Canelo Alvarez, the renowned Mexican boxer, has announced his next title defense, taking on undefeated Edgar Berlanga on September 14 in Las Vegas. This highly anticipated bout will be part of a stacked card celebrating the Mexican Independence Day weekend, featuring a co-main event between Erislandy Lara and Danny Garcia for the World Boxing Association middleweight championship.
Alvarez, a three-time world champion, will put his WBA, World Boxing Council, and World Boxing Organization titles on the line against Berlanga, the top-rated WBA contender in the 168-pound division. With a record of 61-2-2 and 39 knockouts, Alvarez is confident in his abilities, but Berlanga’s impressive record of 22-0 with 17 knockouts poses a significant threat.
Berlanga, an American of Puerto Rican heritage, is eager to capitalize on this opportunity, stating, “This is the opportunity of a lifetime… I’m going to shock the world and silence the critics by delivering a masterful performance and knocking out Canelo Alvarez.”
The undercard features a thrilling matchup between Lara and Garcia, two legendary fighters of their era. Lara, the Cuban-born WBA middleweight champion, will defend his title against Garcia, a former world champion at 140 and 147 pounds.
This event promises to be an electrifying showcase of boxing talent, with Alvarez’s title defense against Berlanga serving as the main attraction. The Mexican Independence Day weekend has become a tradition for Alvarez, who continues to contribute to the legacy of this celebration with high-profile fights.