Super middleweight contender Edgar “The Chosen One” Berlanga went the distance twice last year following 16 first-round stoppages to begin his pro career. After surgery to repair a torn biceps suffered last October against Marcelo Esteban Coceres, Berlanga (18-0, 16 KOs) will make his 2022 debut March 19 in a 10-rounder against Steve Rolls (21-1, 12 KOs) at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden.
The Brooklyn-born Berlanga is ready to begin a new knockout streak against Rolls, a Canadian veteran who has a pair of knockout wins since a 2019 TKO defeat to Gennadiy Golovkin.
This is what Berlanga had to say at his Las Vegas training camp.
“I think 2022 is going to be a big year for me, and I can’t wait to kick it off in my first main event in New York. I learned a lot from my last fight, and I’ve been working really hard on correcting my mistakes.”
“After my surgery, I chose to do my rehab out here in Las Vegas so I could not only do physical therapy with the best team in the business, but also focus 100 percent on boxing. The fans are going to see big things from me this year beginning March 19.”
“Having my first main event at home is amazing. I’m ready to show everyone what I’m made of. I want people to see that I can sell out an arena. I don’t need to have a title or a big-name opponent to sell tickets. I have a fanbase, and everyone is going to see that on March 19.”
“I’m proud to represent New York City and Puerto Rico. I want to be the next great Puerto Rican champion. My first memories of boxing are watching Tito Trinidad fight as a little kid, and I want to give the Puerto Rican people someone that they can be proud of.”
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The Night of Young Stars —Berlanga-Rolls, Keyshawn Davis-Esteban Sanchez, and Xander Zayas-Quincy LaVallais — will be broadcast live on ESPN. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with DiBella Entertainment, tickets starting at $51 are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting Ticketmaster.com or MSG.com.
That streak finally ended so now they can get to the business of developing him as a fighter. His last two fights probably did more for Berlanga than all of the previous 16 combined.
Let’s not mention the great Tito Trinidad until you win your first real major title. I was there when Tito won his first.
Arturo. Damn, thats awesome man. Bet that was an awesome experience.
Maurice Blocker???
Should be an ok test, with better opposition will be really able to tell if he just another brash, bling bling wearing hype train
there is only 1 KO king and that was Edwin Valero, he was farking scary in the ring and unfortunately we had to find out the hard way that motorcycle accident really did cause brain injuries and he should have never been fighting. Very sad story
We will see if Berlanga will consistently work off the jab for setting up his power shots.
I am really looking forward to watching Keyshawn Davis’ development as a professional fighter, inside/outside the ring.
I like Berlanga I think he’s good for boxing a very exciting crowd pleaser. However he has way too many holes in his game and would be slaughtered against a Benavidez let alone Canelo who he keeps mentioning. Even Charlo or Plant would box his ears off.
With that said, I wish him well and hope he can come back stronger with the repaired arm. Maybe he will prove me wrong only God knows
Arturo seen live the day a star arrived. When I seen Trinidad destroy Blocker that way I knew he was going to be special. That’s the card that featured Terry Norris and one of my favorite fighters growing up Lupe Aquino who was on the comeback trail after spending a few years behind bars.
I can’t believe that’s almost 30 years already! Man where did all the years go…
Wishing Berlanga only the best in 2022.
berlanga will go for the ko rolls should use a lot of footwork and stay off the ropes could be a good contest
Overrated.
Rolls is a good opponent for Berlanga, good to built his confidence lol !!
He went from an unbeatable war God who know one could escape rd 1 with to a chubby baby who can’t box and has a weak chin in only 2 fights lol