Edgar Berlanga will need more than punching prowess and a constituency to land a shot with boxing cash cow Canelo Alvarez.
According to his new promoter Eddie Hearn, Berlanga will need to look impressive in his next few fights in order to earn a shot at the Mexican superstar and current undisputed champion of the 168-pound division.
Berlanga signed with Hearn’s Matchroom on Tuesday in what the fighter has referred to as a “multi-million dollar” contract. Berlanga parted ways with his longtime promoter Top Rank earlier this year after a disagreement on how to move forward with his career. After knocking out his first 16 opponents in the opening round, Berlanga has gone the distance in his last four and, moreover, has looked largely unimpressive.
“Eddie Hearn, the legend!” Berlanga crowed during a live video chat on his social media shortly after the signing was announced.
The hard-hitting Puerto Rican super middleweight fielded promotional offers from Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions and Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions but decided in the end to link up with the Britian-based company, which has a significant output deal with DAZN. A big part of Berlanga’s decision to sign with Hearn apparently has to do with a potential opportunity to face Alvarez down the line. Although he is a free agent, Alvarez appears to prefer working with Hearn over any other promoter. Hearn has indicated that he is already discussing Alvarez’s plans for 2024.
Hearn made it clear he has high hopes for Berlanga as both a fighter and a box office attraction in his native New York City. Hearn said he is looking for Berlanga to make his Matchroom-DAZN debut in the summer.
“Edgar Berlanga is one of the big stars in US boxing,” Hearn told iD Boxing. “Beneath the world champion, he’s doing huge gates, he’s very exciting. Big puncher, huge Puerto Rican fan base as well.
“Look, we want to make the Canelo fight but has to prove his value in that fight. He’s gotta beat a couple of world-ranked fighters on the way to that. But the first fight with us will be in June. Big signing for Matchroom Boxing and DAZN and we look forward to working with Edgar Berlanga and the team.”
