Preliminary talks have begun between Edgar Berlanga’s management and Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn for a fight against Canelo Alvarez in 2024.
ESPN’s Mike Coppinger reports that Keith Connolly, the manager for Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs), is in talks for a fight against the undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo (60-2-2, 39 KOs).
Early Stages
Coppinger says Connolly told him that “Berlanga would be ready for Canelo as early as May 4.” #5 WBO, #6 IBF, #8 WBA, and #10 WBC Berlanga knocked out Padraig McCrory (18-1, 9 KOs) in the sixth round in the main event last Saturday night at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida.
Berlanga didn’t sustain much damage during the fight aside from a bruise over his right eye, which he says came from a head clash. If Canelo does choose Berlanga, the New Yorker should be ready to fight by May 4th without any postponements.
The boxing public should have seen this move forthcoming when promoter Eddie Hearn inked Berlanga to his Matchroom company. Canelo was Hearn’s target from day one, so he signed Berlanga.
Hearn’s Strategic Move
The British promoter doesn’t have anyone else in his stable that he could match against Canelo for a big-money fight; Hence, the recent behind him signing Berlanga, and it looks like the move is going to pay off with Canelo potentially fighting the unbeaten New Yorker on May 4th, and if not then, possibly in September.
This isn’t the fight the U.S. boxing public wanted to see, as they overwhelmingly view the 26-year-old Berlanga as a hype job, a promotional creation. Berlanga has beaten no high-caliber fighters during his eight-year professional career.
Berlanga’s last 10 wins:
Padraig McCory
Jason Quigley
Roamer Alexis Angulo
Steve Rolls
Marcelo Esteban Coceres
Demond Nicholson
Ulises Sierra
Lanell Bellows
Eric Moon
Cesar Nunez
Berlanga hasn’t fought the type of opposition that makes him deserving of a fight against Canelo, but that may not matter. He’s got a fanbase behind him on the East Coast, and he’s in Jaime Munguia’s mold of being an easy mark. He’s perfect for Canelo.