Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez dropped Edgar Berlanga on his way to a near shutout on the scorecards in Las Vegas.
The fans turned out for Alvarez on Mexican Independence Day and his 66th professional fight. In the end, it was a routine victory with nothing much from a tough Berlanga really bringing trouble. With the performance, he retains his WBA, WBO and WBC belts.
Post-fight, Canelo declared that he is the best in the world.
“I did good. Now what they gonna say? I tried younger fighters, they always say I fought older fighters. They always talk. I’m the best fighter in the world … It could’ve been [over in the third] but Eddie slows me down and it works. I put on a great show for my people.
He said he respects me so much he feels bad the way he acted. He did good … I got a little angry. I’m Mexican, man.
The victory means a lot. I feel great, I feel grateful. It’s an honour for me to represent my country on this day. Mexican Independence. I feel proud about it. Some people say that you don’t love me but guess what? You are here to support me. Viva Mexico, Cabrones!
I’m gonna rest, enjoy my family right now and then decide [what’s next].”
The man many regard as the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, Terence Crawford, was watching closely.
The 36-year-old from Omaha has been calling for the fight for around a year now and recently closed the gap in bulk very slightly by making his debut at super-welterweight, two divisions down from where Canelo currently dominates.
Towards the end of the fight, Crawford reiterated his desire by posting on social media, “put me in the game, coach” – clearly convinced that he poses much more of a challenge than Berlanga.
Put me in the game coach!
— Terence Crawford (@terencecrawford) September 15, 2024
There’s a general feeling that Crawford may consider retirement if he doesn’t land the fight. Canelo has made it clear he will listen to offers, and it’s likely that one will be arriving soon from the American’s big money backers in Saudi Arabia.
In a separate social media posting, Riyadh Season’s Turki Alalshikh can be seen alongside Crawford saying:
“Canelo, come on. Let’s go. We are ready.”
Crawford signed off by telling the Mexican directly to ‘come for the biggest fight in boxing.’
