In a thrilling showdown in front of a packed crowd at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez successfully defended his super middleweight title against challenger Edgar Berlanga. The 34-year-old champion showcased his experience and relentless pursuit throughout the fight, ultimately outclassing his 27-year-old opponent. The sold-out arena of 20,312 fans erupted in chants of “Mexico! Mexico!” and “CA-NEL-O! CA-NEL-O!” in support of Alvarez as he secured his victory and improved his record to 61-2-2, while Berlanga suffered his first defeat, dropping to 22-1-0.
Alvarez, a four-division champion, asserted his dominance in the ring, landing punches with precision and accuracy. Judges Max DeLuca and Steve Weisfeld scored the fight 118-109, with judge David Sutherland scoring it 117-110 in favor of Alvarez. Despite Berlanga nearly matching Alvarez’s punch output, the champion’s superior accuracy and power punching proved decisive in the match.
Although Alvarez came close to ending the fight early with a knockdown in the third round and delivering punishing blows in subsequent rounds, Berlanga displayed resilience and determination, earning respect from Alvarez who referred to him as “my idol” after the fight. The intense bout saw Berlanga engaging in a heated exchange with Alvarez, showcasing his fighting spirit despite facing a formidable opponent.
The fight took place on Mexican Independence Day, adding significance to Alvarez’s victory as he expressed pride in representing his country on such a meaningful occasion. The event marked a significant night for combat sports on Mexican Independence Day in Las Vegas, coinciding with the UFC’s debut at the Sphere with seven Mexican fighters on the fight card.
In other matches on the card, Erislandy Lara successfully defended his WBA middleweight title with a TKO victory over Danny Garcia in the ninth round, while Caleb Plant staged a remarkable comeback to secure a ninth-round TKO over Trevor McCumby in a battle for the interim WBA super middleweight title. Rolando Romero also emerged victorious with a unanimous decision over Manual Jaimes in the opening fight of the main card.
Alvarez’s decision to face Berlanga instead of the IBF’s No. 1 challenger led to the organization stripping him of his title. Despite the controversy, Alvarez’s impressive performance reaffirmed his status as one of the best fighters in the world, underscoring his ongoing reign as the undisputed super middleweight champion.
