Edgar Berlanga Says Jab Is Key To Beating Canelo Alvarez

Edgar Berlanga says his jab is the key to defeating Canelo Alvarez on September 14.

Berlanga is set for the biggest fight of his career as he will take on Alvarez in Las Vegas at the T-Mobile Arena. It’s an intriguing matchup as Berlanga is the betting underdog, but he says he will jab his way to win.

“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.”

Edgar Berlanga is 22-0 as a pro and is a +950 underdog against Canelo Alvarez. Although it is a big step-up in competition, Berlanga says he won’t get starstruck as he knows defeating Alvarez will change his career and life.

“He’s a legend. He’s been in there with the best. So we have to minimize our mistakes,” Berlanga said. “Legends make mistakes, too. He can’t slip up either. I’m dangerous. Just like he’s dangerous, I’m dangerous, too. But with us, we’re minimizing a lot of mistakes that could happen Sept. 14 where he could try to execute on it, and we have to limit those open doors and keep them shut. At the end of the day, he’s been in there with the best, you know.”

Berlanga has notable wins over Steve Rolls, Padraig McCrory, and Jason Quigley among others.