“I am the best fighter in the world”

Posted on by Vaseline

Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez has now won six fights in a row without knocking out anyone, but the Guadalajara native showed Saturday night that he is still among the best in Las Vegas.

In a packed T-Mobile Arena, decorated in green, red and white and filled with excitement during Mexico’s Independence Day weekend, the 34-year-old Álvarez defeated the youngster Edgar Berlanga to retain his three super middleweight championship belts.

“It is an honor for me to represent my country and my people on Mexican Independence Day,” said Canelo. (@premierboxing/X)

Álvarez seemed to have the fight over when he sent Berlanga to the canvas with a sharp left hook to the chin in the third round. Although the 27-year-old got up and survived all 12 rounds, he could not prevent Álvarez from improving his record to 62 wins, two losses and two draws.

Of the wins, 39 have come by knockout, but none since a technical knockout (TKO) of Caleb Plant in November 2021.

Berlanga, a New York native of Puerto Rican descent, suffered his first loss and is now 22-1. Álvarez is 11-2-1 against previously undefeated opponents.

In the build-up to the 168-pound showdown, Berlanga declared that he would be the first to knock out the Mexican – which the influential boxing magazine The Ring branded “absurd” – while Álvarez himself promised that he would knock Berlanga out.

The 20,312 spectators, who were very positive about Álvarez, did not get to see either fight, but given that their boxer was in control and walked around the ring with confidence, there was certainly reason to cheer.

Often they would be in a frenzy, shouting “Me-xi-co! Me-xi-co!” or “Ca-nel-o! Ca-nel-o!”

For the fifth time in a row, Álvarez defended his World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Organization (WBO) and World Boxing Council (WBC) super middleweight titles. In July, he was stripped of his International Boxing Federation (IBF) belt after choosing to fight Berlanga instead of the IBF’s mandatory challenger William Scull.

The three judges gave the results 117-110, 118-109 and 118-109 in favor of Canelo, indicating that the match was not close.

Although his height (5’7″) and reach (6’11”) were no match for Berlanga (5’11”, 6’11”), Álvarez finished as a -1,600 favorite at BetMGM Sportsbook. This means that a bettor would have had to bet $1,600 on Álvarez to win just $100.

“I did well,” Alvarez said. “Before, they said I only fought older fighters. What are they going to say now? That I only fight young fighters? They always talk, but I’m the best fighter in the world.”

“It is an honor for me to represent my country and my people on Mexican Independence Day,” he added. “I am proud of it.”

The fight started off fiercely, with both men arguing and trading illegal blows.

“I admit I got a little angry with his tactics, but I’m Mexican, man,” Canelo said. “My experience and my talent made the difference.”

Álvarez entered the ring to the sounds of the ‘Billete Grande’, a narcocorrido from Fuerza Regida that Los Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa cartel and the ‘street mafia’ of Culiacan.

The fight was part of a huge night of combat sports in Sin City. Just three miles down Las Vegas Boulevard, the Sphere hosted its first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event. The immersive, high-tech venue hosted a variety of amazing Mexican video presentations, including a tribute to Mexican independence And an ode to the Day of the Dead.

Álvarez’s next match, which will likely take place around 7pm, Cinco de Mayo again, will take place against an opponent yet to be determined.

“I’m going to rest, I’m going to enjoy my family and then we’ll make a decision,” he said.

With reports from Reform, The Ring, Brand, AP And ESPN

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