Not Time For Berlanga: Canelo Continues Legacy

Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga on Saturday night in Las Vegas - Image Credit: Ray Del Rio/PBC

NEW YORK — Edgar Berlanga was outmatched and Canelo Alvarez continued a legacy retaining his super middleweight titles with a commanding 12-round unanimous decision Saturday evening at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Though billed as another fight in the historic Mexico-Puerto Rico rivalry, something Alvarez downplayed, Berlanga, the heavy underdog, gained more popularity going the distance.

Consider this was another fight for Alvarez on Mexican Independence weekend and undefeated again when he fights every September. He is an icon and says he loves what he does. Berlanga gained more respect and despite the loss gained that momentum of popularity after negativity arose about not deserving his career fight where others should have had been granted the opportunity.

.@Canelo's left hook that dropped Berlanga could be felt in San Juan 🇵🇷. #CaneloBerlanga pic.twitter.com/Hd6GAUFzCa

— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) September 15, 2024

Then again going the distance with Alvarez and as an underdog will gain respect. Berlanga (22-1, 17 K0’s) Brooklyn, NY born and with Puerto Rican heritage sustained the first defeat of his career, Regardless, Alvarez has established a legacy despite not scoring another knockout in two years, going the distance again which did not damage his credibility.

Canelo is considered the face of boxing. He chooses who and when he fights to defend his titles. Down the street on the Vegas strip at the Sphere Hotel and Casino that hosted a UFC PPV event, Terence Crawford, a part of the 154-pound title picture, also always in discussion as top pound-for-pound with Alvarez made the challenge.

If Canelo meets financial terms of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority Chairman Turki, a mega fight next May in Saudi Arabia or in Las Vegas could be a reality, though Alvarez would not comment on the challenge.

Crawford and Alvarez would likely fight at 168, reportedly would be the biggest purse in boxing history and would determine who is the top pound-for-pound fighter. But Alvarez has rejected talking further about a possible fight with Crawford, he said the Turki disrespected him and he makes the decisions because they won’t pay him what he is worth. Then again, Alvarez picks and chooses who he wants to fight because he is the face of boxing as his own promoter

The spectacle though is always about Alvarez, a pay-per-view and box office draw at 34-years of age. He is the marquee name and surpassed the million PPV plateau four times in earning hundreds of millions of dollars. The Mexican icon is compared to Julio César Chávez the Hall of Famer, but Alvarez still has not surpassed his popularity. Amazon Prime PPV, PPV.com, and DAZN the streaming network are distributors of his championship fights.

He is a world wide draw and also gets a part of streaming revenue rights for his fights that are televised in Mexico and internationally, so there is no debate about popularity or demand to see him fight.

VIVA MÉXICO, CABRONES‼️🔥🇲🇽 @Canelo #ANDSTILL🇲🇽🏆 pic.twitter.com/PG2W4KJ4xi

— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) September 15, 2024

Berlanga got the opportunity and was a challenger as the WBA, one of the alphabet soup boxing organizations had declared him to be a contender for the part of the title. Though the fight was for all of Alvarez’s belts (WBC,WBA, WBO) he won as undisputed king of 168. Months ago, though, Alvarez was stripped of the IBF title for not meeting their mandatory opponent, a part of boxing politics.

“I fought a legend and did everything I had to do,” Berlanga said about the loss, a gutsy championship effort that had him losing every round on the scorecards. He got the opportunity in his multi-fight deal with Matchroom Boxing and Eddie Hearn, this after beginning his career with a 16-fight and first round knockout streak when under the Top Rank Boxing banner.

The 27-year old Berlanga got the opportunity, a sensation who had that auspicious beginning, 16 consecutive knockouts that got stopped when under the Top Rank Boxing banner. He signed a multi-fight deal with Matchroom Boxing and Eddie Hearn.

Well deserved for the 27-year-old Berlanga, though not in that category of a fly-by-night fighter who can punch hard. But he was outmatched and Berlanga says he had haters with this opportunity. On the contrary, he has many supporters as many say he will be a fixture in the division, even Alvarez said to him that he will be a champion.

Not now, but Berlanga definitely has the tools. This may have been a dominant Alvarez win but Berlanga learned and got the experience of his first major mega fight in front of 20,000 fans and a pay-per-view audience.

Alvarez was a professor in the ring, he always is. For Berlanga, another learning experience despite the magnitude of a major championship fight after sustaining a knockdown off a left hook in round three and quickly getting up.

“I’m upset because at the end of the day I’m a winner,” said Berlanga. “I fought a legend tonight and did my best to represent Puerto Rico. We’re fighters and we try to throw our opponent off their game. I took his best shot and I knew I could take his punches and return them. I could have jabbed a lot more, but I was in there with a legend.”

Using the ring generalship that’s made him a future Hall of Famer, Canelo continued to control the action, turning up the heat in the later rounds, landing 16 power shots in round eight and 20 in round ten, according to CompuBox. The punch stats reflected Canelo’s dominance throughout the 12 rounds, as he out landed Berlanga 201 to 119.

“My experience and my talent was the difference,” said Alvarez. “It’s about hard work and intelligence. It’s everything together. If you have talent, you need discipline as well.”

THE GARCIA QUEST FAILS AND ROMERO BACK IN MIX: In the co-main event, WBA Middleweight World Champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara (31-3-3, 19 KOs) scored his fourth-straight knockout as he stopped former two-division champion Danny “Swift” Garcia (37-4, 21 KOs) after nine rounds. The matchup pitted two of this era’s most accomplished fighters against each other, as the two had combined to face 21 world champions heading into the fight.

.@LaraBoxing defeats Danny Garcia by TKO after sending DSG to the canvas for the first time in career with a straight left. #LaraGarcia

Order #LaraGarcia now: https://t.co/TTL3b5uHde pic.twitter.com/4pJFrY8OsV

— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) September 15, 2024

“I’m okay. I came off a two year layoff and tried to be great, and it wasn’t my night,” said Garcia who fought for the first time at middleweight and was seeking to become a three-division champion after holding titles at 140 and 147.

“No excuses. I didn’t think the layoff would affect me like that, but there’s no excuses. I couldn’t find my rhythm,” he said. “He had a strong jab and was controlling the distance well.”

But this was not the Danny Garcia of the past and the layoff and age showed which questions his willingness to continue in a division that has other plans for Lara.

Boxing’s oldest reigning world champion and the oldest Cuban world champion of all time, Lara showed off the signature boxing skills that have allowed him to remain at the top of the sport for years. Lara’s movement held Garcia to just a 17% connect rate, while Lara was able to land over 37% of his power punches.

“I felt that I boxed beautifully,” said Lara. “It was a work of art, like a Picasso. I negated everything Danny had. He’s a great fighter and a Hall of Famer just like me. I used lateral movement with a long jab to land my big shots, just like you learn at the Cuban school of boxing.”

Garcia trailed 88-82 on all three cards at the time of the stoppage but appeared to have his best round in the eighth, getting the nod on all three cards for the first time in the fight. However in round nine Lara again looked in control, eventually capping his performance with a clean left to the head that sent Garcia down for the first time in his career.

“The punches I was landing were hurting him,” said Lara. “That punch that ended the fight was a big shot.”

Garcia was able to make it to the corner after the bell ended round nine, but after a conversation with his father and trainer Angel Garcia, the corner officially waved off the bout.

“At the end of the day my dad is always gonna do what’s best for me,” said Garcia. “I tried to conquer a third division and I came up short. I’ve been at the top of the game for a long time, I take this on the chin like a true champion.”

Despite his status as boxing’s oldest world champion, Lara declared his intention to continue his illustrious career.

“I’m ready for the next challenge,” said Lara. “I’m here to stay. I have a lot of boxing left in me.”

Rolando “Rolly” Romero (16-2, 13 KOs) earned a unanimous decision over Manuel Jaimes (16-2-1, 11 KOs) in their 10-round super lightweight attraction. Romero was victorious by the score of 99-91 according to all three judges.

Rolly and Jaimes trade big punches in close quarters. #RollyJaimes

Order #CaneloBerlanga now! (🔗 in bio) pic.twitter.com/NoH94i8ap3

— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) September 15, 2024

In his first bout since losing his world title to Isaac Cruz in March, Romero showed improved movement and defense in keeping the aggressive Jaimes from putting his offense together effectively. Meanwhile, Romero was able to land sharp power punches on the inside that caught the judges’ attention and helped him secure the win.

“I needed a tough 10-round fight against someone hungry and that’s what I got tonight,” said Romero. “I was doing a lot of stuff tonight that I should have done in my earlier fights.”

“The judges saw what they saw, I’d have to watch the tape to be able to score it myself,” said Jaimes. “I could have been more active, that would have helped me land more.”

Romero favored the power shots throughout the night, with 81 of his 112 total landed punches being categorized as such. His best rounds came later in the fight as he connected on 19 power punches in round eight and 16 in round nine.

“Jaimes was coming forward a lot, but I was controlling the pace,” said Romero. “The fight was going how I wanted it to. In the later rounds I started coming forward more and landing more body shots. Hopefully I’m fighting for a title next. I have my eye on any of the champions.”

Rich Mancuso is senior writer and contributor Latinosports.com – Twitter (X): Ring 786, Facebook.com/RichMancuso

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