Canelo Alvarez did as most expected he would, a third-round knockdown the catalyst as he humbled unbeaten challenger Edgar Berlanga during an arduous 12-round affair to defend his unified super-middleweight world titles before again insisting he was the best once more. Terence Crawford watched ringside while Dmitry Bivol returns in an undisputed bout on Oct. 12, so what’s next?
Berlanga left wanting against childhood idol Alvarez
118-109, 117-110, 118-109: Canelo Alvarez (c) bt. Edgar Berlanga via UD12, retains unified super-middleweight world titles and improves to 62-2-2
His corner were growing agitated, uncomfortable and keenly aware their charge was struggling. Are you awake? If you see everything, why are we on the ropes? These were some comments in Edgar Berlanga’s corner – a few rounds apart – as the 22-0 boxer wasn’t just being outboxed, but his chin durability kept him hanging by a thread.
“I took his best and returned it, could’ve done a lot more but [was] in there with a legend, hats off to him.
He’s my idol, I always looked up to him and said it’s a shame there was bad blood [between us] first, watched him growing up and thanked him for the opportunity. He can pick and choose [his opponents], he’s a king and I can humbly say that.”
- Berlanga’s post-fight interview after his first pro defeat
Berlanga had already been dropped, a month shy of three years ago in a UD10 win over Marcelo Coceres. He’d already been suspended for biting an opponent, Roamer Alexis Angulo, the following year in another 10-round decision victory, but dirty tactics could’ve played a part in baiting Canelo into being less risk-averse.
Instead he didn’t utilise the dark arts properly and having had his technical deficiencies exploited in the early rounds, Canelo was content essentially keeping him on a string at mid-range. Pinning him against the ropes whenever he wanted, he dug body shots and dismissively walked through shots to meet his target head-on.
Berlanga’s right hand landed enough to give Canelo something to consider, but little more than that, as you could sense the spite was back in the Mexican’s punch selection. More economical with his work these days, the champion waited patiently to strike, walking the 27-year-old Puerto Rican down on the back foot.
Referee Harvey Dock warned the pair before round six for dirty boxing in the clinch and particularly low blows, Canelo rolling with punches before peppering the challenger with smaller, subtle shots – a sneaky uppercut, then hook to the body.
Dock gave Berlanga a hard warning in the eighth after a not-so-subtle headbutt which fired Canelo up into an angry response. If ever there was a time to step on the accelerator and press for a knockout finish the crowd eagerly anticipated, this was it.
Instead as accurate as the power punches were, Berlanga’s chin held up to the task as he absorbed punishment but the Prime Video commentators grew concerned with the lopsided damage he was being dealt. Joe Goosen and Abner Mares debated the logic of fighting another day, though this seismic occasion persisted anyway.
After all, this was his golden ticket to superstardom. Not everyone can survive twelve rounds with the sport’s biggest star and most didn’t expect he would. A big uppercut in the ninth landed flush on the challenger after he was admonished for some rabbit punching – but no point deducted – as his corner were alarmed.
If ever you could see a disheartening moment unfold in real-time, it came rather suddenly when Canelo mistook the ten-second clapper for the bell and began walking over to his corner, defences relaxed and unprepared for the left-handed power shot Berlanga whizzed clean in his direction. Probably his best punch all night.
He ate it, shook his head demonstratively and beckoned Edgar forward. Unlike the unsteady legs a similar shot left Errol Spence during his welterweight unification bout with Yordenis Ugas in April 2022, Canelo was undeterred. He wobbled Berlanga in the final seconds of round eleven, countering after watching him overextend.
There was to be no furious finish, a highlight reel stoppage many craved, but this showing also exemplified why Canelo has chosen opponents carefully since becoming undisputed at 168lbs.
Considering his obvious physical disadvantages, he wants adversaries who stand tall and are unafraid taking the fight to him, rather than shell-and-survive strategy with lateral movement aplenty. Berlanga seemed snake-bitten by the power and opted against his slugger tendencies for large periods, the same way Munguia couldn’t get close enough to gain the champion’s respect.
Canelo sets traps, waits and makes you overthink before pouncing, but his counterpunching tendencies are better suited to the boxing purists than casuals increasingly eager for a new face to reign – one who’ll be more fan-friendly in turn and provide more jeopardy as a consequence against whoever they deem best suited to solve the puzzle. It’s why David Benavidez is so highly sought-after.
Pursuit of a rematch with Dmitry Bivol makes sense, especially should the WBA light-heavyweight champion prevail against Artur Beterbiev in their long-awaited unification next month, but besides that prospective winner and Benavidez, every other big name would have a caveat attached should he prove successful.
Crawford looked human again on his light-middleweight debut against Israil Madrimov, imagine him coming up an additional 14lbs against someone who has been campaigning there for half-a-decade? Eddie Hearn deemed Berlanga the division’s new star and perhaps he will be, but must take more risks – Caleb Plant, Diego Pacheco and Munguia all come to mind – after being soundly beaten here.
Picture source: Getty Images
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