Sitting on the dais at the Palladium Times Square for the Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga New York City press conference Monday, Berlanga knew David Benavidez's name would be evoked.
And when it was brought up, Berlanga didn't pull any punches .
"I don't want to hear Benavidez," Berlanga said. "F—k Benavidez. A lot of people just keep mentioning Benavidez and all these guys. Ya'll know it's not going to happen and that's just that. September 14 — Berlanga-Canelo, Puerto Rico vs. Mexico."
Following the press conference, Berlanga had additional words for any critics who believe it should've been Benavidez challenging Alvarez and not him.
"Those are haters, man," Berlanga told DAZN among a pool of reporters.
"And all those people out there, they're gonna still buy the pay-per-view, they're gonna still gonna talk. Floyd [Mayweather Jr.] became Floyd, why? Because he had so many people hating him. Right or wrong?
"Floyd became Floyd because of the hate," Berlanga continued.
"If Floyd never had the hate, Floyd would never be who he was.
"You need that and I'm used to that hate," he tacked on.
"I go on social media and see things and that fuels me because the greatest victory is when it's won and you could shut all the haters up. That's the best feeling."
Berlanga's father/trainer Edgar Berlanga Sr. agrees, also dismissing Benavidez's name.
"I don't care about that," he told DAZN. "We got the fight and we're going to beat Canelo."
Berlanga will challenge for Alvarez's unified super middleweight crown September 14, live on DAZN in US and Canada.
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