FIGH HIGHLIGHTS | CANCELO ALVAREZ VS. EDGAR BERLANGA

 

CANELO GIVES HONEST VERDICT ON EDGAR BERLANGA'S POWER AS FANS SHOCKED AT POST FIGHT BRUISING

 Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez secured another comfortable victory at the weekend, this time against Edgar Berlanga.

The unified super-middleweight champion looked set for an early night when he knocked the previously unbeaten Berlanga down in the third round with a perfectly timed left hook. The 27-year-old punched his gloves together in anger and got up to survive the round.

From that moment fans were expecting four-weight world champion Alvarez to add to his knockout tally, but the challenger survived to hear the final bell after 12.

Canelo, although visibly bruised after the fight, was never troubled by what Berlanga was able to land and ended up cruising to a wide unanimous decision.

In a video from the post-fight press conference uploaded to FightHub fans were quick to comment on the markings left by Berlanga’s shots on Canelo: “Wow. Never seen Canelo’s face so marked after a fight”, “You’d think he’d been in a war by the look of his face”, “Canelo face was swelling up after the first”.

However, Canelo was asked to rate Berlanga’s power and he compared it to that of his son.

“I say to him in the tenth or ninth round, ‘you hit like my son’. He thinks he hits hard, but he hits like my son. But I’m super strong so that’s why maybe.”

As for Berlanga, he believes Canelo is ‘for sure’ the hardest hitter he has ever shared the ring with.

“I’ll say he hits the hardest for sure.

I already told myself ‘I know I’m going to get hit, I know I’m going to get hit on my chin’, but I’ve got to bit down on my mouthpiece and push.

It comes with boxing, the greats got dropped got hurt, but it’s about how you come back.”

Canelo is expected to return to the ring next May for his usual fight date on Cinco de Mayo weekend. Who will be in the opposite corner remains to be seen.

- Toby Morgan 

HERE'S WHY CANELO VS. CRAWFORD JUST TOOK A BLOW

Israil Madrimov, left, landed 10 more power punches (65) than Terence Crawford (55) over the 12-round fight. Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing

LOS ANGELES -- The secret to solving Terence Crawford, said Joel Diaz, who trains now-former WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov, was the body.

"Nobody ever tests him to the body," Diaz told ESPN the other night. "But we're going there every chance we get. Crawford throws that southpaw jab, we're throwing a right to the body. He throws it orthodox, Israil's going down there with a straight right."

And as it began, Madrimov -- of Indio, California, by way of Uzbekistan -- was faithful to the trainer's counsel. But fighters as good as Madrimov and Crawford -- still one of the best in the world despite the toughest and closest night of his still undefeated career -- discern other openings as the fight evolves. So after a couple of rounds poking Crawford's body, Madrimov began to launch straight right hands -- and unlike pretty much any of Crawford's previous 40 opponents -- saw them land with great regularity. After that, Madrimov found a home for a long left hook that came around Crawford's guard. By the seventh round, you could notice swelling around Crawford's right eye.

None of this would be remarkable if it weren't Crawford -- a four-division champion now, undisputed at 140 and 147 pounds -- whose last outing ended the idea of Errol Spence Jr. as we knew him. Since 2016, Crawford knocked out everyone he's faced. You've seen Crawford's mean streak. You've seen his aptitude, justifiably regarded as the highest IQ in the game. But you've never really seen him vulnerable. Perhaps more remarkable, though, he began as an upstart in Omaha, Nebraska -- then regarded as the North Pole of the boxing world -- without an "A-side" rep or the blessing of a big promoter. I asked Crawford leading up to the fight who was the best fighter of the post-Floyd Mayweather age.

"Me," he said. "And I've been showing it for years. We always had the motto, keep winning and everything will fall in place."

True. No one's ever done Crawford any favors -- until, perhaps, Saturday night.

"I believe I did enough," Madrimov said moments after the judges delivered their unanimous verdict against him.

He wasn't alone, of course. His promoter, Eddie Hearn, argued that judge Fernando Villarreal's 116-112 card in favor of Crawford seemed as if it had been "filled out before the fight began." In fact, this wasn't a robbery. I had it six rounds a piece, but in a fight like this there's always at least a couple that could go either way. What's more, in his maiden voyage at 154 pounds, Crawford won the final two rounds on all three judges' scorecards, and did it, in large measure, by banging Madrimov to the body. If he was the smaller fighter, he was also the stronger one inside.

"I ain't gonna lie," said Crawford. "He's strong ... he got me to Round 12. ...This guy is big."

Though not as big as the fighter touted -- or, perhaps, merely hoped for -- as Crawford's next opponent. That would be the undisputed super middleweight champion, Canelo Alvarez. While both Crawford and Canelo are nearing the end of illustrious careers and speak fondly of their legacies, Crawford took a real risk on Saturday, moving up in weight to fight a high-risk opponent who is decidedly not a household name. Yes, his decision was subsidized by the largesse of boxing's would-be savior, Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority. Still, whatever your scorecard, it was the kind of fight often spoken of, but rarely seen: the best fighting the best.

Canelo, on the other hand, will fight Edgar Berlanga next month, who has yet to win a fight that merits either Canelo or the corresponding payday. I like Edgar. But his main talent for earning the date is not being David Benavidez, whom Canelo has avoided for years

Perhaps that's the real loss here. Turki Alalshikh wanted Canelo-Crawford. It seemed like an inspired idea -- until Saturday night. An ambiguous victory over Madrimov potentiality takes the steam out of the Canelo-Crawford.

Rather, what's left seems to be a battle for boxing supremacy between Canelo and Alalshikh, who is promoting a UFC 306 at the Sphere in Las Vegas the same night as Canelo-Berlanga a couple of miles away at T-Mobile Arena.

"We will eat him," Alalshikh told ESPN's Mike Coppinger, last month.

Last night, however, Alalshikh struck a different note. "I give him the offer," he said of Canelo. "If he's smart, he will accept it."

If not, figure on Crawford vs. Vergil Ortiz Jr.

Either way, Canelo-Crawford just took a body blow.

- Mark Kriegel, ESPN

DANA WHITE SLAMS MGM FOR 'DISRESPECT' TO UFC AMID SEPT. 14 CONFLICT

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 Two titans of the fight game, Canelo Alvarez and Dana White, will go head-to-head Sept. 14 in Las Vegas in a rare scheduling conflict between marquee boxing and MMA events.

Mexico's Alvarez, boxing's top star, defends his unified super middleweight championship vs. Edgar Berlanga at MGM property T-Mobile Arena. Two miles away, UFC will stage the first live sporting event at the revolutionary Sphere venue with UFC 306.

Sean O'Malley defends his UFC bantamweight championship vs. Merab Dvalishvili in the main event of Riyadh Season Noche UFC as the MMA promotion plants its flag on Mexican Independence Day weekend, a traditional date for boxing's biggest star.

"Canelo's one of those guys that I respect and hey, good on [PBC's Al] Haymon," UFC president White told ESPN on Friday. "Haymon snatched that date right away from me. The guys at MGM have done nothing but f---ing disrespect me and the UFC for 20 years. It is what it is. Here we go."

UFC has staged four pay-per-view events at T-Mobile Arena each of the past two years. And MGM controlled all the viable live sporting event venues on the Strip until the Madison Square Garden company opened the Sphere in September.

That paved the way for White and UFC to still hold a major event on Sept. 14 even after PBC and Canelo reserved the date with MGM Resorts International. White beat Canelo to the punch last year and staged the first iteration of Noche UFC (a Fight Night event at T-Mobile Arena) after the MMA promotion reserved the date.

Alvarez instead fought two weeks later at T-Mobile Arena and secured a victory over Jermell Charlo.

"PBC is thrilled to continue the more than 20-year tradition of championship boxing in Las Vegas on Mexican Independence Day weekend with our friends and partners, MGM Resorts and T-Mobile Arena," a PBC spokesperson told ESPN on Friday.

"It's even more special this year as Canelo Alvarez, boxing's biggest star, will fight Edgar Berlanga on Sept. 14 in what will be the sixth time the Mexican icon has celebrated the holiday weekend in Las Vegas. We wish our friends at UFC the best of luck with their event."

A spokesperson for MGM Resorts International said there was nothing to add to PBC's statement.

Before Alvarez took hold of the revered boxing date (along with Cinco de Mayo weekend), those two Mexican holidays were reserved for Floyd Mayweather (and Oscar De La Hoya prior to that). This year, the September weekend will be shared by both Alvarez and UFC.

That was made possible after Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, agreed to sponsor UFC 306 as he continues to commercialize Riyadh Season.

"We will eat him," Alalshikh told ESPN about his event competing with Canelo's.

White, time and again, has expressed just how expensive it is to hold an event at the Sphere with its immersive screens and the art direction necessary to take advantage of the venue's audio and video capabilities. The Sphere also boasts the world's highest resolution LED display, one that wraps up, over and around the audience.

That sponsorship money from Alalshikh and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia allowed UFC to become the first live sporting event at the Sphere. White acknowledged last month at the UFC 303 postfight news conference that they've already spent $17 million on the event. He claimed the experience UFC delivers at the Sphere "will never, ever be replicated ... because it costs too much money."

"This is going to be an incredible tribute to the Mexican people for their extraordinary contributions to combat sports," White said.

But now, White and UFC will have to contend with the biggest sports star in Mexico, Canelo Alvarez.

Canelo is expected to cruise past Berlanga, a heavy underdog, and Alalshikh hopes it will help him secure the biggest fight in boxing afterward. That's Canelo vs. Terence Crawford, ESPN's No. 2 pound-for-pound boxer.

Crawford fights Israil Madrimov on Aug. 3 in Los Angeles, the main event of the first Riyadh Season event outside Saudi Arabia. If Crawford is successful and wins a title in a third weight class, Alalshikh will look to match him with Alvarez next year.

"I will give Canelo what I think is a fair price," Alalshikh said. "If he accepts it, he deals directly with me to finish the deal. I don't want anyone in the middle. I guaranteed Crawford a big fight, I want Canelo for Crawford and Crawford wants Canelo. But if Canelo is crazy [with his financial demands] I will still guarantee Crawford any fight he wants."

Alalshikh has delivered five boxing events since he took hold of the boxing industry in October with Tyson Fury-Francis Ngannou. His biggest boxing match was the Oleksandr Usyk-Fury undisputed heavyweight championship fight in May.

Alalshikh and White staged the first UFC event in Saudi Arabia in June.

- Mike Coppinger, ESPN Boxing Insider

TOP TRAINER ROBERT GARCIA MAKES KO PREDICTION FOR CANELO-CRAWFORD: "I KNOW THAT FOR A FACT"

Image credit: PBC/Showtime

 Terence Crawford won’t rest until he gets a shot at Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez, even despite numerous warning that the difference in weight is a recipe for defeat.

Although Canelo has fought at the limit of 147lbs that Crawford recently became undisputed at, it was at the very start of his career. He has since settled three divisions up at super-middle, even competing as high as light-heavyweight.

That doesn’t deter the elite Crawford, who is confident of closing the gap in size and handing the Mexican just a third loss in a 65-fight career.

Speaking to KO Artist Sports, top trainer Robert Garcia, who currently corners pound-for-pound star Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, backs Canelo but not without a good showing from Crawford.

“It’ll be a fight that does really good numbers. I think it’s a fight that will sell. Crawford will put up some good rounds. I think that Canelo is the bigger guy and more experienced and I think in the later rounds, he’ll catch him and maybe stop him. But Crawford will put up a good fight. I know that for a fact.”

Crawford returns to the ring on August 3, a debut at super-welterweight against Israil Madrimov and the chance to become a four-division champion. A win there will go a ways to convince some fans and pundits that he has what it takes to continue bulking up.

Canelo is expected to return in September with Chris Eubank Jr emerging as a late frontrunner but the possibility of the WBA’s Edgar Berlanga still getting his mandatory shot.

- Kerr Furgoson

WHY IS CANELO FIGHTING MUGUIA? WHAT ABOUT BENAVIDEZ? CHARLO?

Super middleweight undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez, above, will fight Jaime Munguia on May 4 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Sarah Stier/Getty Images

 The latest winner of the Canelo Alvarez sweepstakes is Jaime Munguia, who beat out Jermall Charlo and Edgar Berlanga to land a May 4 fight in Las Vegas against boxing's top star. With that fight comes a chance at boxing championship glory, and of course, the biggest payday of Munguia's career.

Munguia (43-0, 34 KOs) enters the undisputed super middleweight championship bout on the heels of a career-best performance, a ninth-round TKO victory over John Ryder in January. Munguia has improved greatly under the guidance of Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach.

And now he'll meet his countryman on Cinco de Mayo weekend. Canelo-Munguia is the first all-Mexican showdown for a title above 160 pounds.

How did Canelo (60-2-2, 39 KOs) select Munguia? What lies ahead for Canelo now that he's back in the fold with PBC for at least one fight? Let's dive into it:

Does Munguia have any realistic shot of beating Canelo?

Jaime Munguia, left, defeated John Ryder by ninth-round TKO in January. Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy/Getty Images

Munguia is a worthy opponent and arguably earned his shot after the way he defeated Ryder. In comparison, Canelo wasn't able to finish Ryder last May and went the distance, though he did break the Englishman's nose and handed him a comprehensive 12-round beating.

And there's little doubt that Canelo softened up Ryder for Munguia. Nonetheless, Munguia capitalized. His defense was his biggest flaw as he built up his record, a flat-footed pressure fighter who relied on power shots. But against Ryder, Munguia was far more defensively responsible.

He held his guard up tight and used his jab much more effectively in that fight in January. Munguia boxed on his toes more, too. He's come a long way since his days as a 154-pound titleholder and appears to be steadily improving with each bout.

Naturally, it's one matter to box with discipline against a fighter like Ryder, a world-class boxer who retired afterward. It's quite another to do so with success against one of the sport's elite.

While Munguia's defense is much improved at age 27, it's still a weakness. He's often wide open for countershots, which should make him an easy target for Canelo's power punches.

Canelo's hand and foot speed will be disparate, too, as is experience. Canelo has shared the ring with all-time greats such as Floyd Mayweather, Gennadiy Golovkin (36 rounds) and Miguel Cotto. Sixty rounds with those boxers alone.

Munguia's toughest opponent, meanwhile, was Ryder.

Munguia could find success early in the fight; he has the adequate size and strength to compete with Canelo. But once Canelo finds his timing against the slow-footed Munguia, he should be able to land his vaunted power-punch combinations at will, when Munguia's chin will be truly tested for the first time.

At 33, Canelo remains boxing's top star and is rated the No. 4 pound-for-pound fighter by ESPN. He opened up as a -650 favorite, per ESPN BET.