On September 14, 2024, Canelo Álvarez successfully defended his unified super middleweight titles by defeating Edgar Berlanga via unanimous decision at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. This highly anticipated bout took place during the Mexican Independence Day weekend, adding to the significance of the event.
From the onset, Canelo demonstrated his superiority, knocking Berlanga down in the third round with a lightning-quick left hook. Despite the early setback, Berlanga fought valiantly throughout the match. However, he couldn’t match Canelo’s experience, ring IQ, and precision. Judges scored the fight 118-109, 118-109, and 117-110, all in favor of Canelo, underscoring his dominance in the ring.
Throughout the fight, Canelo landed 43.3% of his punches, while Berlanga could only manage a 26.7% success rate. Canelo’s superior accuracy and power punches, including a crisp uppercut in the fifth round and a hook in the sixth, wore down Berlanga. Despite Berlanga’s effort and resilience, including some rough tactics in the later rounds, Canelo’s control never wavered. By the 11th round, Canelo landed more punishing blows, further sealing his victory.
For Berlanga, this was his first professional loss, bringing his record to 22-1. While the loss was significant, Berlanga expressed admiration for Canelo, calling him his idol and hoping this fight would serve as a learning experience to propel him toward future greatness.
Canelo’s win marked another historic moment in his legendary career, improving his record to 62-2-2. This victory solidified his place as one of boxing’s most skilled and accomplished champions.
