BOXING
What belts will be on the line for the Canelo Alvarez vs Edgar Berlanga fight?
After Canelo Álvarez was unable to keep all of the super middleweight belts under one roof, he puts the rest of them on the line against Edgar Berlanga.
Canelo Alvarez walks into the ring on September 14, belts on his shoulders, legacy at his back. Facing him at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas is Edgar Berlanga, a young, hungry fighter looking to take his shot at the top. But Berlanga’s not just after a victory - he’s gunning for the WBC, WBO, and WBA super middleweight titles that Canelo brings with him.
Canelo’s resume is thick. 61 wins, 39 by knockout, and championships in four different weight classes. He’s coming off a unanimous decision win against Jaime Munguia in May, adding yet another notch to his belt. Since his lone stumble against Dmitry Bivol in 2022, he’s been on a tear, stacking up victories, all by unanimous decision. But this time, there’s no IBF belt in the picture. The organization stripped him of that in July after Canelo chose to face Berlanga rather than their mandatory challenger, William Scull.
For Canelo, who’s been here before - Las Vegas lights, titles on the line - this is another step. “I know he’s going to come to bring everything, and I will too,” Canelo says, his voice calm but firm. The fight, for him, is a chance to do what he loves most: test himself against another dangerous man in the ring.
Across from him stands Berlanga, undefeated at 22-0, with 17 knockouts to his name. Early in his career, he was known for his brutal power, finishing his first 16 fights with first-round KOs. But that trend has slowed. In his last six bouts, he’s only managed one knockout, a sixth-round stoppage of Padraig McCrory earlier this year. This fight, though, marks a different kind of challenge - the first time Berlanga is stepping up to fight for world titles.
Berlanga knows what’s at stake. He’s stepping into the ring against one of the greatest fighters of this generation. “Canelo is definitely going to bring the best out of me,” he says. For Berlanga, this fight isn’t just about power - it’s about smarts, strategy. “It’s will versus will,” he adds, knowing full well that he’s not just facing a hard puncher, but a ring technician, a man who’s seen it all.
The question is simple: can Berlanga match Canelo’s skill and experience, or will the belts stay with the man who’s carried them through battle after battle? Either way, Las Vegas is ready, and when the bell rings, there’s no more talk - just two fighters, three belts, and one night that could change everything.