WBC Special Preview: Canelo vs. Berlanga

WBC STATISTICS

WBC Super Middleweight World Championship

September 14, 2024 / Las Vegas, Nevada / T-Mobile Arena

This will be the WBC’s 2, 217 championship fight   in   its sixty-one years of history

Canelo Promotions / TGB Promotions present:

SAÚL “Canelo” ÁLVAREZ (Mexico)

WBC Super Middleweight World Champion, 7 Title Defenses

Former 2-time WBC Middleweight World Champion, 1 Title Defense…

Former WBC Super Welterweight World Champion, 6 Title Defenses…

Age: 34 / Date of birth: July 18, 1990

Residence: Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico / Birthplace: Juanacatlán, Jalisco, Mexico

Record: 61-2-2, 39 KOs / Total rounds: 496 / World championship fights: 22-2-1, 11 KOs

Height: 5’8” – 173cm / Reach: 70.5” – 179cm / Stance: Right-handed

Manager, trainer: Edison “Eddy” Reynoso

EDGAR “The Chosen One” BERLANGA (PR/USA)

Ranked WBC No. 8 at Super Middleweight

Age: 27 / Date of birth: May 18, 1997

Residence: New York, New York / Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York

Record: 22-0, 17 KOs / Total rounds: 72

Height: 6’1” – 185cm / Reach: 73” – 185cm / Stance: Right-handed

Manager: Keith Connolly / Trainer: Edgar Berlanga Sr.

WBC Super Middleweight Champions

1. RAY LEONARD (US) 1988 – 1990
2. MAURO GALVANO (ITALY) 1990 – 1992
3. NIGEL BENN (GB) 1992 – 1996
4. THULANE MALINGA (S. AFR) 1996
5. VINCENZO NARDIELLO (ITA) 1996
6. ROBIN REID (GB) 1996 – 1997
7. THULANE MALINGA (S. AFR) * 1997 – 1998
8. RICHIE WOODHALL (GB) 1998 – 1999
9. MARKUS BEYER (GERMANY) 1999 – 2000
10. GLENN CATLEY (GB) 2000
11. DINGAAN THOBELA (S. AFR) 2000
12. DAVE HILTON (CAN) 2000
13. ERIC LUCAS (CAN) 2001 – 2003
14. MARKUS BEYER (GERMANY) * 2003 – 2004
15. DANNY GREEN (AUSTRALIA) INTERIM 2003 – 2005
16. CRISTIAN SANAVIA (ITALY) 2004
17. MARKUS BEYER (GERMANY) * 2004 – 2006
18. MIKKEL KESSLER (DENMARK) 2006 – 2007
19. JOE CALZAGHE (GB) 2007
20. CARL FROCH (GB) 2008 – 2010
21. MIKKEL KESSLER (DENMARK) * (EMERITUS) 2010
22. CARL FROCH (GB) * 2010 – 2011
23. ANDRE WARD (US) 2011 – 2012
24. SAKIO BIKA (CAMEROON) 2013 – 2014
25. ANTHONY DIRRELL (US) 2014 – 2015
26. BADOU JACK (GAMBIA/SWEDEN) 2015 – 2017
27. DAVID BENAVIDEZ (US) IN RECESS 2017 – 2018
28. ANTHONY DIRRELL (US) * 2019
29. DAVID BENAVIDEZ (US) * 2019 – 2020
30. SAUL ALVAREZ (MEXICO) 2020 –
31. DAVID BENAVIDEZ (US) * (Interim) 2022 – 2024

*Regained

WBC Super Middleweight Top 10

1. RAY LEONARD (US)
2. JOE CALZAGHE (GB)
3. NIGEL BENN (GB)
4. ANDRE WARD (US)
5. CARL FROCH (GB)
6. MIKKEL KESSLER (DENMARK)
7. ROBIN REID (GB)
8. DANNY GREEN (AUSTRALIA)
9. MARKUS BEYER (GERMANY)
10. ERIC LUCAS (CANADA)

General Information

23 world champions have been recognized by the WBC of which only 5 have regained the title:

Markus Beyer (Germany)

Thulane Malinga (South Africa)

Mikkel Lessler (Denmark)

Carl Froch (UK)

David Benavidez (USA)

89 world title bouts have been held in the supermiddleweight division in 13 different countries

This will be the 36th WBC super middleweight title fight in the USA

Nigel Benn has the record of most defenses with 10

Memorable WBC 168 Lbs. Fights

07/11/1988      RAY LEONARD – DON LALONDE                                            KO 9                     LAS VEGAS

12/06/1989      RAY LEONARD – THOMAS HEARNS                                      DRAW 12            LAS VEGAS

07/11/1989      RAY LEONARD – ROBERTO DURAN                                      DEC 12                 LAS VEGAS

09/10/1993      NIGEL BENN – CHRIS EUBANK                                                DRAW 12            MANCHESTER

25/02/1995      NIGEL BENN – GERALD MCCLELLAN                                  KO 10                   LONDON

02/03/1996      THULANE MALINGA – NIGEL BENN                                     DEC 12                 NEWCASTLE

11/09/1997      ROBIN REID – HASSINE CHERIFI                                            DEC 12                 WIDNES

05/09/1998      RICHIE WOODHALL – GLENN CATLEY                                DEC 12                 TELFORD

23/10/1999      MARKUS BEYER – RICHIE WOODHALL                               DEC 12                 TELFORD

12/03/2005      MARKUS BEYER – DANNY GREEN                                        DEC 12                 ZWUICKAU

14/10/2006      MIKKEL KESSLER – MARKUS BEYER                                  KO 3                     COPENHAGEN

03/11/2007      JOE CALZAGHE – MIKKEL KESSLER                                     DEC 12                 CARDIFF

06/12/2008      CARL FROCH  – JEAN PASCAL (VACANT)                           DEC 12                 NOTTINGHAM

25/04/2009      CARL FROCH – JERMAIN TAYLOR                                         TKO 12                MASHANTUCKET

17/10/2009      ARTHUR ABRAHAM – JERMAIN TAYLOR                           KO 12                   BERLIN

21/11/2009      ANDRE WARD – MIKKELL KESSLER                                     TD 11                    OAKLAND

27/03/2010      ANDRE DIRRELL – ARTHUR ABRAHAM                              DISQ 11               DETROIT

24/04/2010      MIKKEL KESSLER – CARL FROCH                                         UD 12                   HERNING

27/11/2010      CARL FROCH – ARTHUR ABRAHAM                                     UD 12                   HELSINKI

04/06/2011      CARL FROCH – GLEN JOHNSON                                              MD 12                  ATLANTIC CITY

07/12/2013      SAKIO BIKA – ANTHONY DIRRELL                                       SD 12                    BROOKLYN

24/04/2015      BADOU JACK – ANTHONY DIRRELL                                     MD 12                  CHICAGO

30/04/2016      BADOU JACK – LUCIAN BUTE                                                 DREW 12            WASHINGTON

08/09/2017      DAVID BENAVIDEZ – RONALD GAVRIL                              SD 12                    LAS VEGAS

19/12/2020      SAUL ALVAREZ – CALLUM SMITH                                       UD 12                   SAN ANTONIO

08/05/2021      SAUL ALVAREZ – BILLY JOE SAUNDERS                          TKO 8                   ARLINGTON

06/11//2021     SAUL ALVAREZ – CALEB PLANT                                           TKO 11                LAS VEGAS

17/09/2022      SAUL ALVAREZ – GENNADY GOLOVKIN                           UD 12                   LAS VEGAS

06/05/2023      SAUL ALVAREZ – JOHN RYDER                                             UD 12                   GUADALAJARA

WBC Title Fights: Mexico vs. Puerto Rico

There has been 41 WBC title fights between Mexico vs. Puerto Rico

Mexico has won 22 WBC title fights

Puerto Rico has won 18 WBC title fights

There is 1 no contest

Memorable Fights:

25/06/1977      ESTEBAN DE JESUS – VICENTE MIJARES S.           KO 11             SAN JUAN                        LI

08/04/1978      WILFREDO GOMEZ – JUAN ANTONIO LOPEZ       TKO 7            BAYAMON                        SB

28/10/1978      WILFREDO GOMEZ – CARLOS ZARATE                 TKO 5            SAN JUAN                        SB

13/01/1979      WILFREDO BENITEZ – CARLOS PALOMINO         DEC 15           SAN JUAN                        WE

13/12/1980      SALVADOR SANCHEZ – JUAN LAPORTE                DEC 15           EL PASO                        FE

21/08/1981      SALVADOR SANCHEZ – WILFREDO GOMEZ         TKO 8            LAS VEGAS                        FE

03/12/1982      WILFREDO GOMEZ – LUPE PINTOR                        TKO 14          NEW ORLEANS                        SB

01/05/1983      EDWIN ROSARIO – JOSE LUIS RAMIREZ                DEC 12           SAN JUAN                        LI

07/08/1983      HECTOR CAMACHO – RAFAEL LIMON                  TKO 5            SAN JUAN                        SFE

03/11/1984      JOSE LUIS RAMIREZ – EDWIN ROSARIO                TKO 4            SAN JUAN                        LI

10/08/1985      HECTOR CAMACHO – JOSE LUIS RAMIREZ          DEC 12           LAS VEGAS                        LI

12/12/1986      JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ – JUAN LAPORTE              DEC 12           NEW YORK                        SFE

12/09/1992      JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ – HECTOR CAMACHO      DEC 12           LAS VEGAS                        SL

28/08/1997      RICARDO LOPEZ – ALEX SANCHEZ                        TKO 5            NEW YORK                        ST

18/09/1999      TITO TRINIDAD- OSCAR DE LA HOYA                   DEC 12           LAS VEGAS                        WE

26/11/2011      SAUL ALVAREZ – KERMIT CINTRON                      TKO 5            MEXICO CITY                        SW

21/04/2012      ABNES MARES – ERIC MOREL                                  UD 12             EL PASO                        SB

14/12/2013      LEO SANTA CRUZ – CESAR SEDA                             UD 12             SAN ANTONIO                        SB

21/11/2015      SAUL ALVAREZ – MIGUEL COTTO                          UD 12             LAS VEGAS                        MI

The Unconsidered One

By James Blears

The nickname of Edgar Berlanga is: ’’The Chosen One,’’ and he’s the upcoming opponent of WBC, WBA and WBO super-middleweight champion Saul Canelo Alvarez on September 14^th at the T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Canelo has teased Edgar saying it would take twenty of him to present any sort of a tangible problem, adding: “He’s good, he’s strong, he’s young and he’s hungry. But it’s nothing new for me. I’m just going in there to do my business.

‘’If he’s dreaming of fighting me, that’s perfect. The dream is coming true for him…but it’s going to hurt. I’m going to do my best and let him feel so much pain. He’s going to get the beating of a lifetime. I’m focused on that. I hope he prepares really well because he’s going to need it.

‘’Mexico and Puerto Rico is boxing history.  There have been so many great fights and this is going to be another one. It’s going to be a great night of boxing.’’

Canelo says he will KO Edgar around the eighth. While Edgar says he’ll stop Canelo in the sixth.  Edgar comments;’’There’s a lot of doubt out there on me. But I’ve been facing adversity all of my life.  This is my opportunity to be legendary.’’

Edgar (22-0, 17 KO’s) is a physically big super-middleweight. He’s been a pro since 2016. Canelo started in 2005.  Aged twenty- seven, Edgar stands six feet one inches tall with a seventy- three inches reach.  He KO’d his first sixteen opponents in less than one round, equalling Young Otto’s record, before going the distance Dermond Nicholson in his seventeenth, winning a UD.

He overcame a knockdown in round nine by Marcelo Estean Coceres to win a UD.  Two fights later, controversy against Roamer Alexis Angulo who he nibbled on the shoulder on the way to a UD win. The New York Athletic Commission suspended him for six months and fined him ten thousand dollars. He apologized.

Thus far, Edgar has fought seventy- two rounds and his KO percentage is 77.27 percent.  By contrast Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KO’s) who is seven years older, has fought four hundred and ninety- six rounds. His KO percentage is 63.93 percent.  If this fight goes further than half way, it’ll be interesting to assess the balance of seasoned experience against freshness and comparative youth yet not that many long drawn-out stamina testing bouts for the challenger.

Canelo has accomplished so much already winning world titles in four different weight divisions, being unified champion in three of them and he was the first undisputed champion at super middleweight.  He now holds the WBC, WBA and WBO belts. Starting at the age of just fifteen, he’s been a pro boxer for almost twenty years.

Canelo is five feet seven and a half inches tall and his reach extends seventy and a half inches. Charismatic and decisive with a streak of’’My Way’’ independent stubbornness, he’s often said:’’I want to create my own history.’’  His favourite punches are the overhead right to the head and the left to the liver.  Not only is he throwing the shots he’s become adept at calling them too.

Edgar who is of Puerto Rican heritage was born in Brooklyn and is a proud Neworican.  As a child his hero was Felix Trinidad. Puerto Rico has given us some legendary champions. Carlos Ortiz, Wilfredo Gomez, Hector Camacho, Felix… and of course Miguel Cotto.

The greatest fight in the ongoing rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico was forty- three years ago in 1981, when Salvador Sanchez and Wilfredo Gomez went to war, with Sal prevailing in a veritable slugfest with an eighth round TKO. It still sends shivers down the spine and has secured its place in history as absolutely overwhelmingly awesome.  The Chavez Vs Macho Camacho fight was also a thriller.

The fact that Canelo Vs Berlanga is slated for the Mexican Independence weekend also adds a touch of spice and verve. Canelo has already fought three Puerto Ricans. His most competitive rival from that trio was Miguel Cotto.  Canelo defeated Miguel by UD to win the WBC middleweight belt in a highly competitive fight with two nicely matched skillets of skillsets.

Canelo has been knocking down opponents, namely John Ryder, Jermell Charlo and Jaime Munguia. But when they get up, he hasn’t been able to apply the finishing touches and stop them.  We have to go back six fights to when he TKO’d   Caleb Plant in the eleventh, following two knockdowns.  Since then, there’s been a stoppage drought.  He really needs to get back on to the KO trail and tally.  As an opponent, Edgar has been Canelo’s choice, rather than’’Hobson’s Choice,’’ but he could present problems.

Edgar has used his hard- earned money astutely and wisely, buying property and establishing a tow truck company with his father.  Fighting the already famous and fabulously wealthy Canelo, is a potential jackpot for him.  He mused:’’This is my opportunity of a lifetime. September 14^th is going to be something to remember and I’m going to make history.’’

Canelo is grimly determined to put a stop to what he sees as an upstart and will be determined to exert and inflict maximum pressure, stress and distress.  Aged twenty- seven, Edgar is no fledging, yearling, youngster or novice. He is at his physical peak, in his prme and primed.  By his age Canelo had achieved so much and more.  Nothing ventured nothing gained.

I think that Edgar will go all out and try to draw Canelo into an all- out fight early on. In so doing, he will have to be careful, watchful and smart, because Canelo is an excellent counter puncher who can also lure opponents into traps utilizing cunning feints.  Metaphorically, the probing rapier leading to the blunderbuss blast to scatter asunder!

Considered the freckled, fresh face kid for so long, Canelo is now approaching veteran status.  The King of Juanactlan rather than The Grand old Duke of York.  He’s fought a lot of fights in order to march to the top of the hill, but along the way, he has inevitably accumulated some wear and tear as well as assimilating sage experience. Edgar’The Chosen One,’’ Berlanga, hasn’t minced his words and let fly with some verbal ripsodes in the New York and Los Angeles Pressers. It’s gained Canelo’s attention, amusement and irritation.

Now it’s time to see if Edgar can back them up…or he himself will get backed up?