Promoter Eddie Hearn insists that Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez will eventually fight WBA super middleweight mandatory Edgar Berlanga, be it in May, September of this year, or in 2025 in one of those two months.
Hearn feels that Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) earned his title shot against the undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo with his sixth-round knockout victory over Padraig McCrory (18-1, 9 KOs) last Saturday night at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida.
Public Skepticism
The boxing public begs to differ, with many of them on social media wondering where Hearn dug up the thin, timid, and weak-chinned 35-year-old McCrory. He looked like a poor man’s version of former Irish fighter Andy Lee once you strip away the powerful left hook, courage, and ring IQ.
“Really good. It was a slow two rounds. He was just feeling out McCrory because he can really punch. He then hit him with some massive shots, a huge left hook, a huge right hand that really stiffened up the legs,” said promoter Eddie Hearn to the media when asked about his thoughts on Edgar Berlanga’s performance against Padraig McCrory last Saturday night.
Why McCrory?
Out of all the contenders that Hearn could have matched Berlanga against, why did he choose McCrory? Was this a calculated move to make Berlanga look better than he actually is, or what? WBA ‘regular’ super middleweight champion David Morrell Jr. says he would have fought him.
Why didn’t Hearn take Morrell up on his offer, as that would have given Berlanga the opportunity to fight for the WBA ‘regular’ 168-lb title to earn a title shot against Canelo against a credible, well-respected opponent instead of the obscure Irish fighter, McCrory?
Hearn’s Praise for Berlanga
“In the end, I really liked the opponent because he had a go. He was firing to the end, and that’s exactly the statement we needed from Edgar,” Hearn continued with his praise of Berlanga after his sixth-round knockout win in Orlando, Florida.
“He’s now WBA #1; he’s the mandatory challenger to Canelo Alvarez. That fights going to happen, whether it’s in May, whether it’s in September, whether it’s in May 2025, it’s going to happen, and I promise you this.
“He’s [Berlanga] a guy that will stand in front of him and fight him. He’s a young guy that won’t back down,” said Hearn about the 26-year-old Berlanga, who looked enormous inside the ring last night.
