Multi-weight world champion Canelo Alvarez stepped back into the squared circle inside T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night set to defend his WBA, WBC, and WBO super middleweight titles against undefeated standout Edgar Berlanga.
Alvarez’s return to the ring comes four months after a unanimous decision victory over Jaime Munguía. Overall, ‘Canelito’ is 61-2 in his pro boxing career with 39 of his wins coming by way of knockout. His opponent went into their mildly-anticipated clash with significantly less experience, boasting a 22-0 record, including 17 KOs.
Round 1
Alvarez and Berlanga spend the majority of the opening minute sizing up one another. Alvarez offers up a stiff right hand and Berlanga looks a little jittery. Alvarez continues to stalk as Berlanga offers a couple of right hands but eats a big body shot against the ropes. Alvarez is already doing a little trash-talking as he continues to stalk forward. Berlanga tries to split Alvarez’s guard with a jab up the middle. Alvarez jabs back and the round ends with both fighters offering little in the way of offense.
Round 2
Berlanga took the center of the ring in the second round but failed to do much with it, prompting Avalrez to unleash a looping left hook. That backs Berlanga into the corner and Berlanga clinches up to try and get out of danger. Alvarez jabs and Berlanga returns fire with a quick combination punctuated by a stiff left hand. Berlanga jabs and Alvarez fires back with one of his own followed by a left that lands clean. Berlanga clinches and Alvarez fires a couple of shots to the body before the fighters are broken up.
Alvarez quickly backs Berlanga back to the ropes, but Berlanga lands a nice body shot followed by a nice combination up top to close out the second stanza.
Round 3
Berlanga gets right back to work as Alvarez once again backs Berlanga to the corner and lands a lightning-fast left hook that puts Berlanga on the mat. Berlanga answers the count and Alvarez moves in quickly looking for a finish in the third. Alvarez is unleashing a barrage of strikes in the corner as Berlanga is desperately trying to fight his way out of danger.
Berlanga throws a few jabs to try and create space, but that does little to fend off Alvarez. The round comes to an end with Alvarez landing a nice three-punch combo in the center of the ring.
Round 4
Alvarez continues to stalk forward as Berlanga tries to make him pay with a variety of single strikes. Alvarez keeps coming forward and uncorks a one-two combination that narrowly misses the mark. Alvarez lands a stiff body shot. Berlanga responds with a jab. Berlanga is once again backed into a corner. Berlanga throws his own one-two combination that keeps Alvarez from unleashing anything before the end of the round.
Round 5
Berlanga comes out pumping the jab in the middle of the ring. Alvarez fires one back. Berlanga with a left followed by another jab that’s immediately returned. Alvarez pressures Berlanga back to the ropes. Berlanga throws a jab and Alvarez counters. Berlanga ties up and both fighters start trading blows below the belt. The referee separates them and issues a warning. That appears to have angered Alvarez who moves up and looks to unload some heavy shots in close.
Alvarez catches Berlanga with a nice uppercut inside. Berlanga circles away, but Alvarez cuts off the ring and partially connects with a looping right hand. Berlanga once again finds himself trapped in the corner and eats a jab from Alvarez. A one-two from Berlanga ends the fifth round.
Round 6
Both fighters start the round trading jabs, but before long, Alvarez has Berlanga against the ropes. Alvarez lands a couple of short shots before Berlanga circles out. Alvarez pursues and lands a jab followed by a left to the body. Berlanga comes right back with a big right hand, perhaps his best blow of the fight. Berlanga is showing a little swagger after clipping Alvarez, but ‘Canelito’ is not having it.
Berlanga is keeping his left hand low after eating some body blows from Alvarez. That prompts Alvarez to continue targeting the ribs. Alvarez ends the round with a right hook that doesn’t get through Berlanga’s guard.
Round 7
Berlanga gets the round started with some solid jabs as Avalrez stalks forward and lands a blow that’s deemed low by the referee. The two fighters are separated, but Alvarez closes the distance quickly and lands a jab that pops Berlanga’s head back. Both fighters seem to be taking it a little easy in the seventh as Berlanga offers little more than the jab. Alvarez has been less active, letting his opponent dictate most of the action as we approach the final 30 seconds.
Berlanga swings and misses, getting tripped up and hitting the canvas. The referee rules it a slip and orders Berlanga back to his feet. Berlanga takes his sweet time getting up and the round ends with no more action from either fighter.
Round 8
With Berlanga likely taking the seventh round based on activity alone, Avalrez gets back to work by backing Berlanga against the ropes and firing a big right hand. Alvarez offers a two-punch combo to the body and just misses with a follow-up uppercut. In close, Berlanga appears to lead with his head and clashes with Alvarez. The referee steps in to break them up, but Alvarez sees that as an opportunity to let another shot go.
Berlanga is warned for leading with the head and the fight resumes. Once again, Alvarez seems to be fired up and starts unloading some punishing shots at the body of Berlanga. The round ends with Berlanga talking trash as Alvarez makes his way to the corner.
Round 9
Berlanga goes back to the jab and Alvarez fires back with a left followed by a hard right hand. Alvarez goes again, landing a booming one-two. Berlanga eats it and looks to punish the body of Alvarez. Berlanga clinches prompting Alvarez to throw another right hand on the break. After another quick warning from the referee, the fight resumes. Avalrez moves in and throws a right, but eats a stiff counter left from Berlanga.
Alvarez comes right back and catches Berlanga with an uppercut in the corner. Berlanga fires a one-two and Alvarez attacks the body with a pair of hooks. Alvarez throws another right to the body but eats a left from Berlanga moments before the bell sounds.
Round 10
Alvarez continues to control the pace and punish the body of his opponent. Perhaps knowing he’s down on the scorecards, Berlanga attempts to pressure forward and land some blows inside the phone booth. Alvarez is more than game and starts looking to land combination. Alvarez looks for the uppercut but connects with a right hand. Berlanga comes back with his own uppercut as he offers up some more trash talk.
Alvarez connects with a straight left followed by a right hook. Berlanga tries to answer back and Alvarez turns his back, taking a page out of Nate Diaz’s book. Berlanga takes that as his cue to rush in and catch Alvarez with a looping left hook. That has Alvarez pissed off and the two fighters jaw at one another until the end of the round.
Round 11
Alvarez comes out firing heavy shots against the ropes. Berlanga gives it right back, landing on the body before going up top. A one-two from Alvarez misses the mark and Berlanga comes back with a left hook-right hand combo that catches the champ. Berlanga appears to shake out his hand, leading the commentators to suggest that he may have broken it.
Berlanga is no longer throwing his right hand and is not offering much in the way of offense, opting to dance around and just avoid the strikes of Alvarez. A jab from Alvarez lands and ‘Canelito’ unloads a flurry of strikes as the 10-second clacker sounds. The round ends with Berlanga covering up in the corner and mouthing off to champ.
Round 12
Alvarez comes out and immediately begins playing to the crowd. Alvarez throws a looping left hand and Berlanga clinches up. Alvarez lands another blow on the break that has Berlanga irritated. Berlanga is still offering little offense, potentially due to an issue with his hand. Still, that isn’t stopping him from trying to trade with Alvarez as we reach 60 seconds left on the clock.
Berlanga throws an uppercut that connects. Alvarez responds with a three-punch combo that catches Berlanga up top. Both fighters stand and trade through the final 10 seconds of the round and immediately embrace once the final bell sounds.
Official Result: Canelo Alvarez def. Edgar Berlanga via unanimous decision (117-110, 118-109, 118-109)
Check Out Highlights From Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga:
Edgar Berlanga makes his way to the ring to face Canelo Alvarez 🇵🇷
Watch #CaneloBerlanga on @PrimeVideo: https://t.co/8AZb8pLQOQ pic.twitter.com/43YuO5HzIm
— Sports on Prime (@SportsonPrime) September 15, 2024
Here comes Canelo 🤩
Watch #CaneloBerlanga on @PrimeVideo: https://t.co/8AZb8pLQOQ pic.twitter.com/m0z1IxSFsr
— Sports on Prime (@SportsonPrime) September 15, 2024
Canelo hits Berlanga with a nice combo early in RD1 🥊#CaneloBerlanga pic.twitter.com/aIDXwLYNE4
— Sports on Prime (@SportsonPrime) September 15, 2024
https://x.com/SportsonPrime/status/1835163157410591102
https://x.com/SportsonPrime/status/1835165074207494571
Canelo walks away thinking it's the bell 😮#CaneloBerlanga pic.twitter.com/F4cGwM5C2C
— Sports on Prime (@SportsonPrime) September 15, 2024
Respect between Canelo and Berlanga 💯#CaneloBerlanga pic.twitter.com/cVqsrc3ew8
— Sports on Prime (@SportsonPrime) September 15, 2024
