Winning in style helps when wanting to enter the Canelo Alvarez sweepstakes.
Edgar Berlanga did just that Saturday night by producing an electric sixth-round TKO of Padraig McCrory inside the Caribe Royal in Orlando, Florida, and live on DAZN.
With his first knockout in six fights, Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) became the WBA's mandatory challenger for Canelo's undisputed super middleweight world championship and the Brooklyn, New York-born, Puerto Rican representer did not waste time calling out the face of boxing.
"I want him now. We want Canelo next," Berlanga told DAZN's Chris Mannix after his sensational victory.
When asked if he is ready for that caliber of fight, the 26-year-old responded with "1,000 percent" and "look at Eddie (Hearn) right there, he's going to make it happen".
Hearn, Berlanga's promoter at Matchroom Boxing, then offered that Berlanga's dynamic TKO of McCrory was just the statement needed to force a fight with Canelo.
"It's only a matter of time," Hearn said about when Berlanga and Alvarez will clash in the ring. "Puerto Rico against Mexico — that will be a huge event — Edgar Berlanga against Canelo Alvarez. And listen, maybe there is one more (fight until a Canelo bout), but I'll tell you now ... if the call came, he wouldn't back down."
Hearn added: "[Berlanga] wouldn't run around the ring to try to survive for 12 rounds. He'd stand and fight with Canelo Alvarez. He'd give the fans a great, great fight, and that's what people want to see."
Berlanga hopes the dream fight happens as early as this year.
"Boxing needs that," Berlanga chimed in. "They need a Puerto Rican star versus a Mexican star. That's what boxing needs. That would be the biggest fight of this year."
When asked about May being a possibility for the fight, Hearn simply offered: "Canelo Alvarez will fight anybody. I promise you that.
"Here, he's got a young contender with plenty of heart, plenty of power, that will stand in front of him and fight him and that's why it would be a great fight."
If it is too soon for an Alvarez-Berlanga fight though, perhaps Berlanga can step into the ring with Jaime Munguia in a battle of undefeated fighters and also a tilt that would present the Puerto Rican-Mexican clash that Berlanga was calling for.