Canelo Alvarez is no longer the undisputed super-middleweight king after he was stripped of the IBF belt, but the Mexican’s WBA, WBC and WBO straps will be on the line against Edgar Berlanga.
Berlanga is an unbeaten, young fighter, but a clash against Canelo rates by far the toughest test of the 27-year-old’s career and we will find out if the Puerto Rican is up to the job in the early hours of Sunday morning (04:00).
- UNDER 8.5 ROUNDS
- SAUL ALVAREZ TO WIN IN ROUNDS 1-4
Berlanga Heading For Danger
Saul Alvarez is a red-hot favourite to get the better of Edgar Berlanga in Las Vegas and it’s easy to see why.
The former undisputed super-middleweight king has won 12 of his last 13 bouts, with the only defeat during that period when Canelo stepped up to light-heavyweight to take on Dmitrii Bivol.
Jaime Munguia, Jermell Charlo, Gennadiy Golovkin, Caleb Plant, Billy Joe Saunders, Callum Smith, Sergey Kovalev and Danny Jacobs have all fallen to the imperious Mexican and that level of form is a world away from what Berlanga has achieved.
The Puerto Rican has yet to be seriously tested in a 22-fight career, and while the Chosen One has created a good impression, victories over Jason Quigley and Padraig McCrory is a long way off the level Canelo has boxed at.
Clearly, there is potential for Berlanga to step up and show that he is a world-level fighter, but the Puerto Rican’s power has been far less effective as he has taken small steps up in grade and now makes a massive jump to take on Alvarez.
Any of the names of Canelo’s recent record have achieved far more than Berlnga has in his career and there has to be a strong chance that the Chosen One is blown away in Vegas.
Canelo hasn’t scored a stoppage victory since he defeated Plant in 2021, but the Mexican had Munguia, Charlo and John Ryder on the canvas in his last three bouts and the 34-year-old has the power to trouble an outclassed opponent.
Of course, Alvarez can’t keep going forever, and the fact he is a veteran of 65 professional bouts, is more of a worry than his age, but there has been no signs of any slowing or deterioration and he can end this bout before the start of the ninth round.
UNDER 8.5 ROUNDS
Canelo Could Deliver Early Stoppage
At a bigger price it could pay to back Alvarez to win in rounds 1-4.
The Mexican had Munguia on the floor in round four last time out, Ryder was down in the fifth in their contest last year and those were two durable and proven top-level fighters.
Berlanga has to prove he can operate at world level and we have seen little of his defensive abilities or durability. It may not take too much time for Canelo to send him packing.
SAUL ALVAREZ TO WIN IN ROUNDS 1-4
