Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Boxing superstar Alvarez knocks down challenger and wins on points
Re-live the action, after Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez puts his super-middleweight belts on the line against Edgar Berlanga
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez beat Edgar Berlanga in Las Vegas on Saturday, retaining the unified super-middleweight titles at the T-Mobile Arena.
Canelo, 34, dropped his challenger with a perfect left hook in round three and continued to outbox the American, 27, ultimately handing Berlanga the first loss of his career.
Berlanga had his moments, but Canelo’s famous chin held up to the younger fighter’s offence, and much of the drama came when the boxers traded fouls and heated words – the latter both during and between rounds.
Yet it was all respect between the pair after the final bell, as Berlanga apologised to Canelo for some of his behaviour and congratulated the champion on his victory.
Re-live updates and see results from the undercard and main event, below.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE
Round two
Canelo presses forward and gets Berlanga to bite hard on a feint. Canelo then unfurls a right hook and a left; the right is blocked, but the left meets Berlanga’s ribs hard.
Canelo with a nice left hook up top now. Berlanga fires back with a couple of right hands, trying to get the champion’s respect.
The pair grapple, and Berlanga ends up bending over towards the Mexican. Canelo then lands a one-two to the American’s back, and Berlanga retaliates with a low blow as the ref steps in. Canelo seems unfazed.
Sharp right cross from Berlanga in the final seconds of the round!
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE
Round one
Loud “Ca-ne-lo” chants in the T-Mobile Arena. Both men stand orthodox.
Canelo takes the centre of the ring, largely content to make reads, as Berlanga flicks out a few jabs.
Canelo misses with a right hook to the body. Now he sees a jab parried upstairs.
Nice parry from Canelo, who then wings a pair of hooks. Neither quite lands, then Berlanga lands a slick counter jab.
Canelo with a stinging jab of his own. A tidy enough start by the champion.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Main-event ring walks
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez defends the unified super-middleweight titles against Edgar Berlanga next.
The Mexican last fought in May, scoring a knockdown of compatriot Jaime Munguia en route to a decision win, having done the same against Jermell Charlo last September and John Ryder last spring.
Meanwhile, American Berlanga enters the T-Mobile Arena with a perfect record of 22-0, including 17 stoppage victories. One of those knockouts came in his last fight, as the 27-year-old stopped Padraig McCrory in February.
Now Berlanga gets his chance to defy the doubters, amid suggestions from many fans that Alvarez is seeking ‘easy’ fights as he edges towards retirement; such fans were keen to see the 34-year-old box David Benavidez this Mexican Independence weekend, but Berlanga gets his shot at the world titles instead.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Main-event ring walks
The ring walks for the main event are just moments away. Don’t go anywhere!
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Erislandy Lara vs Danny Garcia
Round nine
The loudest boos yet after another round of inactivity, until...
Garcia eats a light cross, and drops to a knee... and that’s it!
What an underwhelming end to a terribly disappointing fight!
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Erislandy Lara vs Danny Garcia
Round seven
Into the second half of the fight. Lara slings a southpaw cross onto the chest of Garcia.
Now a cross to the waistband. Somewhere along the way, Garcia sustained some damage around his left eye.
Round eight
Better work from Garcia. He fires off a cross to the head then an uppercut to the body.
Up until that point, it had been a very slow round.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Erislandy Lara vs Danny Garcia
Round five
Overhand left connects for Lara. Now Garcia with a decent cross.
Garcia tries to press forward, but he fails to trap Lara or land on the champion.
This has been very dull, it must be said.
Round six
A light one-two from Lara, then another. His footwork has been quite slick, to be fair. He also has southpaw angles going for him.
Garcia with a long right hook to the body late in the round.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Erislandy Lara vs Danny Garcia
Round three
Garcia with a couple of jabs, then he bites quite hard on a feint from Lara.
Lara scrapes Garcia’s nose with a jab of his own. The fight is still being contested at a slow pace.
More boos in the T-Mobile Arena.
Round four
Lara with a grazing southpaw cross. He’s not looking especially fast or powerful, yet Garcia seems so hesitant to engage with the champion.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Erislandy Lara vs Danny Garcia
Round one
Lara stands southpaw; Garcia is orthodox.
Lara holds the centre of the ring in the first round, looking to maintain range as Garcia throws the occasional cross.
Now Garcia takes the centre of the ring.
Round two
The first round was largely a feeling-out frame. More of the same so far, and there are some boos from the Vegas crowd.
Still plenty of time for this fight to pick up, but Plant vs McCumby would’ve been a great appetiser for the main event.
Lara backs up Garcia and sticks behind the jab.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Erislandy Lara vs Danny Garcia
One more fight before the main event: Erislandy Lara defends the WBA middleweight title against Danny Garcia.
Lara is 41, while Garcia is 36. Neither man is in his prime anymore, to be honest, but that doesn’t mean we won’t get an entertaining bout here.
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