Edgar Berlanga Ready for Canelo Clash: “Biggest fight to be made this year”

Image: Edgar Berlanga Ready for Canelo Clash: "Biggest fight to be made this year"
February 24, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Edgar Berlanga celebrates with Eddie Hearn, Chairman of Matchroom Sport, after his win over Padraig McCrory after their fight at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom.
By Dan Ambrose - 02/28/2024 - Comments

Edgar Berlanga reiterated his desire to use his WBA mandatory status to challenge Canelo Alvarez for his undisputed super middleweight championship.

Fresh off his sixth-round knockout win over Padraig McCrory last weekend, Berlanga (22-0, 7 KOs) stated on social media that a fight between him and Canelo is Puerto Rico vs. Mexico and the “biggest fight to be made this year.”

Berlanga’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, is eager to slide him into one of Canelo’s two slots this year, either in May or September. Although Hearn says he feels Jaime Munguia is a better option for Canelo to fight next on May 4th, he won’t say no to Berlanga getting the nod from the Mexican star.

Fan Reaction: Laughter and Doubt

Fans feel it’s a joke and laugh that the WBA is allowing the 26-year-old Berlanga to leapfrog over WBA ‘regular’ super middleweight champion David Morrell and #1 Christian Mbilli to be made the mandatory for Canelo.

The logical move the World Boxing Association should have made was to order Berlanga to fight Morrell, and the winner would face Mbilli or Canelo. Mbilli would make more sense because he’s ranked #1, and Berlanga was rated #8 last Saturday when he fought #3 WBA McCrory. The winner of Berlanga vs. McCrory shouldn’t have bypassed #1 Mbilli, but that’s what’s happening.

People didn’t know Berlanga’s fight with McCrory was a WBA 168-lb title eliminator last Saturday night. They just thought Hearn had dug up another soft opponent for Berlanga to continue his development, which he badly needs after his struggles in his last two fights against Jason Quigley and Roamer Alexis Angulo.

Undeterred Berlanga

“We have been ready for Canelo, and we are now mandatory. Puerto Rico vs. Mexico is the biggest fight to be made this year !!! 🇵🇷🇲🇽 Canelo x Berlanga,” said Berlanga on X, showing that he’s unwavering in his despite to go straight into a title shot against Canelo.

It shouldn’t surprise fans that Berlanga wants the title shot against Canelo, as he said that’s the fight he wanted next at the post-fight press conference last Saturday night. He doesn’t want to face anyone else.

Canelo will be the one who will decide if he wants to take this fight, but he’ll likely face Berlanga to please Hearn. The British promoter wants his fighter, Berlanga, to get a title shot against Canelo.