By Abu Mahmood: On September 14th, Edgar Berlanga (22-0-0, 17KOs) challenges for the unified tremendous middleweight WBO, WBA, and WBC championships in his first world title shot. Within the different nook, seeking to defend and retain these world titles, is Canelo Álvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs).
To many, this matchup is a foregone conclusion, however within the sport of boxing, the place one punch can change your complete dynamic of a battle, nothing will be counted out.
So, how do these 2 match up in opposition to one another?
On this article, we’ll discover a few of the benefits that each fighters possess in opposition to one another.
Edgar Berlanga
Top and attain: Berlanga stands tall at 6ft 1in with a attain of 73 inches. A fighter with an extended attain is ready to dictate the battle utilizing their attain to their benefit by holding the opponent at bay and timing them. Utilizing his attain, Berlanga is ready to time and catch his opponents with punches they don’t see coming. A bonus he used to safe 16 first-round knockouts.
Capable of change tempo at will: Berlanga is the youthful fighter at 27 years previous and has much more within the fuel tank as he has not been in lots of wars. This permits him to remain contemporary and permits him to alter and dictate the tempo of the battle when he needs. Baiting the opponent into slowing down after which instantly coming ahead with photographs is one thing Berlanga does to throw his opponents off in order that they don’t calm down and get comfy. A nervous opponent is one that’s susceptible to extra errors.
Aggression: Berlanga is thought for his aggression and his willingness to come back ahead and keep on the entrance foot. This permits him to bully the opponent and shut them down. Easy issues like reducing the ring off or holding the entrance hand hovering barely above the opponent’s hand can enable a fighter to dictate the movement of the battle.
Canelo Álvarez:
Expertise: For Canelo, this can be his 66th battle. After preventing on the largest levels in boxing, he’s used to nerves and the way it feels to be on that stage with hundreds of spectators. This may are available helpful as a peaceful fighter is one which focuses extra and is much less distracted by the massive lights and the cheers and jeers of the group.
Energy: Canelo is thought for his devastating energy and he has proven this all all through his profession. Most notably in his battle in opposition to Amir Khan, the place he knocked him out with a perfectly-timed proper hand within the sixth spherical. His battle in opposition to Billy Joe Saunders is one other, more moderen instance of Canelo’s energy, by which he broke Saunder’s orbital bone.
Struggle IQ: Canelo has fought many opponents and has fought in opposition to many alternative kinds. He’s used to preventing in opposition to taller opponents comparable to Rocky Fielding. Álvarez has fought in opposition to totally different kinds, which permits him to adapt to totally different strategies and permits him to adapt his gameplan on the go.
On this writers opinion, this battle will rely totally on what Berlanga can carry to the desk when it comes to his gameplan. Canelo is 34 and has proven indicators of slowing down and as Berlanga is getting into his prime at 27, that is his likelihood to etch his identify within the historical past books.
That being mentioned, Canelo has fended off a plethora of challengers and has proven that dethroning him can be a punch-perfect job. With Canelo’s expertise, will this be one other Canelo masterclass, or will Edgar Berlanga shock the world and take his seat on the throne of the super-middleweight division?
