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Fight Recap: Did Edgar Berlanga Win the Canelo Lottery?
Edgar Berlanga of New York (22-0, 17 KOs) got what he needed, a knockout win over Padraig McCrory of Belfast (18-1, 9 KOs) in the sixth round of their WBA super middleweight title eliminator in Orlando Saturday.
But something bigger was at stake: getting named the next opponent on May 4 for the division’s unified champion and boxing’s biggest star, Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez.
Edgar Berlanga lands the right hook to drop Padraig McCrory in the sixth round, winning the fight. Photo: Ed Mulholland, Matchroom.
Berlanga left no doubt where he stands. “I think right now, boxing needs a Puerto Rican star versus a Mexican star. That's what boxing is. That will be the biggest fight of this year,” declared Berlanga, to the cheers of his fans who packed a sold-out Caribe Royale.
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn would love to see it happen. Hearn enjoys a friendly relationship with Álvarez. Can he convince the redheaded Mexican to make it happen?
“Canelo Álvarez will fight anybody. I promise you that. (David) Benadvidez, (Jermall) Charlo, (Jaime) Munguia, Berlanga. I know he wants to give the fans real fights. He wants to fight people that come to fight.”
Pointing to Berlanga, Hearn continued, “Here he's got a young contender with plenty of heart, plenty of power that will stand in front of him and fight him. And that's why it will be a great fight. May or September, I believe you will see Canelo Álvarez against Edgar Berlanga this year.
Edgar Berlanga Starts Slowly
Edgar Berlanga got off to a slow – he called it cautious – start against Padraig McCrory. Photo: Ed Mulholland, Matchroom.
For the first few rounds, the possibility seemed in doubt. A disappointing first round became a lackluster first two rounds between Berlanga and McCrory. Things heated up a bit in the third. When Berlanga gets frustrated by a cagey fighter posturing and trying to stay out of trouble like McCrory, he resorts to roughhousing and throwing elbows. Referee Christopher Young handled things well, settling the fighters down.
McGrory pressed forward more in the fourth round. He landed solid hooks but gave Berlanga much more to work with. The lively crowd kept hoping a real fight would break out, but they showed no mercy and started booing when it didn't.
Edgar Berlanga began heating up in the fifth and sixth rounds. Photo: Ed Mulholland, Matchroom.
Did Berlanga hear the booing? Perhaps it helped. He rattled McCrory with left hooks. McCrory switched to a southpaw stance. McGrory has a good chin, which served him well in the fourth.
By the fifth round, Berlanga was warmed up and heated up, moving in on McCrory when he recognized the Belfast fighter wasn’t enough of a serious threat. Even if Berlanga had miscalculated, he was better off risking a knockdown than a boring fight.
Berlanga Brings the Action, Scores the Sixth Round TKO
Padraig McCrory takes the count from referee Christopher Young before his corner threw in the towel to end the fight. Photo: Ed Mulholland, Matchroom.
McCrory might have kept Berlanga back if he was busier, but it wasn’t the case. In the sixth round, the pair kept the fight active in the center of the ring. Berlanga’s power shots started hitting the target, giving Berlanga the confidence he needed. Finally letting go, McCrory did his best to fight back, but his legs began to betray him.
Berlanga kept ripping to the body and not letting the Irishman off the hook. Finally, McCrory’s chin and legs gave out as Berlanga drilled him to the canvas. With referee Christopher Young administering the count, McCrory’s corner threw in the towel before getting to ten at 2:44 of the sixth round.
Edgar Berlanga will soon learn whether his victory Saturday night in Florida scores him a date with Canelo on May 4. Photo: Ed Mulholland, Matchroom.
Berlanga was emotional at the end of the fight. “I told Paddy McCrory I was losing sleep over this fight with him. People don't understand. Irish motherfuckers are strong, man. He traveled from another country without his family.
“He put on one of his (social media) posts, ‘Cinderella Man.’ I knew deep down in my heart he was coming to fight. I prepared very well,” said Berlanga.
Berlanga explained he wanted to observe McCrory and catch his timing. He didn’t want to be merely an offensive fighter, but show his defense and “check him out,” then land his punches. “I was breaking him down little by little. He’s a veteran. I didn’t want to go crazy until I knew I had him hurt, and that’s what I did.”
Fans will soon find out whether it was enough to win Berlanga the opportunity to face Canelo Álvarez. In a NY Fights flash poll after the fight, Berlanga isn’t their first choice. Over 90% don’t want to see Canelo vs Berlanga on May 4. Fans are still holding out for Benavidez or Berlanga. Stay close to your social media.
Cruz Cruises to Win Over Zamarippa
Andy Cruz is settling in nicely as a pro, dominating in his fight against Brayan Zamarripa during their IBF International and WBA Continental Latin American Lightweight title fight. Photo: Ed Mulholland, Matchroom.
Lightweight Andy Cruz of Miami, Florida (3-0, 1 KO) put on a master class against Brayan Zamarippa Rodriguez of Ensenada, Mexico (14-3, 5 KOs). Many talented amateurs struggle to adjust to the professional style. Not Cruz. The decorated Cuban amateur and Olympic gold medalist looks entirely at home and in command as a professional. It makes him one of the most exciting prospects in boxing.
Cruz poured on the offense in the sixth round, landing 18 power punches to just two for Zaparippa. Zamarippa’s nose began bleeding badly from a straight right hand. Zamarippa lost every round, but his corner sent him back for another round. Cruz took it to the Mexican, showing no mercy. Zamarippa had nothing to offer back but would not yield.
Undercard Action: Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad
On the undercard, the evening got started with two terrific bangers, but the third fight was a disappointment from a fan entertainment standpoint.
Shakhram Giyasov won his fight by technical decision after Pablo Cesar Cano was injured. Photo: Ed Mulholland, Matchroom.
Shakram Giyasov of Uzbekistan (16-0, 9 KOs) remained undefeated with a unanimous technical decision after 11 rounds over veteran Pablo Cesar Cano of Mexico (35-10-1, 25 KOs). Scores read 109-99 on all three after 11 rounds.
Giyasov scored a knockdown with a wicked body shot in the third round, but the tough-as-leather Cano got up and carried on. After the 11th round, Cano threw a punch leaning forward off balance, and badly turned his right ankle. The injury prevented him from continuing, with the fight going to the scorecards. Giyasov wins the WBA mandatory contest, teeing himself up for a fight with Eimontas Stanionis.
Pablo Cesar Cano suffered a suspected broken ankle and could not come out of the corner for the final round. Photo: Ed Mulholland, Matchroom.
Giyasov is a decorated amateur and 2016 Olympic silver medalist. But he often seems content to win with ring generalship and putting himself on cruise control. It doesn’t make for fan-friendly fights. It’s largely why he hasn’t gotten any bigger-name opponents to date.
Giyasov landed 109 of 466 punches through (23%), and Cano landed 82 of 431 punches thrown (19%).
Vargas Stops Rodriguez in Eight
Antonio Vargas finished off Jonathan Rodriguez in eight rounds after a first-round scare in their WBA World Bantamweight title eliminator fight. Photo: Ed Mulholland, Matchroom.
Antonio Vargas of Kissimmee, Florida (18-1, 10 KOs) faced some adversity early in his fight against Jonathan Rodriguez of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (17-2-1, 7 KOs). Rodriguez, a native of Puerto Rico, dropped Vargas with an overhand right at the end of the first round.
Often, an early knockdown wakes a fighter up fast. Vargas got busy and banged up the brave Rodriguez for the next seven rounds. With Rodriguez’s face showing the battering, Vargas returned the knockdown with a hard right hook at the end of the eighth round. Rodriguez made it to the corner, but his father and trainer made the right call to stop the fight. There was no need for Rodriguez to take any more punishment.
Vargas wins the WBA bantamweight eliminator and delivered a highly entertaining fight.
Flyweights On Fire, Figueroa Survives Scare
Flyweight fireworks from Yankiel Rivera and Andy Dominguez. Photo: Ed Mulholland, Matchroom.
Flyweights Yankiel Rivera Figueroa of Puerto Rico (5-0, 2 KOs) and Andy Dominguez Velasquez of Las Vegas (10-1, 6 KOs) delivered the fast and furious kind of action we love from the smaller weight divisions. Figueroa won a unanimous decision and the WBA and WBC Continental Americans flyweight titles.
While the three scorecards were lopsided in Figueroa’s favor at 99-91, they don’t tell the story of a competitive fight. Both men willingly engaged and brought lots of offensive firepower. Figueroa was on cruise control and looking good, with Dominguez showing far more damage.
Andy Dominguez nearly got the better of Yankiel Rivera in the 11th round. Photo: Ed Mulholland, Matchroom,
But in the eleventh round, Dominguez stunned Figueroa with a combination of hooks and an uppercut, wobbling Figueroa. There was no knockdown, but it was apparent how badly Dominguez buzzed Figueroa.
The Puerto Rican fighter could have held and avoided Dominguez in the final round to avoid disaster and still win. But instead, he traded right to the end with Dominguez, who was still determined to try and hang on to his unbeaten record.
