Promoter Oscar De La Hoya took aim at Canelo Alvarez during his "Clap Back Thursdays" episode, criticizing him for selecting Edgar Berlanga as his next title defense opponent on September 14th in Las Vegas. De La Hoya predicts that this decision will lead to a boycott from boxing fans, who are frustrated with Canelo for allegedly avoiding a fight with David Benavidez. Benavidez has since moved up to 175 pounds, giving up on securing a match with Canelo. De La Hoya suggests that Canelo will need "luck" for his bout against Berlanga, especially with the competition from a UFC event on the same night, potentially impacting both ticket sales and PPV numbers.
De La Hoya voiced his disapproval of the Canelo vs. Berlanga fight, which fans did not request. He believes that fans are beginning to boycott Canelo for continually avoiding more formidable opponents. This fight against Berlanga, who has not faced high-level contenders, was orchestrated by Eddie Hearn shortly after he signed Berlanga. Instead of proving his worth against top-tier opponents, Berlanga's wins over less challenging fighters like Padraig McCrory and Jason Quigley have not convinced fans of his readiness for Canelo.
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De La Hoya also highlighted the difficulty Canelo might face in selling out the T-Mobile Arena, given that Berlanga's appeal primarily lies in his New York-based Puerto Rican fanbase. With the UFC event at The Sphere posing additional competition, De La Hoya is skeptical about the success of the Canelo-Berlanga fight. He sarcastically wished Canelo "good luck" with making a significant impact against such competition.
Edgar Berlanga, in his announcement on social media, seemed defensive and bitter rather than excited about the upcoming fight. He addressed his critics, warning them not to underestimate him and promised an electrifying performance on September 14th. Despite his bravado, Berlanga's record against mid-tier fighters like Steve Rolls, Roamer Alexis Angulo, and Marcelo Conceres suggests he may struggle against a fighter of Canelo's caliber.
Berlanga's decision to bypass a fight with David Morrell Jr. for the WBA 'regular' super middleweight title in favor of waiting for a bigger payday against Canelo has also drawn criticism. Many believe that if Berlanga had true confidence in his abilities, he would have taken the tougher fights to earn his shot at Canelo rather than waiting for it to fall into his lap.
Read more about a newly announced fight Canelo vs. Berlanga here.
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