Canelo Alvarez and Edgar Berlanga's upcoming fight just got a whole lot spicier! Their Los Angeles press conference turned into a heated exchange that almost turned physical.
The trouble started when Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) demanded Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) to "shut up" while he was speaking. This angered the champion, leading to a war of words.
Berlanga's frustration boiled over, and he resorted to swearing in Spanish. This completely derailed the press conference, turning a potentially exciting event sour.
Canelo, ever the businessman, reminded Berlanga that his big payday depends on his behavior. Essentially, Canelo was letting Berlanga know that disrespecting him could cost him the fight, and with it, the life-changing money.
Experts believe Berlanga made a huge mistake by acting out. His "nonsense" talk, including boasting about his "boxing IQ" (a questionable claim), did little to convince fans he has a chance against Canelo.
Analysts say Berlanga needs to focus on strategy, not theatrics. The fight already seems like a mismatch, and Berlanga must use future press conferences to convince fans he has a plan to defeat Canelo.
Berlanga, a relatively unknown fighter on the world stage, should be using this opportunity to promote himself and his skills – especially since the undercard isn't guaranteed to generate much excitement.
Despite the theatrics, Berlanga did express his excitement for the fight and his intention to bring the fight to Canelo. He stated, "I'm the type of fighter who comes to fight. I'm not going to run. I'm going to stand and fight."
Berlanga sees this fight as a chance to make his mark in boxing and become a legend. He compared his situation to Canelo's rise through the ranks, suggesting this is his time to shine.
Berlanga highlighted the Puerto Rican vs. Mexican boxing rivalry, hoping to use that to generate excitement. However, Canelo remained unimpressed, simply replying, "You're not going to do anything. You're just going to make me laugh."