Super middleweight Edgar Berlanga’s streak of 16 straight first-round knockouts may have been the kind of glitzy material perfect for hyping up a young prospect in the digital age—but it did little to improve his craft, according to the fighter’s own father.
Berlanga Sr. made it clear in a recent interview that he was not a fan of the matchmaking philosophy that governed his son’s early ascent in the sport.
Mostly under the guidance of promoter Top Rank, Berlanga short-circuited the first 16 opponents of his career, establishing himself as a fast-rising and fearsome name in the 168-pound division.
But the luster began to fade quickly. Berlanga would go the distance in his next four fights, prompting cries from certain fans that his initial boost was pure puff.
Berlanga now looks to re-establish himself as a threat this Saturday against Ireland’s Jason Quigley at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The fight marks Berlanga’s first under Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, with whom he signed a multi-bout deal earlier this year after parting ways amicably with Top Rank.
Berlanga Sr. mentioned the ability to oversee his son’s matchmaking as being a key component in getting him to “grow.”
“Remember, we choose the opponents for Edgar 1687622910,” Berlanga Sr. told FightHype.com. “When we was with Top Rank, [they] bring us opponent, you know? If you go to university, right, you gotta be two years, make it two more years, so then you [gain] your bachelors [degree]. If you keep knocking guys out in early rounds, you can’t really move him to grow in his career. You know?
“So we trying to pick opponents that I knew that Edgar will go for the distance. I would’ve choose, ‘alright lemme choose this guy. I know my son’s gonna knock him out quick.’ You gotta make them rounds. Now we got the rounds, so I’m happy.”
Berlanga has spoken effusively about the prospect of facing Canelo Alvarez, and the tacit promise of that fight probably figured into his decision to sign with Matchroom. But with the recent announcement on Thursday that Alvarez had reportedly signed a three-fight deal to fight under Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions, Berlanga will likely have to wait much longer for that fight to materialize, given Hearn and Haymon are business rivals.
Sean Nam is the author of Murder on Federal Street: Tyrone Everett, the Black Mafia, and the Last Golden Age of Philadelphia Boxing.