Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez gets ready to defend his three super middleweight world titles against Edgar Berlanga this weekend at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Berlanga, the WBA's number one contender, has boldly claimed he'll 'retire' the champion.
Canelo brings a wealth of experience to the ring. His record stands at 61 wins, 2 losses, and 2 draws across 65 fights. The Mexican superstar has only tasted defeat twice - once early in his career against Floyd Mayweather and more recently when he moved up to light-heavyweight to face Dmitry Bivol in 2022.
Recently, Canelo has successfully defended his titles against big names like Gennady Golovkin, John Ryder, Jermell Charlo, and Jamie Munguia. These wins have cemented his status as a multi-weight great.
Berlanga, at 27 years old, comes into the fight undefeated in 21 bouts with 17 knockouts. He's confident about his chances against the champion.
"I'm fighting a legend, and I'm going to become a legend. It's my time to shine. I'm destined for this, to take over the sport and become the face by defeating him and retiring him on the night. He already made his mark in the sport. People are tired of him and want a new face."
Despite his bold words, Berlanga acknowledges Canelo's recent performances. He said:
"Yeah, Canelo's getting old, but he fought a great fight in the last fight against Jaime Munguia. I don't see a decline. I still think that he's good. I'm not taking anything away from him. I know what I'm going up against, and who I'm going up against. I know what it takes to beat a guy like that. Now it's my time though. I'm destined. It's the perfect time to take over the sport of boxing."
Many fans have been keen to see Canelo face David Benavidez, the former two-time super middleweight title holder who recently fought at 175lbs. However, Canelo has avoided negotiations, demanding a high price for the bout. He might consider the idea more seriously if he wins his next fight.
In contrast to Berlanga's confident statements, Oscar De La Hoya predicts the fight will be a 'snoozefest'. The contrasting opinions add intrigue to what promises to be an action-packed night of boxing.
