Unbeaten super middleweight Edgar “The Chosen One” Berlanga (20-0, 16 KOs), has apologized for his post-fight comments and the dirty tactics employed in Saturday’s fight against Alexis Angulo.
In a statement on social media, Berlanga said, “I want to apologize for my actions and what I said yesterday about the Mike Tyson bite. I was in the moment and got a little ahead of myself. It doesn’t take away from the embarrassment that I have caused upon myself, my team, top ranks, and many others.
“I reacted poorly and take full responsibility. Moving forward, I am going to be more mindful and encouraging in my behavior. Once again, I do apologize.”
I, personally, think that if you bite someone in a fight, you should be disqualified immediately and if they don’t catch it until after the fight, they should go back and DQ you or make it a no-contest. But that’s just me.
I’m happy he admitted it and apologized. Hopefully they give him a fine and maybe sit him down for six months and he probably should start seeing a sports psychologist or something. If I’m fighting Berlanga, I know I’m going to rough him up now and I heard that they were talking about Jesse Hart next, Jesse needs to go train with Bernard Hopkins and pick up some old tricks for that fight.
Jesse Hart? Forreal?
I didn’t hear that one yet.
I would like to see Edgar fight Gabe Rosado. I got Gabe!
I doubt they put him in with Jesse. Hart is a true live dog in the ring.
If they fought, I got Hart by Ko or easy decision!
I respect ALL fighters, but Berlanga is a hype train. They are just looking for the next Puerto Rican “cash cow” and they’re apparently settling for anybody.
Xander Zayas is probably the best candidate out today.
We’ll see though. Thanks for the news Champ!
Gabe would be a good fight. I could see that one going either way really. I wouldn’t be too surprised if he ended up fighting Gabe, now that you mention it. Mosley Jr. either actually.
I have no problem with an insta-DQ for biting, but that rule needs to be in place beforehand in order to make it effective. I appreciate that he owned it and he seems sincere. But yeah, a rule banning biting and causing a DQ on the spot wouldnt be a bad thing.
You’re right. They would have to set it as a rule and couldn’t go back and retroactively DQ him if they came to that conclusion someday.
Oddly, Mark Kriegel from ESPN was disgusted by the biting after the telecast but stated that you should never bite but if necessary to retaliate you should elbow and punch low. Not sure why biting is in a different class for him and apparently for you.
I agree with Kriegel. If someone elbows and headbutts you, give it back to them. They hit you low, do it back to them.
You hit me low…. I BITE YOU?! Had he came out and said Angulo elbowed him so he elbowed him back, I think we’re having a very different conversation.
I don’t know where that idea comes from. I think I do. I think he may’ve thought he could get away with it and, at least in the moment, he did.
What I’m saying is that all these infractions are all illegal and I don’t see any difference between them in kind whether used in a tit-for-tat fashion or not. Elbows and low blows are common and they generally result in warnings and/or points deductions if caught. Should be the same with biting.
I hear what you’re saying Ajay. I think where we disagree is that you seem to be saying that ‘a foul is a foul’. I don’t think so. There have been enough fights for us to have seen that, when two people are fighting, occasionally they’ll come together to attack and headbutts can happen. Someone can throw a punch and maybe it lands but not fully or not at all and the follow-through can result in an elbow or a forearm. You throw enough shots to the body and some can stray low or someone can block a bodyshot with their elbow and it will slide down and land low. Certainly they can be intentional or they can be done in a way or at a frequency where the person on the receiving end feels they were intentional even if they weren’t, but they happen when people fight.
Biting is different for me and, just like in every other directly competitive sport that I know of, you’re allowed to commit certain infractions but there’re others that doing them ONE TIME means that your day is done. Biting is that bad for me in boxing. So is kicking.
This guy should have been disqualified. End of story. He is a POS. He was told he had better do this or his career was in jeopardy. The hell with the Boxing promotors who do not yank his win. It should be a No Contest or a Disqualification after viewing the Tapes. Berlanga is garbage as a human and an embarrassment to the sport. The powers that be should step up and show some integrity. The potential bottom line should not be their God. I will never watch another Berlanga fight again.
Good thing no one was watching the fight so who cares
the kid isnt that good :
Well you pretty much summed up the essence of the entire fight.