Berlanga entered the ring as a heavy underdog and the fight played out as most had predicted, with the Mexican super-middleweight champion dominating proceedings from the opening bell.
In the third round the 27-year-old was sent to the canvas for only the second time in his 23 fights when Canelo landed a perfectly timed left hook. Although Canelo threw everything at Berlanga ‘The Chosen One’ survived to hear the final bell.
Speaking at the post-fight press conference, Berlanga compared Canelo’s power to previous opponents and said the four-weight champion was ‘for sure’ the hardest hitter he had ever faced.
“I’ll say he hits the hardest for sure.
One of the fighters who hit very hard was [Roamer Alexis] Angulo, he’s a Cuban guy and he punched very hard to. I’d say both of them were like the same but with Canelo I was just mentally ready for his shots. I already told myself ‘I know I’m going to get hit, I know I’m going to get hit on my chin’, but I’ve got to bit down on my mouthpiece and push.
Look what happened in the third round I got hit with a left hook, we had been practicing in camp the whole time, keeping my right hand to my chin and I wound up for this move and he connected right on my chin.
It comes with boxing, the greats got dropped got hurt, but it’s about how you come back.”
