Eddie Hearn Says Edgar Berlanga Had To Take Canelo Alvarez Fight

Eddie Hearn claims Edgar Berlanga had to take the Canelo Alvarez fight whether he’s ready for it or not.

Berlanga is set to take on Alvarez on Saturday in Las Vegas in an intriguing matchup. It’s a fight many fans are looking forward to, although some think it is too soon for Berlanga.

However, Eddie Hearn says Berlanga had to take this fight as he was offered the bout and he doesn’t know when he would get a big fight like this.

“You never know if you’re ready for a fighter like Canelo Alvarez until you get in there because the problem is, he’s so elite,” Hearn told DAZN. “He [Berlanga]’s got a big heart. He’s got big belief, and he’s ready to perform on Sept. 14. It’s Mexico against Puerto Rico… There isn’t a lot in the gap between both fighters. And maybe Edgar could afford a Munguia or Mbilli, but they weren’t there and they didn’t happen. When you get the opportunity as mandatory, you’ve gotta take it.”

Berlanga is a massive underdog heading into the bout, as he has confidence he will be able to pull off the upset. He believes his jab is the key to winning this fight.

“This is going to be our breadwinner: the jab right here,” Berlanga said to Large of Barstool Sports. “To land a big punch, you got to set it up. Guys like him at that level, you can’t go out there and just try to throw bombs. He’s going to see it. He’s going to execute on that. So, it’s about setting up, being smart in that ring and having good discipline… He goes off respect, too,” Berlanga said. “If I’m over here pitty-patting him, he’s going to walk right through. I’m coming to fight, man. This is balls to the walls for me. This is the opportunity of a lifetime that I have to grasp towards.”

Berlanga is 22-0 as a pro and coming off a win over Padraig McCrory.