Edgar Berlanga believes Madison Square Garden will be brimming with Puerto Rican pride over the next month and a half, courtesy of he, Xander Zayas and Amanda Serrano.
The undefeated super middleweight intends to get things started with a bang against veteran Steve Rolls on Saturday night, before counting on Serrano to do the same in challenging for Katie Taylor’s undisputed lightweight crown at “The Mecca of Boxing” on April 30.
As thrilled as Berlanga is to be making his debut as a headliner, he’s elated over fellow Puerto Rican fighting out of Brooklyn in Serrano to make history in the first women’s main event in MSG history.
“Listen, man, I’m excited, I’m happy,” Berlanga recently told DAZN News.
“Amanda Serrano, I’m happy for her,” he continued. “I’m definitely rooting for her. She comes from New York, she has the Puerto Rican bloodline and I’m rooting for her.”
The 24-year-old Berlanga (18-0, 16 KOs) more than reveres the 33-year-old Serrano and the big punching ability she has used toward her 42-1-1 record (30 KOs) in what has been an outstanding career.
“She’s one of the greatest women of all time in the sport of boxing and we come from the same hood, from Brooklyn,” Berlanga said, “so I’m definitely rooting for her.”
When pressed to pick a winner between Serrano and Taylor, Berlanga didn’t hesitate.
“I think (Serrano’s) going to come out with the victory,” he said without flinching, firmly anticipating for Serrano to walk out of MSG with the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO and The Ring lightweight titles in tow.
Undefeated Puerto Rican rising prospect Xander Zayas, who’s featured in the co-main event against Quincy LaVallais on the Berlanga card, believes the energy at the Garden will speak for itself.
“Puerto Rico is going to be there for sure,” Zayas told DAZN News. “We have a great card with Top Rank and then in a couple of weeks, then you have a great champion in Amanda Serrano fighting for all the belts. I mean, Puerto Rico right now is enjoying it. It’s enjoying the show.
“They’ve been showing us a lot of love, a lot of support and we just have to keep doing our thing,” he tacked on. “We just gotta keep doing our best and do what we do — have fun and keep winning.”
Berlanga and Zayas can do their parts Saturday night, leaving the stage set for Serrano to perhaps produce her greatest victory yet.