An alleged fight between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, a boxing superstar, and Edgar Berlanga, a young contender, was harshly criticized by famed promoter and boxer Oscar De La Hoya in a recent bombshell interview. After De La Hoya called out the possible bout as “lame,” the boxing community went into overdrive discussing the bout. Fans and commentators are now arguing whether this battle is worthy of Canelo’s legacy or just a mismatch, as a prominent figure like De La Hoya has placed doubt on the legitimacy of the bout.
This article will examine De La Hoya’s critique, the combatants’ histories, and the potential consequences for boxing. Possible substitutes for the Canelo vs. Berlanga bout, fan responses, and the sport’s business side will also be covered.
Boxing great and current promoter Oscar De La Hoya has never been bashful about expressing his thoughts and feelings. He once called the prospect of a Canelo vs. Berlanga bout “lame,” suggesting that he thinks it would be boring and uninspiring compared to a major Canelo battle.
De La Hoya made the comment, “It’s a fight no one asked for,” in reference to the chatter surrounding the fight. Even though Berlanga is talented, he still hasn’t shown that he can compete with Canelo, he continued by saying. “Fighters who have won championships are more appealing to the public than Canelo, who has been knocked down in sparring,” he joked.
These remarks follow Berlanga’s steady ascent in the super middleweight class, where he has gotten notice for his early knockout run but has not yet seen the caliber of opponents that Canelo is accustomed to. The huge gap between the fighters’ resumes is highlighted by De La Hoya’s comments, leading many to question whether Berlanga is being rushed into a high-profile battle before he is prepared.
It is unnecessary to introduce Canelo Alvarez. Many people think the Mexican superstar was the greatest boxer of his generation in terms of pound-for-pound performance. Canelo has faced and frequently defeated the sport’s elite, earning world titles in a variety of weight classes. His references include Daniel Jacobs, Sergey Kovalev, and Gennady Golovkin. He has an unbreakable reputation in the sport and a huge fan base all around the world thanks to his talent, discipline, and steely determination.
Many are wondering who he should face next following his recent victory over Jermell Charlo. The public is clamoring for a major bout, maybe a trilogy with Golovkin or a battle with another strong contender like David Benavidez. A lot of Canelo fans aren’t happy about the prospect of him fighting someone like Berlanga, who isn’t as experienced as Canelo, since they think it would be too easy for Canelo.
Edgar Berlanga, a boxer of Puerto Rican and American descent, shocked the world with an impressive run of first-round knockout victories. There was no denying his strength, and for a while it appeared like he was destined to dominate the super middleweight division. The weaknesses in his game, however, have become more apparent as he has encountered more challenging opponents. The explosiveness of Berlanga’s performances has diminished, and his defensive shortcomings have been highlighted, even though he remains undefeated.
A possible fight between Berlanga and Canelo is seen by critics as being too soon as he has not yet faced a top-tier opponent. The meat of De La Hoya’s case is that Berlanga is unprepared to take on a fighter of Canelo’s level. He thought a bout between the two would be more of a publicity stunt than a serious sporting event.
In response to De La Hoya’s criticism, the boxing world has gone into overdrive. Canelo should fight seasoned champions, not promising young fighters, say some of his admirers who side with the Golden Boy.
Canelo is too much for Berlanga, no matter how much I adore him. “It would be a massacre,” one Twitter fan stated, reflecting the feeling of many who think Berlanga should wait to compete with a fighter of Canelo’s ilk before taking the stage.
On the other hand, there are many who think the commercial attractiveness of a bout between Canelo and Berlanga makes it an interesting matchup. Canelo is of Mexican descent, while Berlanga is of Puerto Rican descent; this might spark an exciting rivalry that draws on the long-running animosity between the two countries in boxing, which has resulted in several memorable battles.
Despite the obvious advantage that the Mexican superstar has in this battle, some find the prospect of Canelo and Berlanga facing off to be an exciting spectacle.
A possible Canelo vs. Berlanga bout could be motivated by business rather than competitiveness, as is common in boxing. An epic showdown between these two would undoubtedly bring in record-breaking pay-per-view revenues, thanks to their respective enormous fan bases. Promoters will do everything to see two marketable fighters battle it out in a high-profile event, regardless of how good of a fight it would be.
Boxing is increasingly becoming more about popularity rather than quality, and De La Hoya’s remarks highlight this tendency. Even though he hasn’t fought on a level with Canelo, Berlanga is still a formidable opponent thanks to his perfect record and knockout power. This development worries many supporters since it weakens the sport’s integrity.
There are a lot of other fighters that Canelo may face if the bout with Berlanga doesn’t materialize. A large number of his admirers want him to face David Benavidez, another promising young fighter who has established himself as a serious threat in the super middleweight division. The bout between Canelo and Benavidez would put both combatants to the test, and the winner would undoubtedly cement Canelo’s place in boxing history.