How to create a hype job- the Berlanga story

[Joseph]

There was a chunk of time that he was heavily hyped for having 100% of his fights end with first round KO's. Then he stepped up in competition and struggled badly and got exposed...

Fair enough, I certainly remember that, but even then I don't remember anyone saying he looked phenomenal doing it.

[Elheath]

From 2016 when Berlanga had his first professional fight at age 18 (almost 19) through 2020 (age 23), he had 16 fights to start his career out which all ended with a first round KO win in about 5 years.

From 2021 (age 24) to end of 2023 (age 26) he had five fights that all went the distance, Desmond Nicholson (8 rounds), Marcelo Coceres (10 rounds), Steve Rolles (10 rounds), Roamer Angulo (10 rounds), and Jason Quigley (12 rounds) in about 3 years.

Then on February 2024 Berlanga TKOed Padraig McCrory in the 6th round, which led to May 2024 where he had his best fight in his career, a proud UD loss against Canelo Alvarez.

Currently age 27, he hasn't fought since his fight against Canelo but who knows where the Tale of Two Berlangas will go.

[Haka]

Still Benavidez didn't dare to step in the ring when Canelo called him in after the fight for a face off.

[kafkod]

Luis Ortiz being sold as the boogie man of the HW division, on the strength of a 2015 win over Bryant Jennings, to set up a fight between he and Wilder, is the best illustration of this practice.

[crimsonfalcon07]

Fair enough, I certainly remember that, but even then I don't remember anyone saying he looked phenomenal doing it.

Top Rank tried hard. They had commentary about Bob saying how he was amazing in the gym and was going to be a world champion and might be the one to beat Canelo. Just goes to show that looking good in the gym is easy, but it's much harder to do it with a live opponent in front of you trying to take your head off.

[PBR Streetgang]

Yup , you got that right
Reminds me of David Lemieux , as soon as he stepped up , the Ko’s didn’t follow and got that Berlanga treatment

It pains me to say that you are right about Lemieux because I always enjoyed watching him try to punch someone's head off their neck. I will never forget how badly he was outclassed by BJS. In David's defense, his ceiling was higher than Berlanga's, he was able to brutally KO a notch higher level in competition (Curtis Stevens, Patrick Teixeira, Spike O'Sullivan).

[garfios]

Still Benavidez didn't dare to step in the ring when Canelo called him in after the fight for a face off.

That was a publicity stun like they do in the WWE. I applaud benavidez for not falling for that crap. By doing that he told ginger fvk you the only time I wanted to see you is with the gloves on. He ain't king to be commanding him.

[garfios]

Luis Ortiz being sold as the boogie man of the HW division, on the strength of a 2015 win over Bryant Jennings, to set up a fight between he and Wilder, is the best illustration of this practice.

I don't think Ortiz is the best example. First nobody wanted to fight him when he was closer to his prime, second he was winning the fight both times and he got caught. I could give some more examples but Ortiz is not one of them.

[STREET CLEANER]

They built up Berlanga with that 16 KO streak that they still talk about until this day. He is now always a step slower because he is thinking what he wants to do instead of being instinctive and reactive. Those are skills needed when they realized he can't KO everyone but it is late in the game. He surprised with the durability and fought in the last rounds.

I thought very little of him but now I am not so sure he will be a cake walk for Plant, Mbilli or Munguia. He showed much more chin and stamina than I thought he had.

[kafkod]

I don't think Ortiz is the best example. First nobody wanted to fight him when he was closer to his prime, second he was winning the fight both times and he got caught. I could give some more examples but Ortiz is not one of them.

Ortiz was never a top ranked fighter in his prime, whenever that was. He was hyped up as an opponent for Wilder, who was also a hype job.