Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez will knock out Edgar Berlanga in their upcoming fight, according to former world lightweight champion Anthony Crolla. The Mexican champ and Puerto Rican challenger are set to face off at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, continuing the storied Mexico versus Puerto Rico rivalry.
Crolla thinks the fight will start off exciting but Canelo's skills will soon take over.
"It'll be very entertaining for three or four rounds. Then Canelo will get comfortable in the pocket and take over. It'll be a tough night for Berlanga."
The former champ points to Canelo's defensive prowess and counter-punching ability as key factors. He also believes Canelo's experience will play a big role against the younger Berlanga.
Canelo hasn't stopped an opponent since his fight with Caleb Plant almost three years ago. He's also dropped out of the top three pound-for-pound rankings, with Inoue, Crawford, and Usyk now occupying those spots. Some even argue that Beterbiev and Bivol should rank higher than the Mexican star.
Despite this, Crolla still favors Canelo heavily. He acknowledges Berlanga's power but thinks it won't be enough.
"Berlanga has world-class power and he's young and hungry. But Canelo offers little target defensively. His catch and counter ability is just too good."
Eddie Hearn, Berlanga's promoter, naturally backs his fighter. He might be counting on Canelo's age and potential decline to give Berlanga an edge.
Berlanga's coach, Marc Farrait, will have his fighter in top shape for the bout. The Puerto Rican challenger will need to be at his absolute best to have a chance against the seasoned champion.
On the undercard, Crolla expects Erislandy Lara to beat Danny Garcia. Lara knocked out Michael Zerafa in March, while Garcia hasn't fought in over two years. Both fighters need a win to secure future big-money bouts.
Caleb Plant returns against unbeaten Trevor McCumby. Crolla predicts Plant will make a statement in his comeback fight.
The former champ also mentioned Callum Johnson's ongoing comeback as a cruiserweight. Johnson nearly beat Beterbiev in the past, and Crolla thinks he'll make waves in the domestic scene.
Crolla serves as a brand ambassador for Freebets.com, a popular betting site.
