Mexico's Viva: Canelo Faces Berlanga - Insight and Prognosis
Lights! Camera! Action! Get ready for the highly anticipated showdown this Mexican Independence Day weekend as Saul "Canelo" Alvarez defends his WBC, WBA, and WBO super middleweight titles against undefeated powerhouse Edgar Berlanga at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night (4 AM Sunday SA time)!
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4 AM Sunday SA time
🥊 Canelo Alvarez (1.04) v Edgar Berlanga (9.75) (WBC, WBA, and WBO Super Middleweight Championships)
Without a doubt, this Mexican holiday tradition wouldn't be complete without the country's boxing superstar and the face of the sport taking center stage in a blockbuster event!
It's true, Mexican idol Canelo is back and raring to impress while maintaining his dominance in the 168-pound division.
A living legend, Canelo kept his status as undisputed super middleweight world champion with a unanimous decision victory over compatriot Jaime Munguia in May. Yet, he lost his IBF title in July due to failing to defend his title against mandatory challenger William Scull, a little-known boxer outside the hardcore circle.
With the Scull fight not proving financially viable for Canelo, he opted to face Berlanga, the WBA No. 1-ranked mandatory contender instead. While Berlanga may not be a household name, his formidable knockout power makes him far more appealing on a marketing level. Nonetheless, make no mistake – Berlanga is making a massive leap in competition and will be a significant underdog as a result.
This fight is shaping up to be an unmissable Canelo show. Decked with an impressive record of 61-2-2 and boasting 39 KOs, Canelo commands power, technique, and intelligence in equal measure, along with unparalleled experience in big-time world title battles. A menacing in-ring predator, Canelo has all the skills to outbox, outsmart, overpower, or overwhelm his opponents, thanks to his exceptional ability to adapt. Muscles aside, he only has a couple of losses under his belt – one against the legendary Floyd Mayweather and another against WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol.
Meanwhile, young, aggressive, and punching powerhouse, Berlanga enters the ring with an outstanding record of 22-0, including 17 KOs. Having made his professional boxing debut in 2016 following a 162-17 amateur record, Berlanga quickly caught media attention with his brutal knockout streak. Although he went the distance against Demond Nicholson in 2021, four more decision wins followed before he returned to his destructive form with a sixth-round stoppage of Padraig McCrory in February.
Berlanga's brashness and propensity for trash-talking are evident – a dangerous approach when messing with a lion like Canelo. After all, the last few fighters who dared to antagonize him – Billy Joe Saunders and Caleb Plant – paid dearly for it.
Standing at 6'1'', Berlanga boasts a size advantage over Canelo with a reach of 74 inches. While he might not be a master technician, he showcases good body punching and uses his jab effectively, albeit not consistently enough. However, don't let Berlanga's overconfidence blind you – he lacks the skill level to compete with Canelo at the top-tier boxing stage. Nevertheless, Berlanga's sheer power gives him a puncher's chance in this matchup. Still, he needs more seasoning and refined defense to fight alongside Canelo at the pinnacle of the sport. As the ultimate result, expect Canelo to deliver a thrilling knockout and rack up yet another impressive KO on his scorecard!
Prediction: Canelo by knockout
Best Bet: Under 8.5 rounds at 1.86
Alternative Bet: Canelo by knockout at 1.37
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🎥 Can't get enough boxing? Don't miss out on our expert coverage by Quintin van Jaarsveld! 🎥
Quintin Van Jaarsveld is a former three-time KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year and former Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year. Having held senior positions at SARugby.com and Rugby365.com, he has over 15 years of experience as a sports journalist and now offers his insights as a freelance writer.
Footnote: As of now, there are no official details confirming a fight between Canelo Alvarez and Edgar Berlanga. However, fans are excited about the possibility of witnessing this potential clash in the near future[5]. Keep an eye on Edgar Berlanga's upcoming fight against Hamzah Sheeraz on July 12, 2025, as the winner could be one step closer to challenging Canelo for his titles [2].
Engage in some thrilling sports betting as Canelo Alvarez, a living sports legend and the face of boxing, defends his WBC, WBA, and WBO super middleweight titles against Edgar Berlanga in a high-stakes match. Despite Berlanga's impressive knockout record, Canelo's exceptional skills, power, and experience make him an anticipated favorite in this sports spectacle.
