The main reason for undefeated super middleweight contender Edgar Berlanga (21-0, 16 KOs) to part ways with Top Rank and eventually join Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing was that the move would bring him closer to a fight against the Mexican superstar Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez. .
That plan, however, suffered a major delay when Canelo signed a three-fight commitment with Premier Boxing Champions (PBC).
Meanwhile, the Puerto Rican boxer is focused on the next fight against Padraig McCrory on February 24 at the Caribe Royale Orlando in Orlando, Florida.
“I have not given up on a fight against Canelo. It doesn’t matter that I’m with PBC because it’s stipulated in my contract that I can fight. [an opponent signed with] another promoter. I know that if I win in February it could happen later. “Canelo has dates in May and September, so we will see if it can happen in September,” Berlanga told Carlos González.
Canelo has a tentative date of May 4 for his next commitment. Some of the possible candidates to face him include Jermall Charlo, Jaime Munguia, Terence Crawford and David Benavidez.
For now, Berlanga only thinks about McCrory, who is undefeated in 18 fights and has nine knockouts.
“I like his style because I know he’s not going to run and he has a good track record. He is a good stepping stone for me. Next year there are big plans. I have two fights with Matchroom and then I am a free agent. I’m going to do the fight in February and one more, so I have to make the most of it,” Berlanga said.
Berlanga insisted that Hearn schedule his next fight in Puerto Rico, but things did not fall into place.
“I wanted to fight in front of my people because they are waiting. I spoke to Amanda (Serrano) and her trainer (Jordan Maldonado) a few months ago about the possibility of being on the undercard (Serrano’s return to Puerto Rico on March 2), but they did not contact my promoter (Hearn). . After February, I will push for it again. I have achieved several dreams, such as fighting at Madison Square Garden in New York. The other is to do it at the Choliseo,” said Berlanga.
