Edgar Berlanga, Richardson Hitchins get Zuffa Boxing debuts
Edgar Berlanga will stay at middleweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super middleweight for his Zuffa Boxing debut against Canadian veteran Steven Butler, while Richardson Hitchins moves up to welterweight to face Mexico's Ricardo Salas on July 26 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Bad Left Hook reports that Berlanga, who dropped consecutive fights to Canelo Alvarez and Hamzah Sheeraz in his last three outings, will take on Butler in a 10-round matchup. The 30-year-old Butler carries a 38-5-1 record with 32 knockouts and has a reputation for bringing action regardless of the stakes. Berlanga, 29, holds a 23-2 mark with 18 stoppages and could use a rebuild after back-to-back losses threatened his star trajectory.
Hitchins vacates IBF title for welterweight move
Hitchins vacated his IBF lightweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super lightweight strap to campaign at 147 pounds, where he will face Salas in what shapes up as a step-up fight for the Mexican. Salas enters on a six-fight win streak that includes a March Zuffa win over Jesus Saracho, but the 28-year-old Brooklyn technician represents a clear jump in class. Hitchins stopped George Kambosos Jr last June and carries an unblemished 20-0 record with eight knockouts.
Zuffa's decision to include middleweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super middleweight on its roster marks a shift from its original plan to cut the in-between weight classes. Butler's willingness to trade and chase knockouts could draw the best out of Berlanga in what Bad Left Hook called a potential "corker of a fight."
The July 26 card will mark Zuffa's first show in New York. Weigh-ins are expected the day before at MSG.
Original reporting:
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