Berlanga Says Canelo Is Overlooking Him – ‘The People Will See’
Edgar Berlanga has warned Canelo Alvarez of overlooking him ahead of their super middleweight clash.
They face off on September 14 during Mexican Independence Weekend. Canelo will defend his WBO, WBC, and WBA belts against Berlanga, who is looking for a first-world title. Berlanga is 22-0 with 17 knockouts to his name. However, he has only stopped one fighter in his last six bouts. He will fight against a pro-Canelo crowd, while Alvarez has only lost two fights in his career against Floyd Mayweather and Dmitry Bivol.
The Mexican was outboxed in those fights but never looked like he would get stopped. Berlanga may have to stop Canelo, who will be the favorite if it goes to the judges. During their presser, Canelo stated he would make Berlanga pay after they almost squared up to each other.
Berlanga On Canelo
While he is the underdog, Berlanga is looking to use that to his advantage. He warned Canelo of looking past him as potential big fights awaited. Canelo knows a win could secure a massive payday for fights against David Benavidez or Terence Crawford, given the lack of other big fights at 168.
“Canelo is overlooking me. He knows that I have skills. He’s probably doubting that, too, and that I don’t hit hard. He’s 100 percent doubting my fighting IQ and experience. He thinks it’s a cakewalk for him, and that he’s just going to walk in and make $35-40 million against a younger guy. He thinks it’s a walkthrough, but he’s going to walk into a brick wall. He’s going to see something different. It is what it is. He can have that mindset…It’s just more fire for me to win,” Berlanga said
Berlanga is taking heart from Canelo’s prior performances. Aside from the previous Mayweather and Bivol fights, Canelo struggled against Erislandy Lara and Gennadiy Golovkin. Canelo vs. Lara was controversial with some feeling the latter had been deprived of a win. Meanwhile, the first GGG fight was declared a robbery by many after it was scored a draw.
Canelo’s Struggles
However, Lara had a good boxing IQ when he pushed Canelo all the way. Meanwhile, GGG was one of the most destructive punchers in the division. Berlanga has not shown he possesses those traits. But it is important to remember that fighters must beat whoever is in front of them. This is the potential breakout fight Berlanga has been looking for. The Puerto Rican backed himself to deliver on the night with his boxing IQ.
“He’s gotten broken down numerous times. His code has already been cracked four times by Floyd Mayweather Jr., Erislandy Lara, the first Gennadiy Golovkin fight and by Dmitry Bivol. I’m not going in there like, ‘oh my God, I have to figure this guy out.’ It’s just about the mind and showing him that I have the IQ and experience. Everything that he says I don’t have, I’m going to show him that I have it. The people will see Sept. 14,” Berlanga stated
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