LAS VEGAS — Edgar Berlanga is not short of bravado as he made a bold prediction when he made his grand arrival Tuesday in Las Vegas, in front of hundreds of fans, and media.
“I’m going to knock him out in the sixth round,” Berlanga said, after walking through the doors of the MGM Grand while wearing a Mexican cartel hitman mask — the type of mask a “Sicario” would wear before assassinating a rival.
The outfit was perhaps fitting of Berlanga’s confidence throughout the promotion as he talks up the battle, and has long proclaimed that it is one he will be successful in. What’s new, however, is just how easily Berlanga says he’ll end Canelo’s reign.
“When it’s time to shine,” Berlanga told World Boxing News and other media. “I always come through. This is war. It’s Puerto Rico vs Mexico.”
It is somewhat easy for Canelo to dismiss Berlanga.
Though his opponent has a 77% knockout ratio, with 15 first-round finishes in a row, he has never won a world championship and his experience-level pales in comparison to the more established four-weight world champ Alvarez.
“I’m knocking him out in eight rounds, or less,” said Canelo, in a prediction that complements what Tim Tszyu told World Boxing News this week — that it should be a relatively easy night at the office for boxing’s pound-for-pound star.
“He’s a good fighter, he’s strong, but he’s nothing new to me. I have a lot of experience, and he’s going to feel it on Saturday.”
Berlanga’s pre-fight behavior may have enticed Canelo to approach the bout differently than he otherwise would have.
Speaking to World Boxing News and other media earlier in the summer, Canelo said: “I motivate myself because I love what I do. But this type of fight, and these types of fighters who talk to me like that, it motivates me even more. It gets me excited. I’m going to train like never before to win everything on September 14.”
Canelo continued: “I’m proud to represent my country, especially on days like Mexican Independence Day and especially in a Mexico vs. Puerto Rico matchup.
“He thinks he has more intelligence than me and everyone I’ve fought. C’mon bro, he’s not gonna be able to touch me. I wanna see him try.”
The Canelo vs Berlanga event tops a Premier Boxing Champions pay-per-view on Prime Video.
Erislandy Lara fights Danny Garcia, and Caleb Plant takes on Trevor McCumby earlier in the show.
Alan Dawson is World Boxing News Lead Writer, a 2 x Sports Journalist of the Year finalist, and 5 x BWAA awards winner. Follow Alan @AlanDawsonSport.
