Edgar Berlanga has called out Canelo Alvarez for a huge showdown following his knockout victory over Padraig McCrory on Saturday.
The two men met on a Matchroom Boxing event at the Caribe Royale Orlando in Florida, with Berlanga claiming the stoppage in the sixth round.
It sees the 26-year-old extend his unbeaten record to 22-0, with 17 of those coming inside the distance, having earned a knockout for the first time since 2020, after beginning his career with a run of 16 straight stoppage victories.
Following the fight, it didn’t take long for Berlanga to make his intentions clear, insisting he wants to face Canelo next, who is still searching for an opponent for his annual Cinco de Mayo bout in May.
“I want him now. We want Canelo next, 1000 percent. Look at Eddie (Hearn) right there, he’s going to make it happen. Boxing needs that. They need a Puerto Rican star versus a Mexican star. That would be the biggest fight of this year.”
Berlanga’s promoter Eddie Hearn was also more than happy for the fight to happen next, but feels Berlanga may have one more fight in the interim.
“It’s only a matter of time. Puerto Rico against Mexico, that will be a huge event, Edgar Berlanga against Canelo Alvarez. Maybe there is one more (fight until Canelo), but I’ll tell you now, if the call came, he wouldn’t back down.
“Berlanga wouldn’t run around the ring to try to survive for 12 rounds. He’d stand and fight with Canelo Alvarez. He’d give the fans a great, great fight, and that’s what people want to see.
“Here, he’s got a young contender with plenty of heart, plenty of power, that will stand in front of him and fight him and that’s why it would be a great fight.”
Elsewhere on the card, amateur sensation Andy Cruz moved to 3-0 with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Brayan Zamarripa, and there were wins for Shakhram Giyasov and Antonio Vargas.