Canelo Alvarez knocks down Edgar Berlanga in an excellent middleweight title bout Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photograph/John Locher)
LAS VEGAS — Undisputed tremendous middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez outpointed challenger Edgar Berlanga on Saturday evening in entrance of a sold-out crowd at T-Cell Enviornment.
Making his eighth tremendous middleweight title protection, the 34-year-old Alvarez (61-2-2) dominated a lot of the combat, utilizing his expertise and tenacious pursuit to put on down the 27-year-old challenger, continuously sending 20,312 followers right into a frenzy, usually chanting “Mexico! Mexico!” or “CA-NEL-O! CA-NEL-O!”
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Berlanga misplaced for the primary time in his profession, dropping to 22-1-0.
READ: Canelo Alvarez substantial favourite in Edgar Berlanga combat
“I am one of the best fighter on the planet” @Canelo let’s it’s identified, he nonetheless is one of the best within the recreation. #CaneloBerlanga pic.twitter.com/06gNidr8gW
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) September 15, 2024
“I did good. Now what are they going to say? They mentioned I don’t combat younger fighters,” mentioned Alvarez, who was making his eighth tremendous middleweight title protection. “They all the time speak, however I’m one of the best fighter on the planet.”
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Judges Max DeLuca and Steve Weisfeld scored the combat 118-109, and decide David Sutherland had it 117-110.
Berlanga virtually matched Alvarez’s punch output, however the champion was rather more correct. Alvarez landed 43.3% (201 of 464) of the punches he threw, whereas Berlanga linked on simply 119 of 446 (26.7%). Alvarez additionally landed 49.1% (133 of 271) of his energy punches.
Alvarez, a four-division champion, nonetheless hasn’t ended a combat early since scoring a technical knockout of Caleb Plant practically three years in the past, when he grew to become the undisputed champion.
It appeared that drought would possibly finish when a pointy left hook to the chin dropped Berlanga within the third spherical, and additional punishment from Alvarez gave the impression to be taking a toll. Alvarez landed a crisp proper uppercut within the fifth and a vicious hook within the sixth.
READ: Canelo Alvarez to defend his world titles vs Edgar Berlanga
Su Mano 🤝 Su Cara
This left hand to the jaw by @Canelo despatched Berlanga to the Canvas.#CaneloBerlanga pic.twitter.com/ipC9fioODN
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) September 15, 2024
However Berlanga wouldn’t go away, as he stood toe-to-toe and matched Alvarez’s machismo, refusing to be bullied by the person he’d name “my idol” after the combat. He additionally acquired wild within the seventh, lacking a wild overhand proper that triggered him to fall on the canvas, and was warned for a headbutt to Alvarez’s face within the eighth spherical.
“I acquired slightly indignant along with his ways, however I’m Mexican man,” Alvarez mentioned. “It means loads to combat on at the present time. It’s an honor to signify my nation on at the present time.”
It marked one of many largest nights in fight sports activities on Mexican Independence Day for Las Vegas, because the UFC made its debut on the Sphere, simply three miles down Las Vegas Boulevard, with seven Mexican fighters within the lineup.
Alvarez closed as a -1600 favourite at BetMGM Sportsbook, which implies a bettor would have needed to wager $1,600 to win $100.
The IBF eliminated Alvarez’s title after he selected to combat Berlanga slightly than combat its No. 1 challenger, William Scull.
In a really uneventful WBA middleweight championship bout, 41-year-old Erislandy Lara (31-3-3) efficiently defended his title towards Danny Garcia (37-4-0) with a TKO at three minutes of of the ninth spherical due to a straight left jab to the face. Garcia’s father and coach, Angel, requested the stoppage after the spherical.
“The punches I used to be touchdown have been hurting him,” mentioned Lara, the oldest energetic world champion in boxing. “That punch that ended the combat was a giant shot.”
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After falling behind on the scorecards early throughout a battle for the interim WBA tremendous middleweight belt, Caleb Plant overcame being knocked down within the fourth, dominated the final 4 rounds, and earned a ninth-round TKO of Trevor McCumby (28-1-0). With time winding down, Plant unleashed a flurry of punches to McCumby’s head that prompted referee Allen Huggins to cease the bout on the 2:59 mark.
“I knew I had him harm and needed to go to work,” Plant mentioned. “It was time to get my belt. Now I’m able to go dwelling and play with my daughter.”
Within the first combat of the principle card on the pay-per-view occasion, Rolando Romero improved to 16-2-0 with a unanimous resolution over Handbook Jaimes (16-2-1), with all three judges scoring the combat with similar scores, 99-91.
