Brooklyn-born super middleweight sensation Edgar “The Chosen One” Berlanga (18-0, 16 KOs) will defend his NABO belt against crafty Steve Rolls (21-1, 12 KOs) in the 10-round main event Saturday, March 19 at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden.
In the junior middleweight co-feature, 19-year-old Xander Zayas (12-0, 9 KOs) will fight in his first scheduled eight-rounder against Quincy “Chico” LaVallais (12-2-1, 7 KOs).
The eight-round televised opener will see the return of lightweight U.S. Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis (4-0, 3 KOs) against Esteban Sanchez (18-1, 8 KOs).
Berlanga-Rolls, Zayas-LaVallais and Davis-Sanchez will air live on ESPN.
Undercard action will stream on ESPN+ and is scheduled to include junior welterweight John “El Terrible” Bauza (16-0, 7 KOs) in an eight-rounder, welterweight Pablo “Pretty Boy” Valdez (6-0, 5 KOs) in a six-round attraction, junior lightweight Henry “Moncho” Lebron (14-0, 9 KOs) in an eight-rounder, and a four-rounder featuring junior welterweight Kelvin Davis (3-0, 2 KOs).
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with DiBella Entertainment, tickets start at $51 and go on sale Friday.
Fans are required to provide proof they have received either two doses of a two-shot COVID-19 vaccination or one dose of a single-shot vaccine. Fully vaccinated (at least 14 days after your final vaccine dose) fans are not required to wear a mask. Everyone else age 2 and older is required to wear a mask while in the venue, except while actively eating or drinking.
Berlanga is fun to watch. Would be fun to see him step it up in competition.
I can’t imagine he beats Berlanga, but Rolls is a decent next step especially considering Berlanga’s last fight.
Good matchup. I’ll be watching on TV. New York is ridiculous by enforcing a vax mandate in order to attend a sporting event!
Berlanga’s star has faded, and that’s actually the best thing for him. Looks like Berlanga is now stepping up his level of competition and probably won’t be blasting guys out in the first round like he had been. Rolls is a decent fighter, I guess, and could give Berlanga some rounds. Although he holds a bullshit title, I think David Morrell has surpassed Berlanga as the rising Super MiddleWeight star to watch. That isn’t to say I’ve given up on Berlanga, but I feel if you were to match those two up now, Morrell would box circles around him.
Solid card but they’re missing the headliner for that card especially for that date… ☘️Michael “Mick” Conlan☘️
I just realized he’s fighting the week before across the pond in for the WBA featherweight title. It’ll be on DAZN because Top Rank lost the purse bid.
Amazing how they’re moving Keyshawn Davis! I realize that his amateur pedigree allows him to compete at this level, so imagine what it’ll look like by the time he’s 15-0?!!!!!
Love watching how Xander is progressing!!
After watching Berlanga get manhandled and dropped in sparring by 154 lb Erikson Lubin, I’m not sold on him against the top 10 Super Middles.