Edgar Berlanga had a handy guide a rough response to anybody questioning why he acquired the project to face Canelo Alvarez on September 14 and the extra adorned David Benavidez, and the undefeated powerhouse David Morrell didn’t.
“Benavidez doesn’t promote, Morrell doesn’t promote. They don’t have that celebrity standing that I’ve,” a bejeweled Berlanga advised BoxingScene in his dressing room on Monday simply minutes earlier than the beginning of his press convention in Midtown Manhattan with Canelo.
“They don’t have that energy. I’ve a rustic behind me. I’ve Puerto Rico behind me, and I acquired the hip hop tradition behind me. I do know that’s why Canelo picked me – as a result of we’re going to promote however we’re additionally going to battle and it’s going to be battle.”
Canelo will defend his three tremendous middleweight titles towards Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) subsequent month at T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas atop a PBC Pay-Per-View on Prime Video card on Mexican Independence Day Weekend.
Berlanga, 27, was in attendance on Might 4 when Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) dropped and decisioned a recreation Jaime Munguia in Las Vegas. That was Canelo’s fourth straight win that went the gap, inflicting some to marvel if Canelo might have misplaced a step. Berlanga does not suppose that is the case.
“I don’t see no decline in Canelo,” Berlanga advised BoxingScene. “Canelo was Canelo. Munguia is a man who throws a variety of punches and doesn’t actually use his IQ. If he had used his IQ much more, the result would have most likely been totally different. I feel Canelo might be in the perfect form and in the perfect kind for this battle, and it’s going to be fireworks that weekend.”
Berlanga, the WBA’s No. 1 ranked necessary contender, final noticed motion in February when he KO’d beforehand undefeated Padraig McCrory within the sixth spherical for his first stoppage in 5 fights. Berlanga believes he’s nonetheless an unfinished product who hasn’t scraped the ceiling of his potential.
“What’s harmful about me is that I’m not the identical fighter that I used to be for my final battle,” he stated. “I’m nonetheless a thriller [to Canelo]. Each battle I’m getting higher and higher. These guys at that stage, they plateau. They keep stagnant. Me? I’m 27 years outdated however I’m nonetheless a sponge within the gymnasium and I’m nonetheless rising and I’m nonetheless not at my full potential. I’m going to provide every thing I’ve acquired and make historical past on September 14.”