Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is set to defend his WBA, WBC, and WBO super middleweight titles against knockout artist Edgar Berlanga on Saturday in Las Vegas. The 34-year-old Mexican superstar, who boasts a record of 61-2-2 with 39 knockouts, has expressed his intent to secure a knockout in this high-stakes bout. “It’s easy to say you’ll knock me out, but it’s much more difficult to do it,” Alvarez said, highlighting his preparation for a fierce contest. Alvarez opted to face Berlanga instead of the IBF mandatory challenger William Scull, leading to the stripping of his IBF belt, but he remains confident in his decision and is determined to make a statement in front of his fans on Mexican Independence Day weekend.
Edgar Berlanga, an unbeaten Puerto Rican-American with a 22-0 record, including 17 knockouts, aims to dethrone Alvarez and make a name for himself as one of the sport’s rising stars. Berlanga burst onto the professional scene with 16 consecutive first-round knockouts, establishing himself as a fearsome puncher. He recently returned to his knockout ways with a brutal sixth-round stoppage of Padraig McCrory in February and is now eyeing another knockout against Alvarez. “I’m a knockout artist,” Berlanga stated. “Sixth-round knockout, that’s what we’re going for. But we’re ready for all 12 rounds if we have to.”
Alvarez, a four-division world champion, has built his career on delivering memorable knockouts, but his last win inside the distance was against Caleb Plant in 2021. Since then, he has secured four unanimous decision victories, most recently against Jaime Munguia in May. Despite questions about his longevity, Alvarez remains adamant that he’s still among the best in the sport. “I just want to show everyone that I’m still the best,” he said, dismissing doubts about his motivation and focus as he continues to defend his legacy in the ring.
The undercard of the event features a compelling matchup between WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara and former world champion Danny Garcia. Lara, 41, returned from nearly two years away to knock out Michael Zerafa in March, while Garcia, 36, fights for the first time since his win over Jose Benavidez in July 2022. With Alvarez and Berlanga set to deliver an explosive main event, and a strong supporting lineup on the undercard, Saturday night promises to be a thrilling showcase of talent and determination at the T-Mobile Arena.
