On July 12, 2025, at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York, Hamzah Sheeraz delivered a dominant performance, stopping Edgar Berlanga via fifth-round TKO in the Ring III main event. Sheeraz dropped Berlanga three times, ending the fight at 1:15 of the round. Hours later, Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya posted a video from a private jet, wearing a wig Berlanga threw at him during a press conference.
“Oh my God, hehehe. Sheeraz, congratulations,” De La Hoya said. “Bumlanga, oh my God, you got knocked out! Oh, something Canelo Alveroids couldn’t do.”
The jab targeted Berlanga’s loss and Canelo Alvarez, who failed to stop Berlanga in September 2024.
Oscar De La Hoya trolling Edgar Berlanga after his KO defeat to Hamzah Sheeraz.
Ring III on DAZN 🥊 pic.twitter.com/N6uPkcG00h
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) July 13, 2025
We’re still in awe of Hamzah Sheeraz’s knockout of Edgar Berlanga 🤯 pic.twitter.com/UtlRflVNxz
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) July 13, 2025
Feud Fuels the Fire
The De La Hoya-Berlanga rivalry intensified over the past year. Berlanga, once a rising star with 16 straight first-round knockouts from 2016 to 2020, went 23-1 with 18 knockouts before facing Sheeraz. His September 2024 unanimous decision loss to Canelo sparked De La Hoya’s criticism, calling the fight a “snooze fest” and questioning Berlanga’s Puerto Rican heritage. Berlanga responded by signing with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and escalating tensions at the July 10, 2025, press conference, where he tossed lingerie, cash, and a wig at De La Hoya, referencing 2007 photos of the promoter in women’s clothing.
De La Hoya’s post-fight video was a calculated retaliation, mocking Berlanga’s defeat while jabbing Canelo, with whom De La Hoya has a long-standing feud since their 2018 split. The “Alveroids” quip alluded to unproven steroid allegations against Canelo from 2018.
Sheeraz Rises, Berlanga Falls
Sheeraz, now 21-0-1 with 17 knockouts, showcased precise boxing, flooring Berlanga twice in the fourth round and once in the fifth. The victory positions Sheeraz as a mandatory challenger for Canelo’s WBA, WBC, and WBO super middleweight titles, with Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh eyeing a 2026 matchup. Berlanga, now 23-2, has lost two of his last three fights, raising questions about his future in the division.
Berlanga’s team has not addressed the loss or De La Hoya’s taunts. With his knockout streak long gone, Berlanga faces a critical rebuilding phase, potentially against contenders like Diego Pacheco or Jaime Munguia. Sheeraz, meanwhile, is on a collision course with Canelo, pending negotiations. De La Hoya’s antics keep him in the spotlight, leveraging the feud to promote Golden Boy’s upcoming events. For Berlanga, the loss and public mockery mark a pivotal moment, demanding a strong response in and out of the ring.
