Edgar Berlanga Believes in Himself, So Who Are We to Doubt Him?

Edgar Berlanga will beat Canelo Alvarez.

Wait, what?

That’s exactly what Edgar Berlanga, the brash, young, Puerto Rican heavy hitter from Brooklyn, New York, will tell anyone who will listen. Oh, he’s highly aware of the doubters. In fact, it’s something he’s grown accustomed to throughout his entire life. But it doesn’t faze him. Berlanga remains undaunted, believing that everything he’s gone through has prepared him for this moment.

“There’s a lot of doubt out there on me, but I’ve been facing adversity all my life. This is my opportunity to be legendary in the sport of boxing,” Berlanga declared to the assembled media at the kickoff press conference for what is the biggest fight of his life, against none other than Canelo Alvarez, the future Hall of Famer.

The Underdog’s Underdog

It wasn’t always lights and big stages for Berlanga. In fact, when he first turned pro at 18, nobody wanted to sign him. He was just another fighter trying to make his mark. “I had to dig my feet deep into the ground and work,” Berlanga said. That work led him to Mexico, where he took on a string of fights against the very best that Aguascalientes had to offer—cab drivers or not, they still had to be knocked out.

Three fights. Three knockouts.

That was all Berlanga needed to catch the eye of boxing legend Evander Holyfield. Holyfield, launching his own promotional company, Real Deal Sports and Entertainment, took a chance on Berlanga. Under Holyfield’s banner, Berlanga fought for two years, all of his wins coming by knockout. New York started buzzing about this knockout artist from Brooklyn. But despite his rising profile, Berlanga once again found himself in a familiar position—without a home—when Holyfield’s company folded.

The Big Break and The Streak

Berlanga’s big break finally came when Bob Arum’s Top Rank Promotions picked him up. His first fight under the Top Rank banner took place at the Mecca of boxing, Madison Square Garden, in April 2019. Berlanga won by—you guessed it—another knockout. This win was special, not just because of the venue, but because it was the beginning of the promotion of a knockout streak that would define Berlanga’s rise in boxing.

Every fight, every broadcast became about whether Berlanga would extend the streak of first-round knockouts. The buzz around him grew louder with every victory, and before long, Berlanga wasn’t just an undercard fighter anymore. He was headlining events, his knockout streak making him a name to watch. But streaks don’t last forever, and neither did Berlanga’s. His momentum took a hit when he fought a more seasoned opponent. The knockout streak ended, and suddenly, Berlanga didn’t look as invincible as he once did.

Still, he kept winning, but his performances didn’t wow his promoter, and rumors swirled that Top Rank was ready to push him back to the undercards.

The Divorce & The New Wife

The relationship between Berlanga and Top Rank eventually soured, and they parted ways. Berlanga became a free agent. While several promoters expressed interest, none pursued him harder than Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing. Hearn, a relentless salesman, convinced Berlanga that Matchroom was where he belonged. For the first time in his career, Berlanga felt like a promoter believed in him as much as he believed in himself.

But it wasn’t just talk. Hearn made Berlanga a promise: he would get him the fight he’d always wanted—a fight with Canelo Alvarez.

You Want It, You Got It

True to his word, Eddie Hearn delivered. Edgar Berlanga now has a date with Canelo Alvarez for the unified super middleweight titles. The fight will take place on September 14 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. PBC on Prime PPV will broadcast what is the biggest fight of Berlanga’s career.

For Berlanga, this fight is a dream come true. “I’ve been boxing for 20 years and we’ve been dreaming about this fight. When I first turned pro, Canelo was on my mind. I manifested this fight,” Berlanga said, reflecting on the magnitude of the moment.

He Doesn’t Deserve It

Many fans wanted Canelo to face David Benavidez, the two-time WBC Super Middleweight Champion. Benavidez is the consensus top contender in the division and a fighter that Canelo has avoided for years, at least in the eyes of many fans. To some, Berlanga is an unwanted consolation prize—a fight that few expect him to win.

Berlanga knows it. “Fuck Benavidez,” he says defiantly. “It’s not gonna happen…Even if I had a world title, I’d still be overlooked.”

That’s the defiance that defines Berlanga. He knows he’s not the people’s choice. He knows the odds are against him. But he’s unfazed. This is his moment, and in his mind, he’s earned it. You don’t have to believe in him. But as he points out, “For every hater, it’s another PPV buy.”

Not Just Happy to Be Here

Berlanga has a much higher opinion of himself than the general public does, but that’s the mentality a fighter must have. You don’t get into the ring expecting to lose. You step in, believing that you’re the better man. And Berlanga believes that he will shock the world.

“Canelo is definitely going to bring the best out of me. He’s going to have the best Edgar Berlanga ever in front of him. Every time I step up, I step up my abilities,” Berlanga says. He sees this fight as a battle of wills, one where he will meet Canelo head-on.

“This fight is all about intelligence. We have to make sure we match him there. It’s will versus will. We’re not running. We’re going to stay right there and we’re going to do what we do,” Berlanga says, describing the bout as “lion vs. lion.”

Show and Prove

The journey to this moment isn’t lost on Berlanga. In fact, he feels like the struggles and setbacks have brought him full circle. “I feel like I’m in the same position right now,” Berlanga admits.

That position is the underdog, the fighter no one believes in, except himself. It’s a familiar place, but Berlanga wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s how he got here. And now, on the biggest stage of his career, Edgar Berlanga is ready to shock the world.

“We’re coming to turn up on September 14. We have business to handle…September 14 is going to be something to remember. Puerto Rico vs. Mexico is the biggest rivalry in boxing, and we’re making history.”

Edgar Berlanga will beat Canelo Alvarez. Just ask him.