Mexico and Puerto Rico collide Saturday, Sept. 14, when Canelo Álvarez defends WBA, WBC, WBO and Ring Magazine super middleweight titles against undefeated knockout artist Edgar Berlanga at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The 12-round bout, plus undercard action, will be broadcast by DAZN PPV and Prime Video.
Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) remains the biggest attraction in boxing. The 34-year-old from Guadalajara is a four-weight world champion and has been a fixture on any pound-for-pound list worth reading for more than a decade. His mission on Saturday is to turn back the challenge of his Puerto Rican rival on his country’s biggest holiday weekend.
“It’s an honor to fight on this date. Mexican Independence Day (on Monday, Sept. 16) is very important for us. It’s very special and I’m very proud to fight for the Mexican people,” Canelo said at the final press conference.
“The fans mean everything to me, and I appreciate them. They support me no matter what and I’m thankful for everyone who’s supported me throughout my career.”
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Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) will be taking part in his first world title fight. Known as “The Chosen One”, the 27-year-old challenger made a name for himself during the embryonic stages of his career when he knocked out his first 16 opponents in the opening round. In his most recent outing, the New York-based fighter scored a sixth-round knockout over Padraig McCrory.
“[Canelo is] overlooking me, and he doesn’t respect me,” Berlanga said. “Canelo is in the way of my dreams now, I’m The Chosen One, and I’m ready to become the face of boxing, I’m going to knock him the f— out.
“People don’t understand that I am getting better and better and better. This is the chance to prove that I am one of the best in the sport. A lot of people have a question mark on me right now. That gets removed fighting a legend and it’s time for new blood to come in and take over the 168-pound division.”
The Sporting News will provide live updates from the entire card and round-by-round scoring for the main event.
Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga live updates, highlights, and commentary
6:21 p.m. PT/ 9:121p.m. ET: Plant goes over again early in the third when the fighters brawl on the inside. Again it’s no knockdown, but Plant is uncomfortable here. McCumby even found time to taunt the former champion. Jab working well from Plant, but the McCumby rushes are throwing off his timing.Let hook lands from Plant at the bell.
6:17 p.m. PT/ 9:17 p.m. ET: The crowd get excited when McCumby bundles Plant into a corner, but the feet got tied up following a light exchange. A sharp combination from Plant sends the sweat spraying from McCumby’s head. BIG LEFT HOOK HURTS PLANT ON THE BELL AT THE END OF ROUND TWO! WOW!!!
6:14 p.m. PT/ 9:14 p.m. ET: The class difference is clear at the end of round one. Plant is just warming up and he’s already finding the target with ominous regularity. McCumby backs up throughout the round and doesn’t appear interested in engaging. A solid left hook landed late in the round from Plant.
5:59 p.m. PT/ 8:59 p.m. ET: Next up is former super middleweight champion Caleb Plant versus the unheralded Trevor McCumby. The massive odds in Plant’s favor suggest that this will be the first knockout victory of the pay-per-view broadcast. Let’s see!!!
THE WINNER IS ROLLY ROMERO, WHO GETS BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN WITH A 10-ROUND UNANIMOUS DECISION. ALL THREE JUDGES SCORED THE FIGHT 99-91.
5:54 p.m. PT/ 8:54 p.m. ET: The sloppy action continues in the tenth and final round. Blood comes from Rolly’s mouth and he takes a nice right hand from Jaimes. It’s been a very poor fight to watch and not one you could sit through twice. It’s just been a bad clash of styles. It’s over and the decision should go to Rolly.
5:46 p.m. PT/ 8:46 p.m. ET: Some of the best action of the fight came in the final minute of round eight. Romero targeted the body with some terrific power shots and kept his hands moving. Eager to respond, Jaimes nailed his man with a sharp left to the chin. Still, he’s way behind now and needs to produce something BIG.
5:42 p.m. PT/ 8:42 p.m. ET: Rolly Romero came to the ring in a yellow and black outfit inspired by the Bruce Lee movie Game of Death. He needs to channel the late martial arts icon and switch styles because Jaimes is proving troublesome. We’re through seven rounds and while he’s winning, Rolly’s performance is impressing no one.
5:33 p.m. PT/ 8:33 p.m. ET: Romero’s timing is still way off and his attacks are disorganised in round five. Luckily for him, Jaimes has little in the way of offensive imagination and he’s falling behind on points. Jaimes scores a nice right hand but takes one back. Romero backing off now and occasionally dropping in the left hook counter as Jaimes rushes in.
5:26 p.m. PT/ 8:26 p.m. ET: A BIG RIGHT UPPERCUT SCORES FOR ROMERO IN ROUND THREE. Some heavy shots landed between very messy exchanges. Encouraging to see Rolly’s power come to the forefront but nothing resembling a serious breakthrough.
5:18 p.m. PT/ 8:18 p.m. ET: Nothing significant landed by either fighter in the opening round. Rolly struggling to find his distance right now and Jaimes edging forward behind a high guard.
5:12 p.m. PT/ 8:12 p.m. ET: Both fighters are in the ring and it’s time for the Rolly show. Can Romero post an impressive win following his brutal stoppage loss at the hands of Pitbull Cruz, or will Jaimes spring the big upset?
5:00 p.m. PT/ 8:00 p.m. ET: Next up is former WBA super lightweight titleholder Rolly Romero against Manuel Jaimes. This is the first bout of the main card and is scheduled for 10 rounds.
THE WINNER IS STEPHEN FULTON, WHO GETS BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN WITH A 10-ROUND SPLIT DECISION WIN OVER CARLOS CASTRO. SCORES ARE 96-93, 95-94 AND 94-95.
4:43 p.m. PT/ 7:43 p.m. ET: Terrific effort from Fulton in the final round. The former champion nailed Castro with an assortment of flush power punches and may have done enough to win the decision. We go to the scorecards after an excellent fight!
4:39 p.m. PT/ 7:39 p.m. ET: Round nine featured some great action. Neither fighter can be confident that they’re ahead on points, so we should see a huge effort from both in the final round.
4:35 p.m. PT/ 7:35 p.m. ET: Blood has been oozing from Fulton’s nose since the early rounds, a product of Castro’s jab. ANOTHER BIG RIGHT NAILS FULTON IN ROUND EIGHT! He’s more hurt this time than he was from the knockdown. Desperate moments for the former champion who is warned for holding by the referee. Castro is close to pulling off the biggest win of his career.
4:29 p.m. PT/ 7:29 p.m. ET: Eager to reassert himself, Fulton posts an excellent round six. The former champ scores well on the jab and opens up with a strong multi-punch combination at center ring. The knockdown seems to have awakened Fulton, and this was the first time there was a clear difference in class.
4:24 p.m. PT/ 7:24 p.m. ET: WOW, DOWN GOES FULTON FROM A SHORT RIGHT HAND COUNTER PUNCH IN ROUND FIVE. Fulton is up and on the retreat, but Castro is in hot pursuit. Good right from Fulton at the end of the round but it’s a 10-8 round for Castro.
4:20 p.m. PT/ 7:20 p.m. ET: This is Fulton’s debut at featherweight and Castro is comfortably walking through the punches. However, the American is edging the rounds with a sharp jab and some effective counterpunching. We’re through four rounds with six to go.
4:10 p.m. PT/ 7:10 p.m. ET: Former unified super bantamweight champion Stephen Fulton is in the ring for the first time since his brutal eighth-round stoppage loss to Naoya Inoue. The opponent is Mexican contender Carlos Castro, who has been outboxed through the first two rounds.
2:00 p.m. PT/ 5:00 p.m. ET: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News’ live coverage of Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez defending his unified super middleweight championship against hard-hitting Puerto Rican contender Edgar Berlanga. We’re in the countdown!!!
Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga start time
- Date: Saturday, Sept. 14
- Time: 8 p.m. ET | 5 p.m. PT
- Main event start time (approx.): 11:30 p.m. ET | 8:30 p.m. PT
- Location: T-Mobile Arena — Las Vegas
The Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga main card airs at 8 p.m. ET. Canelo and Berlanga should make their way to the ring around 11:30 p.m. ET, depending on how long the undercard fights last.
Where to watch Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga
Canelo vs. Berlanga is available on DAZN PPV and Prime Video in the U.S. The PPV price is $ 89.99.
WATCH: Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga, live on DAZN
Purchase the PPV for $ 89.99 and get one month of DAZN free with an annual subscription. Buy the PPV and enjoy a free 7-day trial ahead of Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois on September 21.
Prime Video is available for existing Prime customers and those new to the platform. Subscribers can choose from multiple membership plans with discounts available for students. Prime also offers a free 30-day trial.
Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga fight card
- Canelo Alvarez (c) vs. Edgar Berlanga for the WBA, WBC, WBO and Ring Magazine super middleweight titles
- Erislandy Lara (c) vs. Danny Garcia for the WBA middleweight title
- Caleb Plant vs. Trevor McCumby for the interim WBA super middleweight title
- Rolando Romero def. Manuel Jaimes via UD 10 (99-91, 99-91, 99-91); Super Lightweights
- Stephen Fulton def. Carlos Castro via UD 10 (96-93, 95-94, 94-95); Featherweights
- Roiman Villa vs. Ricardo Salas; Welterweights
- Jonathan Lopez def. Richard Medina UD 8 (80-71, 80-71, 80-71); Super Featherweights
