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: Rolando Romero vs Manuel Jaimes
Round six
Both fighters are letting their hands go now. Romero is leaving some gaps in his defence when he attacks. Jaimes seems to be growing in confidence.
But now Romero shows off some better defence, keeping one hand high and moving back at an angle to avoid Jaimes’s offence.
Round seven
Jaimes continues to hold the centre of the ring for the most part. He’s keeping an active jab, too.
Romero looks to get some respect with his own jab, before a spell of grappling ensues.
Romero is still leaving himself quite exposed when going for bigger shots.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Rolando Romero vs Manuel Jaimes
Round five
Jaimes is on unsteady feet again, but it seems to be from faults in his footwork, rather than from any significant damage caused by Romero. That said, Romero did land a couple of hooks in that spell.
Romero misses after winging a right hook, but he lands a left hook after a right uppercut. Now a clubbing right connects.
Jaimes presses forward anyway. He lands a couple of jabs and a spearing right cross, with Romero backed up to the ropes.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Rolando Romero vs Manuel Jaimes
Round four
Stern jab by Jaimes. Romero fires back with a one-two. Another uppercut from Romero, then some well-timed hooks.
Jaimes loads up on a couple of right hands, but Romero controls the range well to stay out of danger.
Nice hook by Jaimes now, however, as he finally manages to close range. Another uppercut by Romero, who catches Jaimes on the end of the shot.
Jaime with some good work late in the round, though.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Rolando Romero vs Manuel Jaimes
Round three
Romero has Jaimes in trouble early in round three! He catches Jaimes with a lead uppercut, which has his opponent wobbly... Romero pours on shots, with Jaimes’s back to the ropes, but Jaimes is eventually able to get free.
A replay seems to show an accidental elbow from Romero during that barrage.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Rolando Romero vs Manuel Jaimes
Round two
Romero with a right uppercut and left hook at close range! Jaimes stays on the front foot, though, trying to assert himself.
Nice jab by Jaimes. And another. Romero is pawing at his own left eye. Something bothering him there?
Another strong hook by Romero, though! He follows up with some jabs and decent guard work. He’s increasing his output now.
A scrappy end to the round, with both men leaning on each other and struggling to land clean while in close.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: Rolando Romero vs Manuel Jaimes
Round one
Both men stand orthodox. Ten rounds scheduled here. Romero using the jab early, first to the body and then to the head.
Jaimes rakes the centre of the ring and presses forward. Both men throw crosses – neither seemed to quite land.
There’s a brief break in the action after some grappling between the pair. And again.
More of the same, in a stop-start round. Now Romero misses with a wild overhand right. He gets back to his jab.
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: The simple reason why Alvarez is not fighting Benavidez
Here’s an excerpt from Steve Bunce’s preview of tonight’s main event:
There have been calls for Alvarez to fight a formidable opponent called David Benavidez, and it would be sensational. Alvarez is asking for and getting, it seems, closer to a desired purse of in excess of $100,000m for the fight. Eddie Hearn, who promotes Berlanga but has worked very closely with Alvarez for the last four years, believes that money is the simple key to getting Alvarez in the ring with Benavidez. “Canelo is not afraid of anybody, he just wants to get paid,” Hearn said.
In the last few weeks, Turki Al-Sheikh, the man behind the Saudi Arabian boxing revolution, has talked about making an Alvarez fight; he would have the money to make it happen. And that often means that it will happen. It needs to be noted that Al-Sheikh is not a fan of the sanctioning bodies.
Meanwhile, another dangerous man will try to end Alvarez’s truly remarkable career on Saturday night; Berlanga has the power and the motivation to pull off an upset, but then again, so have so many undefeated men in the last few years. Alvarez, you see, finds a way to get what he wants on both sides of the ropes.
Full article:
The simple reason why Canelo is not fighting David Benavidez
Boxing’s misunderstood king always finds a way to get what he wants – on both sides of the ropes
Canelo vs Berlanga LIVE: The controversial choice ‘tarnishing’ Alvarez’s legacy
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez finds himself firmly in the final phase of his career. And if fans had to identify a characteristic that defines this phase, many would shout about a lack of risk: a lack of risk in choice of opponent, and a lack of risk in fighting style. Those same fans have been making it clear, usually on social media, that in their eyes the multiple-weight world champion is “tarnishing his legacy” with this approach. Others take issue with such suggestions, claiming that the ‘face of boxing’ has earned the right to do whatever he wants at the age of 34 – to make money however he wants.
Both arguments may be valid. Canelo has blessed boxing over the last decade with his sheer volume of activity, an approach that can actually be traced back to his professional debut in 2005, when the Mexican was aged just 15. And that ever-presence will be missed when he retires. His commitment to the craft and his willingness to regularly immerse himself under the searing heat of the brightest lights – from arenas in Las Vegas to stadia in Mexico – will be remembered.
And that same commitment has arguably earned Canelo the right to ‘ease’ himself towards retirement – as much as there can be anything ‘easy’ about boxing...
Full article:
The controversial Canelo choice that is ‘tarnishing’ boxer’s legacy
Fans are desperate to see Canelo fight David Benavidez, but the Mexican superstar has shown no interest in the challenge at all – and instead boxes Edgar Berlanga on Saturday
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments