating at this level for 10 years.
“Canelo has won his last four fights on points, so my head tells me he will win via unanimous decision. However, recalling Berlanga getting dropped by Coceres and visualising what I expect to be a gulf in levels, I believe Canelo could turn up the heat to win by stoppage, which I would imagine coming later in the fight as opposed to early on.”
Tale of the Tape
SAÚL “Canelo” ÁLVAREZ (Mexico)
WBC, WBA, WBO Super Middleweight World Champion
Age: 34
DDOB: July 18, 1990
Residence: Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Birthplace: Juanacatlán, Jalisco, Mexico
Record: 61-2-2, 39 KOs
Total rounds: 496
World championship fights: 22-2-1, 11 KOs
Height: 5’8” – 173cm
Reach: 70.5” – 179cm
Stance: Right-handed
Manager, trainer: Edison “Eddy” Reynoso
EDGAR “The Chosen One” BERLANGA (PR/USA)
Ranked WBC #8 at Super Middleweight
Age: 27
DOB: May 18, 1997
Residence: New York
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York
Record: 22-0, 17 KOs
Total rounds: 72
Height: 6’1” – 185cm
Reach: 73” – 185cm
Stance: Right-handed
Manager: Keith Connolly
Trainer: Edgar Berlanga Sr.
WBC Title Fights: Mexico vs. Puerto Rico
There has been 41 WBC title fights between Mexico vs. Puerto Rico
Mexico has won 22 WBC title fights – Puerto Rico has won 18 WBC title fights
There was 1 no contest
Memorable Fights:
25/06/1977: ESTEBAN DE JESUS – VICENTE MIJARES S. KO 11
08/04/1978: WILFREDO GOMEZ – JUAN ANTONIO LOPEZ TKO 7
28/10/1978: WILFREDO GOMEZ – CARLOS ZARATE TKO 5
13/01/1979: WILFREDO BENITEZ – CARLOS PALOMINO DEC 15
13/12/1980: SALVADOR SANCHEZ – JUAN LAPORTE DEC 15
21/08/1981: SALVADOR SANCHEZ – WILFREDO GOMEZ TKO 8
03/12/1982: WILFREDO GOMEZ – LUPE PINTOR TKO 14
01/05/1983: EDWIN ROSARIO – JOSE LUIS RAMIREZ DEC 12
07/08/1983: HECTOR CAMACHO – RAFAEL LIMON TKO 5
03/11/1984: JOSE LUIS RAMIREZ – EDWIN ROSARIO TKO 4
10/08/1985: HECTOR CAMACHO – JOSE LUIS RAMIREZ DEC 12
12/12/1986: JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ – JUAN LAPORTE DEC 12
12/09/1992: JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ – HECTOR CAMACHO DEC 12
28/08/1997: RICARDO LOPEZ – ALEX SANCHEZ TKO 5
18/09/1999: TITO TRINIDAD- OSCAR DE LA HOYA DEC 12
26/11/2011: SAUL ALVAREZ – KERMIT CINTRON TKO 5
21/04/2012: ABNES MARES – ERIC MOREL UD 12
14/12/2013: LEO SANTA CRUZ – CESAR SEDA UD 12
21/11/2015: SAUL ALVAREZ – MIGUEL COTTO UD 12
WBC Super Middleweight Top 10
- RAY LEONARD (US)
- JOE CALZAGHE (GB)
- NIGEL BENN (GB)
- ANDRE WARD (US)
- CARL FROCH (GB)
- MIKKEL KESSLER (DENMARK)
- ROBIN REID (GB)
- DANNY GREEN (AUSTRALIA)
- MARKUS BEYER (GERMANY)
- ERIC LUCAS (CANADA)