Edgar Berlanga parted ways with Bob Arum's Top Rank company, which had promoted the undefeated super middleweight for most of his career. Berlanga's manager Keith Connolly and Top Rank reached a cease-and-desist agreement on Wednesday after months of negotiations over how Berlanga's career would continue this year.
Berlanga (20-0, 16 KOs) has not competed since June, in large part because the New York State Athletic Commission suspended him for six months and fined him $10,000 for attempting to bite Colombian Alexis Angulo on the shoulder during the time of the seventh round of their fight. Berlanga eventually won that fight in New York by unanimous decision.
Connolly handles fighters associated with Al Haymon's Premier Boxing Champions and Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing. However, as of Wednesday, no decisions have been made related to Berlanga's future.
The 25-year-old Berlanga quickly gained momentum as a prospect, winning all of his first 16 professional fights by knockout or technical knockout, some of which were broadcast on ESPN. However, each of his last four fights has gone the full distance, including victories in 2022 in 10-round fights over Steve Rolls (22-2, 12 KOs) and Roamer Alexis Angulo (27-3, 23 KOs).
Berlanga is popular on social media and has built up an impressive fan base, especially in New York City, but he has also come under some criticism for his performances as his knockout streak ended in April 2021. Berlanga currently ranks fourth in super middleweight in the IBF and WBA rankings. and WBO, as well as 12th place in the list of the best WBC.
Berlanga had surgery for a torn left bicep ahead of the Rolls fight. He suffered this injury in the third round of his previous fight, when he defeated Argentina's Marcelo Coceres via unanimous decision in October 2021 in Las Vegas. Berlanga was knocked down in the ninth round, but won with the same score on all three judges' cards: 96-93.
