Mexican superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez retained his unified super middleweight world title with a punishing unanimous decision over Edgar Berlanga in Las Vegas. Alvarez knocked down Berlanga in the third round and dominated the fight with relentless pressure throughout all 12 rounds. Despite Berlanga taunting Alvarez in the final rounds, he could not find the stoppage he had predicted. Alvarez’s experience and skill were evident as he landed devastating body blows round after round, ultimately winning the fight with scores of 118-109 and 117-110 from the judges. This victory improved Alvarez’s record to 62-2-2 with 39 knockouts, solidifying him as one of the best fighters in the world.
Alvarez’s decision to fight Berlanga rather than IBF mandatory challenger William Scull resulted in him being stripped of his IBF belt in July. However, this did not affect the crowd’s enthusiasm as over 20,000 spectators filled the T-Mobile Arena to watch Alvarez continue his dominance on Mexican Independence Day weekend. Alvarez, who has made this holiday weekend his own along with Cinco de Mayo, expressed pride in representing his country on such an important day. While Berlanga gave his idol an extended hug after the fight, acknowledging his respect and admiration for Alvarez as a fighter.
This victory marked the fifth straight points win for Alvarez, whose last stoppage win came in November 2021. Despite the lack of a knockout, Alvarez still managed to score a knockdown in his fourth consecutive fight, showcasing his power and skill in the ring. While Alvarez has been accused of avoiding a fight with rising star David Benavidez, he stated that he would take some time to rest with his family before deciding on his next opponent. This uncertainty leaves fans eagerly awaiting Alvarez’s next move and who he will face next in the ring.
In the undercard, Erislandy Lara successfully defended his WBA middleweight world title with a ninth-round stoppage of Danny Garcia. Despite a slow-paced bout that drew boos from the crowd, Lara ultimately connected with a straight left that dropped Garcia to a knee in the ninth round. When Garcia’s father and coach Angel called for the fight to be halted at the end of the round, Lara claimed victory and improved his record to 31-3-3 with 19 knockouts. Garcia, who was fighting for the first time since July 2022, fell to 37-4 with 21 wins inside the distance.
Overall, Alvarez’s dominant performance against Berlanga solidified his status as one of the best fighters in the world, with his record, skill, and experience speaking for themselves. Despite criticism and accusations, Alvarez remains focused on his career and decisions, taking time with his family before determining his next steps in the sport. Lara’s victory in the undercard added to the excitement of the night, showcasing the talent of another skilled boxer in the middleweight division. With this eventful night of boxing, fans were left eager for more action and anticipating the future matchups that these fighters will bring to the ring.
