Saul “Canelo” Alvarez chose the almost unknown Edgar Berlanga because he wants to revive the historic rivalry between Mexican and Puerto Rican boxing. He appeals to that prestigious memory and is convinced that he can write a new chapter to add to a tradition when they face each other on September 14 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The undisputed champion in the super middleweight division intends to emulate the episodes of this rivalry that featured fighters such as Salvador Sánchez against Wilfredo Gómez and then against Carlos Zárate and Lupe Pintor. Without forgetting one of the unforgettable moments with Julio César Chávez against Héctor “Macho” Camacho.
“That was the reason I chose Berlanga, because it is an honor to represent my country in a rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico that has produced very interesting fights,” Canelo responded in a call from the United States.
“Berlanga is a strong and young fighter, he is very hungry and as we saw in my previous fight with Jaime Munguía, that can make it even more interesting.”
World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman said that Berlanga cannot be underestimated for not being well known. He recalled that boxing history is full of moments in which an anonymous challenger surprised the favorite of the night.
But what does a superstar like Canelo gain by facing an almost anonymous Berlanga, who is undefeated and who won 15 of his 17 knockouts in the first round, Sulaiman responded:
“Besides the fact that he will earn a lot of money, every time a fighter steps into the ring the possibilities are endless, and nationality does have something to do with the quality of boxing. That is enough to make it a very attractive fight.”
This afternoon, Canelo made his official arrival in Las Vegas ahead of his fight next Saturday.
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– 2024-09-14 22:01:21
