Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Boxing superstar Alvarez knocks down challenger and wins on points
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez beat Edgar Berlanga in Las Vegas on Saturday, retaining the unified super-middleweight titles at the T-Mobile Arena.
Canelo, 34, dropped his challenger with a perfect left hook in round three and continued to outbox the American, 27, ultimately handing Berlanga the first loss of his career.
Berlanga had his moments, but Canelo’s famous chin held up to the younger fighter’s offence, and much of the drama came when the boxers traded fouls and heated words – the latter both during and between rounds.
Yet it was all respect between the pair after the final bell, as Berlanga apologised to Canelo for some of his behaviour and congratulated the champion on his victory.
Re-live updates and see results from the undercard and main event, below.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE
Saul Alvarez outpoints Edgar Berlanga to retain unified super-middleweight belts
‘Canelo’ drops challenger en route to handing Berlanga his first loss
Boxers traded heated words throughout fight but showed respect at final bell
Fight took place on Mexican Independence weekend, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
Canelo faced criticism for fighting Berlanga instead of David Benavidez
Caleb Plant stops Trevor McCumby in enthralling, back-and-forth battle
Erislandy Lara earns strange stoppage of Danny Garcia to end dull bout
Rolly Romero eases past Manuel Jaimes to bounce back from defeat
Canelo outpoints Berlanga to retain titles - LIVE
05:57 , Alex Pattle
Canelo outpoints Berlanga to retain titles - LIVE
05:45 , Alex Pattle
Canelo outpoints Berlanga to retain titles - LIVE
05:35 , Alex Pattle
Berlanga pays a lot of respect to Canelo in his post-fight interview in the ring.
He says he feels bad that they didn’t get a chance to talk one-to-one before signing the contract or fighting, and that their first meetings were consumed by promotion and trash talk.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE
05:28 , Alex Pattle
Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez def. Edgar Berlanga via unanimous (117-110, 118-109, 118-109)
Canelo: “I did good. Now what are they gonna say? I fight younger fighters; before they say I only fight older fighters. They always talk. I’m the best fighter in the world.”
Opening up on his post-fight conversation with Berlanga, he says: “He said he respects me, I’m his idol. He said he feels bad for the way he acted. But you know, he did good. With adrenaline, I got a little angry. I’m Mexican, man. Viva Mexico, cabrones!”
Canelo reportedly landed about 50 per cent of power punches. He puts it down to his “talent, experience, discipline”.
And his next fight? “I’m gonna rest, enjoy my family now, and then I’m gonna decide.”
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE
05:21 , Alex Pattle
Round 12
Berlanga motions to the crowd, to the sound of boos. Canelo does the same, to cheers.
Berlanga fights behind his jab, but he needs a power shot now; he needs a finish.
Some grappling ensues. Great cross by Berlanga! But again, Canelo’s famously hard chin takes the shot well.
Canelo with a cross to the body and a jab to the head.
Canelo with a left hook up top, then he whips one to the body.
The final bell sounds, and Canelo and Berlanga immediately touch gloves and hug each other!
Canelo should be a comfortable winner, but Berlanga engaged – certainly more than some of Alvarez’s past opponents – and made it a fun occasion.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE
05:16 , Alex Pattle
Round 11
Into the championship rounds. The crowd has reached a fever pitch in the T-Mobile Arena. Berlanga is starting to land increasingly on a tired-looking Canelo...
Now Canelo puts Berlanga off-balance with a left hook, though! A jab snaps back Berlanga’s head now.
Berlanga complains that a left hook landed too low, and Canelo half-apologises.
Nice jab work from Canelo late in the round. He and Berlanga trade more words after the bell.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE
05:13 , Alex Pattle
Round 10
Three rounds to go. Canelo rolls nicely with a cross from Berlanga, lessening the impact.
Berlanga with some nice variety in his combinations, but Canelo seems unfazed. The Mexican is hunting down Berlanga, happy to go head to head with his challenger.
Some stern uppercuts from Berlanga now.
Oh! The boxers trade heated words late in the round! Canelo shouts something at Berlanga, who does the same and throws a crotch chop in return.
It stemmed from Canelo turning his back on Berlanga and eating a leaping hook from the American.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE
05:09 , Alex Pattle
Round nine
Nice cross from Canelo. And another, set up by a jab! That one-two jolted back Berlanga’s head.
It spurs on Berlanga, who retaliates with some offence of his own, but it’s not as eye-catching as Canelo’s.
Great right uppercut by Canelo in the corner, after he misses two heavy left hook attempts!
Berlanga is landing the occasional counter, but he’s getting outworked here.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE
05:04 , Alex Pattle
Round eight
Canelo winds up a left hook but just misses. The Mexican has slowed down ever so slightly in the last couple of rounds, it must be said. It’s giving Berlanga a window into the fight.
There’s a timeout now, after Canelo lands a clean cross after the referee issued a break. To be fair, it didn’t seem intentional; the timing was just unfortunate. The ref was in fact warning Berlanga for leading with his head, it seemed.
Correction: Upon seeing a replay, there’s a fair argument that Canelo landed the late shot on purpose, aha...
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE
05:00 , Alex Pattle
Round seven
Canelo corners Berlanga yet again but is warned for straying slightly low with a jab.
Good movement from Berlanga to evade a right overhand and left hook. He’s leaning on the ropes, using them to help his defence.
Berlanga goes down again, but it’s a clear trip this time. Berlanga takes his time to get back up, though.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE
04:56 , Alex Pattle
Round six
Berlanga predicted that he would knock out Canelo in round six. He’d need something massive to do so... He might have to focus on not getting stopped himself, in fact.
Some good counter punching from the American now, as he tries to avoid getting stuck in the corner – amid this relentless Canelo pressure.
Berlanga is starting to get through, but Canelo lands a couple of harsh left hooks to the body.
Berlanga slows down drastically in the final minute of the round.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE
04:52 , Alex Pattle
Round five
Canelo corners Berlanga again and lands a jab. Now he curves one into a hook. Berlanga ducks under a jab and grapples Canelo.
It’s one-way traffic right now! Canelo is throwing hooks to the body and jabs to the head. Power downstairs, speed upstairs.
Berlanga with a decent cross late in the round.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE
04:48 , Alex Pattle
Round four
Canelo has dropped his last three opponents but failed to stop any of them – Jaime Munguia, Jermell Charlo and John Ryder. Can he find the finish tonight?
The Mexican pressures Berlanga again, cornering him. Jab upstairs, right cross to the body. Now a left hook, burrowed into the mid-section of Berlanga.
Canelo is the shorter man, but he’s the bully in there at the moment.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE
04:44 , Alex Pattle
Round three
Tidy stuff from Berlanga, who is parrying much of Canelo’s offence as the champion edges forward. Berlanga is also sticking behind his jab quite well.
OH! And isn’t that typical? Right as I say that, Canelo with a knockdown out of nowhere!!! A perfect left hook does it.
Berlanga is sat down, punching his gloves together in frustration. He’s soon back up, and he seems quite lucid...
But Canelo is going for the kill! He’s decided he wants a statement win! He’s unleashing a prolonged barrage, and Berlanga is just trying to survive in the corner...
Berlanga eventually gets free and slowly gets the pace to where he wants it, but that’s a great round for Canelo.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE
04:40 , Alex Pattle
Round two
Canelo presses forward and gets Berlanga to bite hard on a feint. Canelo then unfurls a right hook and a left; the right is blocked, but the left meets Berlanga’s ribs hard.
Canelo with a nice left hook up top now. Berlanga fires back with a couple of right hands, trying to get the champion’s respect.
The pair grapple, and Berlanga ends up bending over towards the Mexican. Canelo then lands a one-two to the American’s back, and Berlanga retaliates with a low blow as the ref steps in. Canelo seems unfazed.
Sharp right cross from Berlanga in the final seconds of the round!
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE
04:36 , Alex Pattle
Round one
Loud “Ca-ne-lo” chants in the T-Mobile Arena. Both men stand orthodox.
Canelo takes the centre of the ring, largely content to make reads, as Berlanga flicks out a few jabs.
Canelo misses with a right hook to the body. Now he sees a jab parried upstairs.
Nice parry from Canelo, who then wings a pair of hooks. Neither quite lands, then Berlanga lands a slick counter jab.
Canelo with a stinging jab of his own. A tidy enough start by the champion.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Main-event ring walks
04:06 , Alex Pattle
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez defends the unified super-middleweight titles against Edgar Berlanga next.
The Mexican last fought in May, scoring a knockdown of compatriot Jaime Munguia en route to a decision win, having done the same against Jermell Charlo last September and John Ryder last spring.
Meanwhile, American Berlanga enters the T-Mobile Arena with a perfect record of 22-0, including 17 stoppage victories. One of those knockouts came in his last fight, as the 27-year-old stopped Padraig McCrory in February.
Now Berlanga gets his chance to defy the doubters, amid suggestions from many fans that Alvarez is seeking ‘easy’ fights as he edges towards retirement; such fans were keen to see the 34-year-old box David Benavidez this Mexican Independence weekend, but Berlanga gets his shot at the world titles instead.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Main-event ring walks
03:55 , Alex Pattle
The ring walks for the main event are just moments away. Don’t go anywhere!
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Erislandy Lara vs Danny Garcia
03:48 , Alex Pattle
Round nine
The loudest boos yet after another round of inactivity, until...
Garcia eats a light cross, and drops to a knee... and that’s it!
What an underwhelming end to a terribly disappointing fight!
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Erislandy Lara vs Danny Garcia
03:36 , Alex Pattle
Round seven
Into the second half of the fight. Lara slings a southpaw cross onto the chest of Garcia.
Now a cross to the waistband. Somewhere along the way, Garcia sustained some damage around his left eye.
Round eight
Better work from Garcia. He fires off a cross to the head then an uppercut to the body.
Up until that point, it had been a very slow round.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Erislandy Lara vs Danny Garcia
03:28 , Alex Pattle
Round five
Overhand left connects for Lara. Now Garcia with a decent cross.
Garcia tries to press forward, but he fails to trap Lara or land on the champion.
This has been very dull, it must be said.
Round six
A light one-two from Lara, then another. His footwork has been quite slick, to be fair. He also has southpaw angles going for him.
Garcia with a long right hook to the body late in the round.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Erislandy Lara vs Danny Garcia
03:20 , Alex Pattle
Round three
Garcia with a couple of jabs, then he bites quite hard on a feint from Lara.
Lara scrapes Garcia’s nose with a jab of his own. The fight is still being contested at a slow pace.
More boos in the T-Mobile Arena.
Round four
Lara with a grazing southpaw cross. He’s not looking especially fast or powerful, yet Garcia seems so hesitant to engage with the champion.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Erislandy Lara vs Danny Garcia
03:12 , Alex Pattle
Round one
Lara stands southpaw; Garcia is orthodox.
Lara holds the centre of the ring in the first round, looking to maintain range as Garcia throws the occasional cross.
Now Garcia takes the centre of the ring.
Round two
The first round was largely a feeling-out frame. More of the same so far, and there are some boos from the Vegas crowd.
Still plenty of time for this fight to pick up, but Plant vs McCumby would’ve been a great appetiser for the main event.
Lara backs up Garcia and sticks behind the jab.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Erislandy Lara vs Danny Garcia
03:01 , Alex Pattle
One more fight before the main event: Erislandy Lara defends the WBA middleweight title against Danny Garcia.
Lara is 41, while Garcia is 36. Neither man is in his prime anymore, to be honest, but that doesn’t mean we won’t get an entertaining bout here.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Caleb Plant vs Trevor McCumby
02:46 , Alex Pattle
Round nine
Plant hurts McCumby to the body and pours on shots, switching to the head with a clean uppercut!
McCumby fires back briefly, but he’s in trouble in the corner. Plant sneaks a few hooks around McCumby’s guard now.
McCumby teeters somewhat away from the corner, only to find himself trapped in another.
Smart work from Plant, who attacks the body with a left hook then lands a right uppercut to the head.
OH! And Plant UNLEASHES a series of hooks in the final few seconds of the round, and McCumby starts to fall into the ropes – and the ref steps in! It’s all over!
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Caleb Plant vs Trevor McCumby
02:41 , Alex Pattle
Round seven
Nice little flurry from McCumby at close range, targeting Plant’s head exclusively. Plant creates space and moves forward.
Lovely counter one-two from Plant. McCumby grimaces now as Plant lets go with a prolonged combination.
McCumby rallies a little, though, late in the round.
Round eight
Both men bounce around, staying light on their feet. Plant drills two uppercuts onto the chin of McCumby – one with each hand.
He squeezes in another uppercut, after both fighters grapple and try to create space.
Strong counter left hook by McCumby. He taunts Plant, trying to get himself fired up.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Caleb Plant vs Trevor McCumby
02:33 , Alex Pattle
Round six
A much better stint for Plant now. He’s the one taunting at the moment. Again he has McCumby stuck on the ropes and is unloading eclectic offence.
Plant with a beautiful right hook on the counter, then he looks to the crowd – a real moment of showmanship! He’s dancing in front of McCumby now. Where has McCumby’s swagger gone?
Big left hook from Plant! And another huge land on the bell!
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Caleb Plant vs Trevor McCumby
02:29 , Alex Pattle
Round five
Again Plant goes flying into the ropes. He’s been put off balance about four times – and down twice – by McCumby’s power, even though the punches in question have largely hit his arms and body. An odd fight.
But Plant again does well to respond positively; he backs up McCumby to the ropes and tees off in a prolonged spell, with fine variety and accuracy.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Caleb Plant vs Trevor McCumby
02:27 , Alex Pattle
Round three
More mocking from McCumby as Plant misses again. But Plant is finding the target here and there.
Case and point: He lands a fine left hook now.
Round four
Some big swings and misses from both fighters on overhands. Plant looks to keep things neat with some jab work, instead of allowing the scrappy exchanges that McCumby wants.
But Plant is knocked down again! There’s another tangle of the feet, while McCumby hits the arm of Plant, and the latter tumbles!
McCumby flexes to the pro-Plant crowd. Plant gets back to his feet and looks to get back on the offence...
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Caleb Plant vs Trevor McCumby
02:18 , Alex Pattle
Round two
Nice variety from Plant with his lead hand. He’s changing angles well, too.
But McCumby puts the former champion off balance with a massive body shot! Plant stumbles into the ropes, then eats a hard cross upstairs as he sorts out his feet!
Plant shakes his head, but that was a bit of a hairy moment. Plant leaps forward but misses with a lead hook, and McCumby mocks him.
Oh! And Plant is down late in the round! It’s another heavy body shot from McCumby in the corner, and Plant seems to claim to the referee that it was a trip, but he looks hurt...
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Caleb Plant vs Trevor McCumby
02:14 , Alex Pattle
Round one
This one is for the WBA interim super-middleweight title, with Canelo defending the official belt later tonight – a strange situation.
Plant and the unbeaten McCumby stand orthodox. The latter jabs to the body early, before lunging in with heavier body shots.
Plant with the shot of the round, though, late on – snapping back McCumby’s head with a straight.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Caleb Plant vs Trevor McCumby
02:01 , Alex Pattle
Next up is a super-middleweight bout between Caleb Plant and Trevor McCumby.
Plant is a former opponent of Canelo, who stopped the American in late 2021 to become undisputed in the division.
In fact, that result made Canelo the first undisputed super-middleweight champion ever.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Rolando Romero vs Manuel Jaimes
01:53 , Alex Pattle
Round 10
Final round. Jaimes ties up Romero then quickly tries to separate, remembering he needs to score right now.
He’s not connecting much, though, as Romero is doing a decent job at boxing smartly and maintaining range.
The final bell sounds, and we’ll go to the scorecards – where Romero surely gets the win.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Rolando Romero vs Manuel Jaimes
01:45 , Alex Pattle
Round eight
Into the final few rounds. Romero just misses with an overhand right and left hook.
Jaimes backs up Romero to the ropes and leans on him, but Romero fires back with a mean right hook to the body.
A messy exchange now, with both men using their forearms to create space, and Romero manages to find a shot first.
Left uppercut lands for Romero! Better round for him.
Round nine
Hard left hook to the body by Romero, then a right to the head. Nice work.
Jaimes walks onto a left hook to the body again. Now one to the head. Romero is really finding his timing now.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Rolando Romero vs Manuel Jaimes
01:41 , Alex Pattle
Round six
Both fighters are letting their hands go now. Romero is leaving some gaps in his defence when he attacks. Jaimes seems to be growing in confidence.
But now Romero shows off some better defence, keeping one hand high and moving back at an angle to avoid Jaimes’s offence.
Round seven
Jaimes continues to hold the centre of the ring for the most part. He’s keeping an active jab, too.
Romero looks to get some respect with his own jab, before a spell of grappling ensues.
Romero is still leaving himself quite exposed when going for bigger shots.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Rolando Romero vs Manuel Jaimes
01:33 , Alex Pattle
Round five
Jaimes is on unsteady feet again, but it seems to be from faults in his footwork, rather than from any significant damage caused by Romero. That said, Romero did land a couple of hooks in that spell.
Romero misses after winging a right hook, but he lands a left hook after a right uppercut. Now a clubbing right connects.
Jaimes presses forward anyway. He lands a couple of jabs and a spearing right cross, with Romero backed up to the ropes.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Rolando Romero vs Manuel Jaimes
01:29 , Alex Pattle
Round four
Stern jab by Jaimes. Romero fires back with a one-two. Another uppercut from Romero, then some well-timed hooks.
Jaimes loads up on a couple of right hands, but Romero controls the range well to stay out of danger.
Nice hook by Jaimes now, however, as he finally manages to close range. Another uppercut by Romero, who catches Jaimes on the end of the shot.
Jaime with some good work late in the round, though.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Rolando Romero vs Manuel Jaimes
01:25 , Alex Pattle
Round three
Romero has Jaimes in trouble early in round three! He catches Jaimes with a lead uppercut, which has his opponent wobbly... Romero pours on shots, with Jaimes’s back to the ropes, but Jaimes is eventually able to get free.
A replay seems to show an accidental elbow from Romero during that barrage.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Rolando Romero vs Manuel Jaimes
01:21 , Alex Pattle
Round two
Romero with a right uppercut and left hook at close range! Jaimes stays on the front foot, though, trying to assert himself.
Nice jab by Jaimes. And another. Romero is pawing at his own left eye. Something bothering him there?
Another strong hook by Romero, though! He follows up with some jabs and decent guard work. He’s increasing his output now.
A scrappy end to the round, with both men leaning on each other and struggling to land clean while in close.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Rolando Romero vs Manuel Jaimes
01:17 , Alex Pattle
Round one
Both men stand orthodox. Ten rounds scheduled here. Romero using the jab early, first to the body and then to the head.
Jaimes rakes the centre of the ring and presses forward. Both men throw crosses – neither seemed to quite land.
There’s a brief break in the action after some grappling between the pair. And again.
More of the same, in a stop-start round. Now Romero misses with a wild overhand right. He gets back to his jab.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: The simple reason why Alvarez is not fighting Benavidez
Sunday 15 September 2024 00:42 , Alex Pattle
Here’s an excerpt from Steve Bunce’s preview of tonight’s main event:
There have been calls for Alvarez to fight a formidable opponent called David Benavidez, and it would be sensational. Alvarez is asking for and getting, it seems, closer to a desired purse of in excess of $100,000m for the fight. Eddie Hearn, who promotes Berlanga but has worked very closely with Alvarez for the last four years, believes that money is the simple key to getting Alvarez in the ring with Benavidez. “Canelo is not afraid of anybody, he just wants to get paid,” Hearn said.
In the last few weeks, Turki Al-Sheikh, the man behind the Saudi Arabian boxing revolution, has talked about making an Alvarez fight; he would have the money to make it happen. And that often means that it will happen. It needs to be noted that Al-Sheikh is not a fan of the sanctioning bodies.
Meanwhile, another dangerous man will try to end Alvarez’s truly remarkable career on Saturday night; Berlanga has the power and the motivation to pull off an upset, but then again, so have so many undefeated men in the last few years. Alvarez, you see, finds a way to get what he wants on both sides of the ropes.
Full article:
The simple reason why Canelo is not fighting David Benavidez
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: The controversial choice ‘tarnishing’ Alvarez’s legacy
Sunday 15 September 2024 00:24 , Alex Pattle
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez finds himself firmly in the final phase of his career. And if fans had to identify a characteristic that defines this phase, many would shout about a lack of risk: a lack of risk in choice of opponent, and a lack of risk in fighting style. Those same fans have been making it clear, usually on social media, that in their eyes the multiple-weight world champion is “tarnishing his legacy” with this approach. Others take issue with such suggestions, claiming that the ‘face of boxing’ has earned the right to do whatever he wants at the age of 34 – to make money however he wants.
Both arguments may be valid. Canelo has blessed boxing over the last decade with his sheer volume of activity, an approach that can actually be traced back to his professional debut in 2005, when the Mexican was aged just 15. And that ever-presence will be missed when he retires. His commitment to the craft and his willingness to regularly immerse himself under the searing heat of the brightest lights – from arenas in Las Vegas to stadia in Mexico – will be remembered.
And that same commitment has arguably earned Canelo the right to ‘ease’ himself towards retirement – as much as there can be anything ‘easy’ about boxing...
Full article:
The controversial Canelo choice that is ‘tarnishing’ boxer’s legacy
