Former World Lightweight Champion Anthony Crolla takes a the return of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez against Edgar Berlanga tonight in Las Vegas.
Big time boxing is back this weekend in a Mexico versus Puerto Rico clash in Las Vegas – and that rivalry is always red-hot. The sport’s biggest attraction – Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez takes on the heavy-handed Edgar Berlanga, and it’s going to be lively.
This fight is going to be very fan friendly. There is no doubt Berlanga carries world-class power, but I’ve been up close with Canelo – I was very privileged to be in the corner with Callum Smith when he boxed him a few years ago.
The thing that’s most impressive about Canelo is just how little a target he offers defensively, and while I think this is going to be very entertaining for three or four rounds, I think the Mexican will get his first stoppage since the Caleb Plant fight nearly three years ago.
Canelo will stand in the pocket with Berlanga and catch and counter shots. He has that great knack of making opponents miss and making them pay. That will be the difference in my opinion. After a few rounds, Canelo will be comfortable in the pocket and take over.
I know Berlanga’s promoter Eddie Hearn will disagree with me, and he’s been vocally backing his man, which he has to do, and Canelo is 34 now so he is getting on a bit. The Puerto Rican’s camp may believe this is the time we see the decline of the champion against a young, hungry fighter.
Earlier this year, I spent some time with Berlanga’s coach Marc Farrait, and I know he’ll have his man in fantastic shape and fully prepared for the task ahead. But I’m not changing my tune, I still thing it’s going to be a very tough night for Berlanga with the machine that is Canelo winning inside the distance.
I’ve not doubt the Mexican will want to make people sit up and take notice as, in the opinion of most boxing fans, he’s no longer in the top three pound-for-pound rankings. You have to put Inoue, Crawford, and Usyk well ahead of him now, and you could argue the likes of Beterbiev and Bivol would be above him as well.
On the undercard at the T-Mobile Arena there’s a couple of interesting fights. Erislandy Lara against Danny Garcia is a case of who has got the most left? If either man has any ambition left to land a really big fight, they have to win this one. Garcia hasn’t boxed for more than two years while Lara knocked out Michael Zerafa at the end of March. I think that sways me towards him for this one, but how it pans out is anyone’s guess!
I mentioned Caleb Plant earlier and it’s good to see him back. He’s a quality operator and did well against Canelo up to a point, and I think he’ll make something of a statement against the unbeaten Trevor McCumby.
Finally, I’d like to wish my old friend and former stablemate Callum Johnson all the best when he continues his comeback as a cruiserweight in Grantham on Saturday night.
CJ nearly dethroned Beterbiev when they fought a few years back – I don’t think he’s ever been hurt as bad as that before or since. Callum is a serious problem for anyone, and I think he can really make a noise on the domestic scene.
Anthony Crolla is a brand ambassador for Freebets.com, the home of betting sites.
