Canelo Álvarez Declares Himself the World’s Best Fighter After Victory Over Edgar Berlanga

Mexican boxing sensation Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez successfully defended his WBC, WBA, and WBO super middleweight titles on Saturday night, outlasting the undefeated Edgar Berlanga at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The bout was particularly meaningful for Álvarez, as it fell over the Mexican Independence Day weekend, adding an extra layer of significance to the fight.

Álvarez, who has been a dominant force in the super middleweight division, secured his victory with a unanimous decision after knocking Berlanga down in the third round. The result showcased his superiority and skill, reaffirming his status in the boxing world. In a pre-fight interview with CNNE’s Gonzalo Alvarado, Álvarez expressed his gratitude for the support of his Mexican fans. “I feel honored to represent my country and hope they enjoyed the fight on Saturday,” he said.

Following the bout, Álvarez conveyed his confidence to DAZN, declaring, “I did good. Now what are they gonna say? They said I don’t fight young fighters. They always talk, but I’m the best fighter in the world.” The victory was a testament to his prowess, especially given that he entered the fight as a heavy favorite with an impressive record of 61 wins, 2 losses, and 2 draws.

Álvarez’s career has been marked by significant achievements, including becoming the first undisputed champion at the super middleweight level in 2021 by defeating Caleb Plant via an 11th-round technical knockout. However, he was stripped of his IBF title in July 2024 for declining a mandatory bout against William Scull. Despite this, Álvarez’s track record remains formidable. His two career defeats were against boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Russian Dmitry Bivol, the latter occurring when he briefly moved up to light heavyweight.

Before the fight, Álvarez praised Berlanga, acknowledging his youth and strength but emphasizing his own experience and talent. “He’s a good fighter,” Álvarez noted. “He’s young, he’s strong. But I have a lot of experience, a lot of talent.” The 34-year-old fighter, who described himself as “100 percent ready,” aimed to secure a knockout, a feat he had not achieved since his 2021 victory over Plant.

Berlanga, a 27-year-old Brooklyn native with Puerto Rican heritage, entered the match as the underdog and characterized it as “the biggest fight of my life.” He stressed the importance of mental preparation and strategy over sheer physicality. “This fight is all IQ and intelligence,” Berlanga said. “It’s nothing physical. We prepped very well mentally for this fight and that’s the most important thing.”

With an unblemished record of 22-0, including 17 knockouts, Berlanga was confident but aware of the challenge. He had a strategic approach to the fight, planning to break it down into three segments. “You can’t go in there with a guy like him and think you’re gonna throw bombs and just swing for the fences to knock him out,” Berlanga explained. “You gotta set him up, you gotta take him into deep waters.”

He anticipated the fight’s progression: the first segment would involve feeling out Álvarez, the second would be more competitive, and the third would be his chance to seize control. Despite his formidable punching power, Berlanga’s strategy was unable to overcome Álvarez’s resilience and tactical skill. Álvarez’s reputation as a counter-puncher and his record of never being officially knocked down in any of his 65 fights added to the challenge for Berlanga.

In the end, Álvarez’s performance further cemented his claim as the best fighter in the world, continuing to build on a storied career that has solidified his place in boxing history.