Sep 155 min read

Brunch Boxing After the Bell: Canelo vs. Berlanga

Updated: 5 days ago

09/15/2024

PBC on Prime PPV Recap and Results: Canelo Alvarez Wins, Erislandy Lara Defends, and Caleb Plant Steals the Show

The bright lights of Las Vegas shone even brighter on Mexican Independence Weekend, as Canelo Alvarez returned to defend his unified super middleweight crown against the dangerous Edgar Berlanga. The night was filled with high-stakes matchups, dramatic moments, and fierce rivalries, giving the fans plenty to cheer for.

With a sold-out crowd of 20,312 packing the T-Mobile Arena, Alvarez retained his title and solidified his dominance in the sport. The card also featured a host of action-packed bouts, including Erislandy Lara’s successful title defense and a fight-of-the-year candidate between Caleb Plant and Trevor McCumby.

Brunch Boxing was there to cover every punch, knockdown, and story behind the gloves. Here’s a full breakdown of the event, from results to grades.

Main Event: Canelo Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) UD12 Edgar Berlanga (22-1, 17 KOs)

Photo Credit: Rey Del Rio/ Premier Boxing Champions

In a highly anticipated showdown, Canelo Alvarez defended his WBC, WBA, and WBO Super Middleweight titles in a commanding unanimous decision victory over Puerto Rican rising star Edgar Berlanga. Canelo, the aggressor from the opening bell, dropped Berlanga with a sharp counter left hook in the third round, setting the tone for the rest of the fight.

While Berlanga showed heart, the bout was largely one-sided, with scores of 118-109 (twice) and 117-110 in Canelo’s favor. The fight had a rough edge to it, with both men exchanging low blows and engaging in chippy moments. In a bizarre sequence, Canelo mistakenly walked to his corner at the end of the 10th round before the bell, allowing Berlanga to land a free shot, but the Mexican champion shrugged it off.

Canelo’s relentless body attack and superior ring generalship kept Berlanga on his back foot, and although Berlanga tried to rally, he couldn’t break through Alvarez’s defenses. Canelo landed 201 of 464 punches, while Berlanga managed 119 of 446.

What’s Next:

Canelo is expected to return on Cinco de Mayo weekend next year. He has stated that he will sit down with Al Haymon and Luis DeCubas to figure out his next fight. Fans are clamoring for a showdown with David Benavidez, but other potential opponents include the winner of the Beterbiev-Bivol undisputed light heavyweight clash or even a superfight with Terence Crawford. Berlanga will likely look for a tune-up before stepping back into the spotlight.

Grade: B+

Co-Main Event: Erislandy Lara (31-3-3, 19 KOs) TKO9 Danny Garcia (37-4, 21 KOs)

Photo Credit: Rey Del Rio/ Premier Boxing Champions

Erislandy Lara retained his WBA Middleweight Championship, stopping former two-division champion Danny Garcia after nine uneventful rounds. Lara, known for his technical prowess, relied almost exclusively on his jab throughout the bout, while Garcia appeared lethargic and unengaged. With both fighters throwing very few meaningful punches, the crowd’s energy dipped until Garcia was dropped by a straight left in the ninth round.

Garcia’s corner signaled the end of the bout before the 10th, trailing 88-82 on all cards. This loss likely marks the end of Garcia’s once-stellar career, while Lara now looks to unify the middleweight division.

What’s Next:

Lara wants to pursue unification with Carlos Adames or Janibek Alimkhanuly. He’s also expressed interest in a rematch with Canelo Alvarez or a big-money fight against Terence Crawford.

Grade: F

Fight of the Night: Caleb Plant (23-2, 14 KOs) TKO9 Trevor McCumby (28-1, 21 KOs)

Photo Credit: Rey Del Rio/ Premier Boxing Champions

In what may go down as one of the best fights of 2024, Caleb Plant stopped Trevor McCumby in the ninth round of an all-out war. Plant captured the vacant WBA Interim Super Middleweight Championship in a fight that delivered thrills from start to finish. Plant’s speed gave him the early advantage, but McCumby landed a left hook that dropped Plant at the end of the second round—a moment that could have been ruled a knockdown but wasn’t.

McCumby knocked Plant down again in the fourth, but Plant came roaring back, showing his grit by switching to an inside game and landing brutal combinations that left McCumby reeling. Plant finished strong, unloading on McCumby in the ninth round until the referee waved off the bout.

Plant landed an astonishing 63% of his power punches, dominating the final rounds. McCumby, while game, couldn’t keep up, but his toughness earned him new fans.

What’s Next:

Plant has his eyes set on big names, including Jermall Charlo, Edgar Berlanga, and a potential rematch with Canelo Alvarez.

Grade: A+

Opener: Rolando “Rolly” Romero (16-2, 13 KOs) UD10 Manuel Jaimes (16-2-1, 11 KOs)

Photo Credit: Rey Del Rio/ Premier Boxing Champions

The PPV opener saw Rolando Romero win a scrappy unanimous decision over Manuel Jaimes. While Romero controlled the fight, the bout was marred by excessive holding and missed punches. With scores of 99-91 across the board, Romero’s victory was never in doubt, but the performance left much to be desired.

What’s Next:

Romero will look to secure a bigger bout as he attempts to remain relevant in a crowded division.

Fight Grade: C+

Stephen Fulton Jr. (22-1, 8 KOs) SD10 Carlos Castro (30-3, 14 KOs)

Photo Credit: Rey Del Rio/ Premier Boxing Champions

In the free portion of the card, Stephen Fulton made a triumphant return from a 14-month layoff, edging Carlos Castro in a razor-close split decision. After a slow start, Fulton fought his way inside Castro’s jab, surviving a fifth-round knockdown to outwork his opponent in the later rounds and secure the win.

What’s Next:

Fulton will target a title shot at featherweight, potentially against Brandon Figueroa, Rey Vargas, or Nick Ball.

Fight Grade: A

Ricardo Salas (20-2-2, 15 KOs) KO3 Roiman Villa (26-3, 24 KOs)

Photo Credit: Rey Del Rio/ Premier Boxing Champions

Ricardo Salas pulled off the shocking upset, delivering a highlight reel knockout against Roiman Villa in the third round. Villa came into the bout as a -700 favorite. Salas was a +480 underdog.

The bout started with both guys meeting in the middle of the ring and throwing haymakers. Salas landed a crushing, short right hand that sent Villa to the canvas. Villa could not beat the count.

Fight Grade: A+

Jonathan “Geo” Lopez (17-0, 12 KOs) UD8 Richard “Ricky” Medina (15-3, 8 KOs)

Photo Credit: Rey Del Rio/ Premier Boxing Champions

Unbeaten super featherweight Geo Lopez dominated Ricky Medina over eight rounds, en route to a unanimous decision victory. All three judges scored the bout 80-71.

Fight Grade: B+

Dark Match Results:

Yoenli Hernandez (5-0, 5 KOs) TKO2 Jose Sanchez Charles (21-6-1, 12 KOs) in an 8-round middleweight bout.

Lawrence King (17-1, 14 KOs) TKO2 Vaughn Williams (12-2, 8 KOs) in an 8-round light heavyweight bout.

Bek Nurmaganbet (12-0, 10 KOs) TKO2 Joshua Conley (17-7-1, 11 KOs) in a 6-round super middleweight bout.

Photo Credit: Rey Del Rio/ Premier Boxing Champions

Final Thoughts:

Despite a slow co-main event, the main event and undercard delivered solid action. Canelo’s victory over Berlanga was a dominant display, and Caleb Plant’s war with Trevor McCumby had fans buzzing. All in all, the night provided plenty of memorable moments to satisfy even the most ardent boxing fans.

Overall Event Grade: B+

Fan Grade: B to B-

If you missed any of Brunch Boxing’s fight week coverage, check out the links below.

Stephen Fulton Article

🔗 https://www.brunchboxing.com/items-1/not-so-cool-boy%3A-the-return-of-stephen-fulton

Danny García Article

🔗 https://www.brunchboxing.com/items-1/the-danny-garcía-show-goes-to-vegas-in-hopes-of-a-storybook-ending

Erislandy Lara Article

🔗 https://www.brunchboxing.com/items-1/erislandy-lara%3A-the-old-master

Caleb Plant Article

🔗 https://www.brunchboxing.com/items-1/caleb-plant-looks-to-remind-mccumby-that-ain’t-shit-“sweet”-about-him

Edgar Berlanga Article