Berlanga Targets A Big 2026 – ‘I’m The King Of New York’
Edgar Berlanga (23-2, 18 KOs) is targeting a return to the ring in 2026, with an eye on challenging the undisputed super middleweight champion Terence Crawford.
Berlanga was stopped by Hamzah Sheeraz on July 12, as he was dropped twice in the fourth round before being finished in the fifth. That was his second defeat from his last three, having also come out second best to Canelo Alvarez in 2024. Those fights, however, have secured Berlanga’s long-term financial future, as he targets Bud who made history by beating Canelo to become undisputed at 168, thus being the first male three-weight undisputed champion: 140, 147 and 168. Crawford is unlikely to take the Berlanga fight since no belts are on offer, but Berlanga remains hopeful.
“For sure. Definitely. [I’d want Crawford]. Right now, I’m focused on my comeback fight. I got to put my head down. Whatever happened in my last fight is cool. That ain’t dimmed my light at all. I’m still a superstar. I’m the King of New York. I’m fly. I look good and I fight good,” Berlanga said
Options
Another option is a bout against Caleb Plant (23-3, 14 KOs). Both men have faced, and lost to, the division’s elite (Plant was stopped by Canelo and recently lost to Jose Armando Resendiz), and they have a history of bad blood, having exchanged heated words in the past. A win over Plant, known for his slick boxing, would erase the memory of the Sheeraz knockout
A second option for Berlanga is a fighter like Christian Mbilli (30-0, 24 KOs). Challenging an undefeated, powerful puncher like Mbilli would demonstrate Berlanga’s commitment to facing the best, proving that his focus is on legacy, not just money. While Mbilli represents another tough challenge, beating him would immediately put Berlanga to the forefront of the conversation to fight the undisputed champion (Crawford).
Equally, Berlanga could take a less riskier fight but against a reputable opponent. This is crucial because being stopped by Sheeraz raises serious doubts about his ability to compete at the highest level. An example would be fighting someone like Vladimir Shishkin. A dominant victory here would show Berlanga in a positive light.
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