Edgar Berlanga’s surge of validation in going the distance with Canelo Alvarez has propelled him to his own main event in March, two boxing officials familiar with the situation have told BoxingScene.
Brooklyn’s Berlanga, 27, has not finalized his opponent, but one official said DAZN will stream the card that will occur either in New York or in Puerto Rico, where Berlanga’s family has its roots.
Berlanga 22-1 (17 KOs) emerged earlier this year as the top-ranked contender to Alvarez, according to the WBA, and when the sport’s most popular fighter from Mexico sought a younger contender to defend his three super-middleweight belts against, he chose the charismatic New York power puncher.
Alvarez knocked down Berlanga in the third round, but the challenger stood his ground afterward and has repeatedly expressed viewing the experience as a moral victory after judges turned in scores of 118-109, 117-110, 118-109 favoring the four-division champion.
Berlanga remains a top-five super-middleweight contender, according to the WBC, WBO and WBA, and he’s spoken of seeking high-profile bouts against the likes of former super-middleweight champion Caleb Plant, former middleweight champion Jermall Charlo and others.
The March date is expected to be a bout where Berlanga is a comfortable betting favorite.
After bursting upon the scene with 16 consecutive first-round knockout triumphs, Berlanga has the ability to become a promotional free agent following this fight under Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom banner.
He clearly gained a significant boost of name recognition by fighting Alvarez and this coming card as a headliner will further the self-promotion cause.
