Boxing’s worst-kept secret is now a confirmed reality.
Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez has finalized terms for his RING and fully-unified (for now) 168-pound championship title defense versus Edgar Berlanga. Their bout will headline a Sept. 14 PBC on Prime Pay-Per-View event from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
DAZN and PPV.com will also carry the card, which will see Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) restore a past tradition. The fighting pride of Guadalajara, Mexico headlines a Mexican Independence Day-themed card for the eighth time in his storied career.
This year’s edition provides the latest chapter in a long-standing boxing rivalry.
“I am very happy for this fight between Mexico and Puerto Rico,” said Álvarez. “It’s exciting to be part of another great Mexico vs. Puerto Rico battle inside the ring because historically we have always offered unforgettable fights full of passion. I am proud to contribute to this legacy and facing an opponent like Edgar Berlanga adds even more excitement and meaning to this event.”
Alvarez, No. 4 pound-for-pound, attempts the eighth defense of his Ring super middleweight championship and at least two major titles. He is the current undisputed 168-pound king, though his IBF title will not be at stake for this event due to an unfulfilled mandatory commitment.
Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs), No. 9 at 168, earned the title shot the WBA mandatory challenger. The undefeated NuyoRican from Brooklyn, New York stopped Padraig McCrory (18-0, 9 KOs at the time) in the sixth round of a Feb. 24 DAZN show in Orlando, Florida.
It was always believed that he would get a shot at Alvarez, to the point where he was in the running for the May 4 date at T-Mobile Arena. Alvarez instead faced countryman Jaime Munguia (43-0 at the time), whom he defeated via twelve-round, unanimous decision.
Ever the soldier, Berlanga did not bother with an aggressive pursuit of Alvarez. He simply waited out his turn, confident that his number would be called.
“This is the opportunity of a lifetime,” noted Berlanga. “I deserve to be here, and I’m going to shock the world and silence the critics by delivering a masterful performance and knocking out Canelo Álvarez on Sept. 14. I will prove that my Puerto Rican heritage surpasses Mexican boxing, from Gómez to Trinidad to Cotto, and now to Berlanga. I will reclaim what is rightfully ours.
“I’m ready to make this a historic firefight, continuing the greatest rivalry in boxing: Puerto Rico vs Mexico. Vamos arriba, puñeta!”
Berlanga’s team is fully along for the ride, to the point of DAZN being involved in a PBC event for the second straight time. DAZN carried the Alvarez-Munguia PPV event which was primarily presented by PBC on Prime.
“I’m excited for my guy, Edgar Berlanga, to get a shot at the king of boxing Canelo Álvarez,” said Keith Connolly, the game’s premier manager who has expertly guided Berlanga. “I want to thank all the players involved in helping me get this deal over the line. Canelo vs. Berlanga is renewing the Mexico vs Puerto Rico rivalry, which is the best in boxing history.”
Added Eddie Hearn, Berlanga’s promoter and chairman of Matchroom Boxing: “Edgar Berlanga’s nickname is the Chosen One and I’m so happy he got the golden pick for Sept. 14. This is the fight we dreamed about when we signed Edgar last year and he is ready to give everything for himself, his family and for Puerto Rico.
“You have a young, unbeaten, fearless puncher ready to tackle one of the all-time greats – get ready for drama in Las Vegas!”
Naturally, the other side has their own plans.
“Every day we are preparing,” said Eddy Reynoso, Canelo’s manager and trainer. “We know that Berlanga is a good fighter, a strong, undefeated fighter. The confrontations within boxing between Mexico and Puerto Rico are always intense fights, very morbid fights and, above all, very good boxing. Puerto Rico has produced many world champions and hall of fame fighters. Mexico has done the same.
“It is going to be a very attractive fight against a great fighter in Berlanga who’s undefeated and faced some of the best fighters competing at 168 pounds over the last few years.”
The show will also include a WBA middleweight title fight between defending titlist Erislandy Lara and former two-division champ Danny Garcia.
“Mexican Independence Day weekend is synonymous with big Canelo Álvarez fights,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Sept. 14 will be the next chapter of that historic story. Canelo has long reigned as the 168-pound king and will put his three unified world titles up against a young, power-punching contender in Edgar Berlanga as he looks to once again score a victory for his home country in the storied rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico.
“With the addition of the Erislandy Lara vs. Danny García world championship battle in the co-main event, plus more matchups to come, everything lines up for an event worthy of the holiday weekend live from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in another stacked PBC Pay-Per-View on Prime Video.”
Lara (30-3-3, 18 KOs) will attempt the second defense of his WBA 160-pound belt.
The Ring’s No. 4-rated middleweight won a regular version of the title in a May 2021 first round knockout of Thomas ‘Cornflake’ Lamanna. He was elevated to full champ when Gennadiy Golovkin (42-2-1, 37 KOs) refused to move forward with an ordered title consolidation clash.
Lara, a former 154-pound titlist as well, added a second-round knockout of Australia’s Michael Zerafa on the March 30 PBC on Prime PPV event at T-Mobile Arena. The Cuban export now revisits very old plans to face a potential future Hall of Famer.
“My fight with Danny García will be a classic battle between two legendary fighters of our era,” said Lara. “We’ve both faced the best, have impressive resumes and have competed at the top level for a long time. I’m excited for this fight. I encourage all my Mexican fans to tune in on Mexican Independence Day, bring your flags and support this great event. I will represent not only Cuba, but also Mexico on this day against Puerto Rico.
“I look forward to putting on a show and being the first to knock out Danny García. This will be an epic showdown!”
Garcia (37-3, 21 KOs), 36, aims to impress in the twilight of his storied career. The former RING 140-pound champ and WBC 147-pound titlist has fought just twice since the 2020 global pandemic. One came in a Dec. 2020 twelve-round defeat to then-unbeaten and unified welterweight titlist Errol Spence Jr. (28-1, 22 KOs).
The fighting pride of Philadelphia returned in July 2022 when he outpointed Jose Benavidez Jr. in Brooklyn. He waited out a planned shot at Lara which was originally budgeted for last August. Those plans were shelved when Lara couldn’t avoid his mandatory defense versus Zerafa.
Garcia opted to wait out his one last title shot in lieu of a tune-up.
“This is a legacy fight and an opportunity to win a championship in my third weight class,” said García. “Lara is a great champion who’s been around for a while, but so have I. On Sept. 14, I’m bringing the Danny García show to Las Vegas and making it a historic night.”
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The post Canelo Alvarez-Edgar Berlanga RING 168-Pound Championship Set For Sept. 14 At T-Mobile Arena In Las Vegas appeared first on The Ring.
