The thick tension between Canelo Alvarez and Edgar Berlanga will finally explode Saturday night, and live on DAZN, when the Mexican superstar defends his unified super middleweight titles against the undefeated Brooklyn, New York fighter.
With the stakes ultra high, DAZN lists the keys to victory for Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) and Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs).
Canelo Alvarez’s keys to victory
Make early deposits to the body
If Edgar Berlanga is going to make good on his proposed strategy of using the jab, Canelo Alvarez making early deposits to the body could go a long way toward the unbeaten Brooklyn, New York fighter lowering his arms just enough for the face of boxing to land something vicious upstairs later in the bout.
Catch Berlanga with counterpunching
Canelo has had more title fights than Berlanga has had fights, period. With that comes a massive experience edge that Alvarez will look to exploit and he could do so especially on the counterpunching end.
Luring Berlanga in and lulling him with light activity before turning on the heat with counterpunching combinations could spell all Alvarez needs to defeat Berlanga — and perhaps by stoppage just as the Mexican sensation has predicted.
Use Berlanga’s aggression against him
Berlanga has long touted his jab as a key to victory. However, if he diverts from that plan and head-hunts with power, Alvarez can used some of that aforementioned counterpunching especially by luring the rugged contender in.
Using Berlanga’s aggression against him could lead to Alvarez producing devastating fireworks.
Edgar Berlanga’s keys to victory
Matchroom Boxing
Let the jab pave the way
Edgar Berlanga has similar dimensions to Dmitry Bivol, the last man to beat Alvarez — by unanimous decision in May 2022. Berlanga stands 6’1” with a 73-inch reach to Bivol’s 6’0” with 72 inches of reach.
Over the course of his victory over Alvarez, Bivol fed the Mexican superstar a buffet of jabs and Berlanga must do the same.
That means asserting the jab early and constantly using the prodding weapon to touch, frustrate and keep Alvarez out of rhythm the way Bivol did so masterfully.
During the buildup to this fight, Berlanga has noted how the jab will be key and now it’s up to the 27-year-old to keep disciplined enough to stay in front of Canelo and pump the sweet science’s bread-and-butter punch efficiently.
Keep guard high and tight
Getting a bit lax and having a lapse in his guard opened up the lane for Marcelo Esteban Coceres to drop Berlanga with a counter right in their October 2021 fight.
Though Berlanga rebounded to win that bout by unanimous decision and has been disciplined with his defense more since, he must be conscious of his guard and keeping it high and tight against a shrewd counterpuncher like Alvarez, who will make him pay dearly for any mistakes.
Don’t force the power punches nor allow the moment to be too big
When Jaime Munguia errantly flicked out a right hand, Alvarez responded with a check left hook, right uppercut and a left to the body as Munguia’s body was careening down to the canvas in their May fight.
Berlanga has got to be cautious about overextending himself with his power punches. Throughout the buildup to this fight, he has maintained that his ring IQ will be more vital than his power. But he has also predicted a sixth-round knockout.
Forcing the issue with his power shots could backfire due to Alvarez’s counterpunching brilliance. However, asserting the jab and unleashing the power when he sees fit is Berlanga’s best route for not letting the moment get too big for him and possibly pulling off what would be a mammoth upset.