Mexican superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez aims to turn the tables on knockout artist Edgar Berlanga on Saturday, saying he’ll be looking for a knockout himself as he defends his three super middleweight world boxing titles in Las Vegas.
“It’s easy to say you’ll knock me out, but it’s much more difficult to do it,” said Alvarez, who puts his World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization belts on the line against the top rated WBA contender in the 168-pound division.
Alvarez was stripped of his International Boxing Federation belt in July when he opted to take on Berlanga rather than IBF mandatory challenger William Scull.
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“Saturday night is going to be very difficult for him, for sure. I’ve prepared for the knockout. I love the feeling of a knockout. I’m going to do my best to get it done,” he said.
Alvarez has had to answer questions regarding star American David Benavidez, who is bursting to fight the Mexican superstar.
It’s a fight that would without a doubt be one of the most anticipated bouts in boxing, but Alvarez and his team has said that he would require a purse of $309m (AUD) for it to happen.
With Alvarez instead taking fights against opponents he’s expected to beat, Benavidez has accused Alvarez of ducking him.
“They can say whatever they want, but if they don’t talk with my name nobody’s gonna look at them. I get it, I get it. They need to speak my name to get attention, so I get it,” the Mexican champ said in response to the ducking claims.
Alvarez, 34, brings a record of 61-2-2 with 39 knockouts into what promises to be an explosive confrontation at T-Mobile Arena, where he continues his tradition of fighting on the Mexican Independence Day weekend.
“It’s going to be a firefight,” promised Puerto Rico-born American Berlanga.
“I’m going to make everyone a believer.”
Berlanga burst onto the professional scene, winning his first 16 fights by knockout.
Five unanimous decision victories followed before he delivered a brutal sixth-round technical knockout of Padraig McCrory in February to take his record to 22-0 with 17 knockouts.
The 27-year-old says he can do it again against the vastly experienced champion.
“I’m a knockout artist,” he said.
“Every fighter wants the knockout. We know that he’s a legend and we can’t just go swing for the fences.
“We have to do it the right way. Sixth-round knockout, that’s what we’re going for. But we’re ready for all 12 rounds if we have to.”
Alvarez has delivered some highlight reel knockouts in a career that has seen him win titles in four divisions.
But his last win inside the distance was an 11th-round technical knockout of Caleb Plant in 2021.
Since losing to Dmitry Bivol in May 2022 in an ill-fated step up to light heavyweight Alvarez has notched four unanimous decision victories, the most recent over compatriot Jaime Munguia in May — his fourth defence of the undisputed world title.
Alvarez was dominant if not dazzling against Munguia, weathering an early storm before taking control in the middle rounds and dropping him once on the way to handing him his first defeat.
With the build up to every fight now featuring questions about his future, Alvarez said he doesn’t feel himself slowing down.
“I just want to show everyone that I’m still the best,” he said. “I still love this sport. When I stop loving it, you’ll know.”