Canelo Alvarez confirmed off some early coaching footage at present of him making ready for his title protection towards Edgar Berlanga in seven weeks on September 14th. Their conflict can be on DAZN and PBC on Prime Video PPV on the T-Cell Area in Las Vegas.
Canelo’s Coaching Focus and Fan Reactions
Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) appeared good in engaged on the heavy bag, specializing in his energy photographs for a warfare with the hard-hitting Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs). Canelo, 34, has been stripped of his IBF title for failure to defend towards his necessary William Scull.
So, as an alternative of Canelo having 4 titles at stake for his combat with Berlanga, there can be three. He’s on the stage of his profession the place he’s above belts and now not wants them.
It’s a giant step up for the New Yorker Berlanga, who has been combating second-tier opposition his whole profession. He just lately beat a few British fighters with prime 15 rankings, Padraig McCrory and Jason Quigley, however they weren’t precise top-tier fighters.
They had been ranked within the prime 15, however talent-wise, they had been 25-50. Berlanga’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, is sort of a vulture in choosing susceptible prey for his fighters. Hearn is sort of a chook of prey when choosing opposition for his fighters.
It could have been higher if Berlanga had fought a high-grade opponent to validate him within the eyes of the general public, however it could have been dangerous, and he’s chasing “the bag,” as he places it. Hearn invested cash in Berlanga, and he wasn’t about to mess that up by matching him towards a gifted fighter.
This is a wonderful combat for so long as it lasts as a result of Berlanga has loads of energy, and he’s not a fighter identified for his boxing abilities. It’s the 27-year-old Berlanga’s massive probability to get his title on the map by pulling off Canelo’s upset, however he should carry out excellently to try this.
Followers on social media had been important of Canelo for not shifting the heavy bag along with his punches at present, as they had been anticipating him to be shifting it round extra with every shot. What Canelo did through the exercise was deal with velocity and never attempt to destroy the bag with every shot.
“It’s an excellent combat, but it surely’s one which’s winnable for Canelo, not like the opposite ones. Morrell and Benavidez, not solely do I feel he doesn’t win, however I don’t even suppose they’re shut anymore,” mentioned boxing professional Paulie Malignaggi to ProboxTV, speaking about Canelo Alvarez selecting to combat the lesser fighter Edgar Berlanga on September 14th reasonably than the extra harmful ones.
Malignaggi is going for the throat right here along with his Canelo feedback. It could have been nice if he selected Benavidez or Morrell for his September 14th title protection, however these aren’t the kind of fighters anybody would face on seven weeks’ discover.
I don’t blame Canelo for selecting Berlanga as a result of there wasn’t sufficient time for him to arrange for Benavidez or Morrell. With Berlanga, Canelo can be greater than prepared for him in seven weeks as a result of he isn’t on the identical stage as these fighters.
“I feel Berlanga might be aggressive on this combat, but it surely’s a combat that Canelo can win, and he’ll in all probability be favored to win, particularly on the West Coast,” mentioned Malignaggi.
“I suppose it’s higher than getting your a** kicked on Mexican Independence Day and competing towards the UFC as a result of that’s what would occur if he fought Benavidez and Morrell. So, at the least there’s a greater probability of him successful right here.”
Berlanga’s Measurement Benefit
You may’t rely out Berlanga on this combat as a result of he’s bought the youth and energy, and he’s enormous for the 168-lb division. Berlanga is arguably a light-weight heavyweight who can nonetheless drain right down to combat at 168.
He’ll have an enormous dimension benefit towards Canelo on September 14th, and if he comes out rapidly, as he did towards his final opponent, Padraig McCrory, final February, he has an opportunity of pulling off an upset.
Berlanga is a weight bully at tremendous middleweight and must be combating at mild heavyweight together with Benavidez and Morrell.
I can perceive why Berlanga chooses to remain at 168. He can have a dimension benefit towards the smaller opposition, and the cash is sweet with him getting picked out by Canelo for a title shot that he doesn’t deserve. However as soon as this combat is over, Berlanga ought to take into account shifting as much as the place he belongs, at 175, on condition that he’s not prone to get a rematch until he pulls off an upset.
His profession will head down the drain if he stays at 168 and will get cooked by the gifted contenders.
“We’ll see as a result of I’m undecided the Puerto Rican fan base has that enchantment on the West Coast. I’ve probably not observed it like that. They’re not that sort of fan base. They’re an enormous, nice fan base once you’re on the town, however a giant West Coast fan base,” mentioned Malignaggi about Berlanga’s followers not prone to journey from the East Coast in New York to Las Vegas to see him combat Canelo.
Canelo-Berlanga will nonetheless probably promote out on the T-Cell, even with out Berlanga’s Puerto Rican followers touring throughout the nation from New York to look at him combat. There are sufficient Canelo followers for the venue to be jam-packed on September 14th.
