By Miguel Maravilla
Mexican superstar, WBA, WBC and WBO super middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KO’s) is back in the ring this Saturday night as he takes on undefeated Edgar Berlanga (22-0, 17 KO’s) of Brooklyn. Canelo will defend his titles against Berlanga at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas live on Pay Per View.
“I am ready for this fight. I’m hoping this fight turns out to be a good solid performance and get the victory come September 14,” Canelo told Fightnews.com®.
Coming off a unanimous decision, Canelo handed former middleweight world champion and fellow Mexican Jaime Munguia his first defeat. Scoring a knockdown in the fight, Alvarez was efficient in boxing his way to the decision win. Canelo returns to the same ring he defeated Munguia as he now takes on Berlanga.
In what has been a tradition for Canelo of headlining and fighting on Fiestas Patrias weekend Canelo will once again headline on Mexican Independence Day weekend. He is hadlining his first card in Las Vegas in 2012 when he stopped Josesito Lopez at the MGM Grand to now, Canelo has proudly represented Mexico.
“Honestly, I already forgot how many times I’ve fought on this festive weekend. I’m happy to be fighting on these dates. It’s an honor for me to be fighting and representing my country,” Canelo on fighting on Mexican Independence weekend.
Interestingly this Saturday night, Canelo will be competing inside and outside the ring as well vs. UFC/Dana White and Riyadh Season /Turki Alalshiek. Canelo goes head-to-head against the Noche de UFC 306 card headlined by Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili taking place at the Sphere in Las Vegas. In what will be the first time ever in Las Vegas that boxing and UFC will go head to head the same night.
“I feel good about it. I don’t see anything wrong with it. Competing is great, competition is good. I will do my part, and I know that my fans will do their part to support me. It’s a boxing weekend,” Canelo said about going head-to-head vs. UFC
There has been a lot of buzz in recent days surrounding Canelo and Turki Alalshiek. Following a failed attempt to negotiate a fight between Canelo and Terence Crawford, things quickly turned for the champ and Saudi Kingpin. Canelo, rejecting Alalshiek’s courtesy, quickly prompted Alalshiek to respond on Twitter and accused Canelo of looking for easier fights.
“I’m not the one trying to make the fight he wants. He took it personal, but it wasn’t the right time to discuss a future fight with me getting ready for this fight,” Canelo on his disagreement with Turki. “I think he (Turki Alalshiek) took it personal but that’s not my problem. He being upset is not my fault,” Canelo added.
Facing heavy criticism for selecting the less proven Berlanga, Canelo has received backlash as well from the fans as there has been a demand for a showdown with undefeated former world champion David Benavidez. Canelo explained why Berlanga was the chose one.
“The fans are never happy with anything. I just know it will be a good night of boxing,” Canelo said. “It’s an interesting fight,” Canelo added.
Berlanga comes into this fight scoring a sixth-round knockout of Padraig McCrory earlier this year in February. Some of the notable names on his resume include Jason Quigley, Roamer Alexis Angulo, Steve Rolls, and Marcelo Coceres. Berlanga of Puerto Rican descent somewhat adds some relevance and revival to the already fading Mexico vs. Puerto Rico rivalry that has lacked luster in recent years.
“I expect the best Berlanga. He is a strong fighter,” Canelo on his opponent Berlanga.
Looking to spark things up in this rivalry is Canelo as he chimed in and looks to add his chapter in the rivalry. A rivalry that has seen classics such as Salvador Sanchez vs. Wilfredo Gomez, Julio Cesar Chavez vs Edwin Rosario, Chavez vs. Hector Camacho, De La Hoya vs. Trinidad, and Orlando Salido vs. Juan Manuel Lopez
“There have been some great fights in that rivalry. It’s Mexico vs. Puerto Rico. It’s a great rivalry,” Canelo on the Mexico vs. Puerto Rico boxing rivalry.
Wrapping up another successful camp with his longtime trainer Eddie Reynoso in Lake Tahoe, Canelo and his team are ready to hit Las Vegas for fight week festivities. For now, the focus for this Saturday remains Berlanga as it’s go-time for Canelo.
“Camp was great. I feel good and strong. Berlanga is a strong fighter. I had various sparring partners in camp with different styles and of course like Berlanga. I went all out because I know that Berlanga is going to come with everything to shock the world,” Canelo said about his preparation.
Interestingly when asked about a possible showdown with David Benavidez, Canelo did not rule out the possibility of facing the undefeated Benavidez next year. We shall see what transpires following this fight with Berlanga.
“I don’t discard anything for 2025. We shall see what’s to come,” Canelo said.
Interview (in Spanish)
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Another dud fight. Dipping and dodging caneloyellow. No bueno. This makes for a bad birthday weekend!
yep – Boring fight.
It’s not an interesting fight.
I’m a fight fan first and Canelo fan second. For those don’t know the difference. After the Bivol beatdown he fought an old GGG, John Ryder, Charlo who was 2 weight classes South of him, Jaime Munguia and now Edgar Berlanga. Smart move for him but it sucks for the fans who want to see big fights. Make it make sense how you defend this?
Bivol did a superb job in that fight reminding Canelo that distance and timing are everything in fighter’s best package. Alvarez was very frustrated in that fight realizing he could not crack Bivol’s code in beating him in chess match of boxing.
Interesting to who?
It’s only interesting in the regard that both fighters have fought mediocre opponents the last 5 times out (minus GGG but he was past his prime), and the Mexican vs PR rivalry, which of course would only have value if Canelo was facing a prime or close to it, Tito Trinidad. I’ll check out the replay (massacre) on YouTube. This is a huuuge step up for Berlanga, that he is not ready or qualified for.
The walls are closing in on Canelo. It’s bad when even the promoters and organizers are working against you. The Canelo fan boys are becoming more and more quiet. They been defending him for a good decade and getting exhausted.
Should be a decent scrap. Outside of the PR fans in support of their guy, I doubt anybody wants to pay money for the fight. The people are now pushing for Berlanga to pull it out.
CanYellow the pu$%y has hurt his legacy a lot by avoiding the Benavidez fight. I’m sorry but you cannot maintain respect when you deny the sport the fight everyone wants to see. As if the coward doesn’t have enough money.
Canela, the biggest sissy in boxing, the man known as “El Maricon” for ducking David Benavidez. An embarrassment to true Mexican boxing.
Nailed it with your comment. 100 upvotes/likes if I could.
The fight vs berlanga is a good one
Berlanga is tall , young and strong
The fact that canelo is better and big and favorite to win the foght is another thing
The problem here is that canelo should be fighting Benavides and is well known that canelo does not want to fight Benavides which is shameful
Is better to fight and lose!!! Than refused to fight someone
Some Mexicans does not care about this because we Mexican fans care more about the performance in the ring
Is the Mexican gives everything in the ring we are happy even if he loses the fight
Some mexican idols were not even champions and they are loved by the Mexican boxing fans
Like Toluco Lopez who was never a champion and he is one of the most loved Mexican boxers because he was very agressive like Rodolfo Casanova
So canelo is afraid to lose thinking that if he lose a fight against Benavides we gona forget about him
But canelo already made history but it can be lot better if fights and or beats Benavides
Now in my case yea I’m mad/ashamed at canelo for ducking Benavides
If Turki Al-Sheikh wants to stick it to Canelo he should put on a big fight card every time Canelo has a card to drown him out. The best fighting the best vs Canelo fighting a C class fighter nobody cares about. I’ll take the first option for 500 Alex.
No it’s not interesting. it’s a shitty cherry pick fight that only a sucker would pay to watch.
this matchup from the face of boxing, should be on free TV or basic cable at best.
please everyone, stop encouraging Canelo
Carlos, we’d like to know more about Toluco Lopez and Rodolfo Cassanova…please go ahead…
Is a long long long story
I need a lot of time to describe them
Because there is a lot behind of check the numbers or boxrec page
Is like describe of USA heavyweight division from 1960’s to late 1980’s
With Ali Frazier foreman Liston Norton etc etc etc
Imagine ????
You need like lot lot lot of time to describe this great era of boxing in USA
Same would be for Mexican boxing
We had our great time as well with national championship fights
Mexicans just fighting Mexicans but with lot of excitement just like heavyweight division but unfortunately boxing world fans don’t care about a small weight divisions and Mexico genetically don’t produce big fighters
Out best division is 118 lbs where we have more than 40 champions in that divisions
And in early 60’s and 70’s Mexico started producing great boxers that stole Mexico boxing fans heart
But we were not televised because the Muhammad Ali era
Now days people pay more attention to weigh divisions like 130 to 168 lbs like never before
Since heavyweight division disappeared being Mike Tyson the most outstanding boxer after 1980’s
Holy smokes. I’ve never seen so much hatred.
C’mon, guys! May the best man win.
For all we know this could be the fight of the year.
I actually believe canelo is smart. He knows benavidez will get beat down bad against Bivol or beterbiev. Canelo is just being patient he will fight benavidez next year cinco de mayo. I personally think David benavidez is overrated let’s be real. Who has he beat? Plant , Andrade really?? His competition has been soft. Let’s be real Andrade was a hyped up bum. David struggled against plant at times. Canelo destroyed plant easily. I still think canelo beats David pretty easily in my opinion
Benavides is a volume puncher who wears the opponent down ,,,and as we saw at light heavyweight his volume punching didn’t get the knockout,,he got the win. Nothing special regards to power punching. And look at who he has beaten…..nuff said
pleaaaaase. enough with the b.s. canelo.
It’s interesting how many comments here berate Canelo for this and that. Well how many of your ” heros” you accuse him of dodging have fought 61 fights in their career as a professional?
NONE . Well after fighting that many fights I’d say he’s entitled to pick who he fights ffs
Sorry, that’s not how it works. If you are in the pound for pound and bill yourself as the face of boxing, well you better live up to it. When he retires, he can go to exhibitions with those type of fighters.
El Toluco Lopez came to fight 100% drunk and gave it all. True fact. Pure Mexican animal instinct. Canelo thinks he’s an Eastern European or something. FRAUDE!
Yea púas Olivares had to be take out from bar before training but his heart helped him to win fights
C
Casanova was hang over when he lost Sixto Escobar
Panchito bojado started doing drugs too early
Etc etc etc
And we wonder why boxing has a virtually non-existent fan base?…
– Will be rooting for Berlanga in this bout.
– May not be able stay awake for the main event and may have to watch the high lights on You Tube the next day………..
Canelo has declined from the No. 1 attraction to the No. 1 p$%sy.
Benevidez is not a huge 1punch ko artist, he is not a great mover, Canelo beats him, he may even stop him, as he is not difficult to hit. Plant was giving him a hard time early in the fight.
Man o man!! Canelo has been going after easy money for a bit now!! Clearly doesn’t want a fight whereby he might have to face adversity! His choice as well as my choice as a consumer not to buy his events!!
I’m a canelo fan and I can say it is not an interesting fight.