Undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez puts his belts on the line as a massive favorite against Edgar Berlanga on September 14 in Las Vegas. Choosing to take this bout cost Alvarez one of his belts, however, when the IBF stripped him of it for not facing their No. 1 mandatory challenger William Scull. I think at this juncture of his career it really isn’t a big deal for Alvarez and he’s ignoring critics who want to see him fight David Benavidez or Terence Crawford.
Berlanga is best known for winning the first 16 of his 22 professional fights by first round knockout. But as the opposition improved the KOs stopped. His next five fights all went the distance before he defeated Padraig McCrory with a sixth-round KO in February. Facing one of boxing’s best in his first title fight has Berlanga as a huge underdog with opening boxing odds of +894.
Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga Betting Odds
Edgar Berlanga +894
Canelo Alvarez -1150
The 12-round super middleweight title fight between undefeated challenger Edgar Berlanga ( 22-0, 17KOs ) and undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez ( 61-2-2, 39 KOs ) is scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 14, 2024 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The fight will air on Prime Video pay-per-view.
Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga Fight Preview
Though he has a spotless record with 17 of his 22 professional wins coming by knockout, Berlanga is definitely taking a step up in competition and one could even say it’s several steps. Not to belittle his accomplishments but the level of previous opponents hasn’t exactly been stellar. You have to start somewhere, though, and Berlanga is getting his first crack at a title. He geared up for the showdown beating Padraig McCrory with a sixth-round TKO back in February.
Berlanga garnered attention by winning his first 16 fights via first round stoppage putting him on the verge of history. His run at the official boxing record of consecutive first round KO victories ended in 2021 with a unanimous decision over Demond Nicholson. Berlanga said he wasn’t trying to score stoppage wins and he insisted he’s more than a just a power puncher. “I’ve got a lot of skills, I’ve got poise, and I’m very precise with my shots,” he said.
Since he hasn’t really been tested by a long list of club level boxers it’s hard to assess Berlanga’s skill set. He doesn’t appear to have what it takes to beat an all-time great, but with his size and power at this division he could pose problems. And if Alvarez takes him lightly there’s always the chance of a major upset.
Alvarez has done it all over his lengthy career and I doubt he’s taking his opponent lightly. Canelo will offset Berlanga’s power with his expert counter punches. And the champ knows how to set up opponents. Though it’s been a few years since his last KO victory, Alvarez is still known as a frightening puncher. He dropped Caleb Plant twice in the 11th round to unify the division and become the first undisputed super middleweight champ in the four-belt era. Six months later he moved up to light heavyweight and suffered his second loss in 61 fights with a UD verdict given to Dimitry Bivol.
His last four fights against big-name opponents all resulted in Unanimous decision win. Alvarez stopped Gennady Golovkin for a second straight time, John Ryder, Jermell Charlo and most recently Jaime Mungia to retain all four belts. He was recently stripped of the IBF crown for not fighting that promotions mandatory contender.
Bet Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga
Winning 16 straight fights by first round stoppage and 22 in a row overall is quite an accomplishment and something Berlanga should be proud of. However, he’s not throwing anything that Alvarez hasn’t already seen and Canelo’s experience will be a major factor in the outcome. There’s little value backing Alvarez at such an outrageous price so it might be worth it to throw a few bucks down on Berlanga with a hefty payout at his odds. Still, I think Alvarez handles his business so backing a round or method of victory can move the odds in your favor when backing the champ.
Boxing Odds Pick: Canelo Alvarez / KO
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