Edgar Berlanga is ramping up the tension for his clash with Canelo Alvarez later next month.
The pair meet on September 14, live on DAZN, as the unified super middleweight puts his belts on the line for the second time this year.
His last outing was a relatively easy win over Jaime Munguia, which was largely conducted in good humour.
Canelo and Berlanga, however, have erred on the side of antagonism for much of the last few weeks.
Berlanga is the underdog, but he’s not intimidated.
“The trash talk is a part of the sport – **** him,” he said, reported BoxingScene. “There is no more respect for any opponent once the contract is signed. It's business. He's going to try to kill me in front of my family. This is gladiator shit, and I am going to do the same thing to him. On my son, let me drop dead – I never fear no one. I'm going to go out on my shield, and he better go out on his.
“I didn't like it when he smiled at me at the press conference. I felt like he was taking me as a joke. I know his intentions. I'm from the hood in New York. If you are smiling at my face that is disrespectful.”
The Puerto Rican is not worried about being the B-side and believes he is bringing plenty into the fight.
“I am training for IQ, intelligence, and being smart,” he added. “Anyone who beat Canelo had that.
“At the end of the day, I'm a star myself, for real; for real. He was going to fight either me or David Benavidez, or eventually retire, and I was going to come in and take his spot. I have everything. I can fight. I look good. I'm appealing. I'm Puerto Rican with an island behind me. I have the whole package, which is what you need in the sport of boxing to become a star.”
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