Berlanga wades into the fire, but how will he cope?
CANELO promises he likes it, prefers things this way, so it makes the impending beating even sweeter for a long-reigning world champion who has been discredited, disrespected and steadily declining to make others salivate at potentially winning the sport’s biggest ticket: a Canelo-shaped payday, lucrative shot at immortality.
Berlanga was once heralded as a destructive knockout artist and the Top Rank PR machine, backed by ESPN, were firmly conducting the hype train propelling the Puerto Rican ahead as he began his pro career with an enviable 16-0, 16 KO streak.
All in the first-round, too. Yet being such a fearsome puncher has its drawbacks too, especially when boxing someone who can absorb your power and humanise skills in ways others haven’t. Marcelo Coceres and Steve Rolls both did so within five months.
He was, predictably, heavily criticised after flattering to deceive on a series of occasions as the now 27-year-old went the distance five consecutive times between 2021 and 2023 before changing promotions – his sophomore Matchroom appearance saw a sixth-round TKO win over Padraig McCrory in February.
Back then, there were still questions over Canelo’s next opponent for Cinco de Mayo weekend and Berlanga’s return to familiar knockout form put him in the conversation, before 43-0 unbeaten Mexican boxer Jaime Munguia was chosen.
Canelo’s overdue mandatory challenger David Benavidez felt slighted by the snub, moved up a division in response and now insists he’ll be campaigning at 175lbs – a more natural weight – having beaten former title challenger Oleksandr Gvodzyk with an underwhelming UD12 in June. Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol is set for Oct. 12.
David Morrell, another now-former player at 168lbs, joined Benavidez in doing so and endured some hairy moments on his light-heavyweight debut against seasoned veteran Radivoje Kalajdzic and last month before again doubling down on a wish to face the Mexican Monster in a significant showdown before long.
Berlanga believes the sport needs a changing of the guard at the top – he’s not alone – but whether he’s the man to spearhead such change remains unclear.
The Brooklyn-born puncher told BoxingScene: “I’m fighting a legend and going to become one, it’s my time to shine. I’m destined for this, to take over the sport and become the face by defeating him and retiring him on the night. He already made his mark, people are tired of him and want a new face.”
Canelo dropped Munguia en route to another UD12 title defence in May and while Berlanga has been captured on behind-the-scenes footage pinpointing weaknesses Dmitry Bivol exposed in the 34-year-old star two years ago, isn’t naive enough to believe the notion the Mexican has declined much at all.
“I still think that he’s good, not taking anything away from him. I know what and who I’m going up against, I know what it takes to beat a guy like that.”
Caleb Plant said the same when he held the IBF world title and has already prematurely called for a rematch before his rescheduled return against Trevor McCumby on the undercard, while slick British southpaw Billy Joe Saunders had the same gumption before having his face broken in their unification that same year.
John Ryder was praised for his toughness but survived the early onslaught before Munguia retired him months later, while Jermell Charlo’s return still hasn’t happened 12 months after their one-sided bout resulted in a second career loss.
Father time is undefeated but while Canelo’s aging and far more seasoned at world level than the opponents he chooses to challenge himself against, the outcome is usually the same: a clinical, if predictable, trend repeating itself. We’ll wait and see how Berlanga, who has never boxed at this level, will fare. Sink or swim this week?
Picture source: Getty Images
Mo and Sports 