Edgar Berlanga has spoken to World Boxing News to give his views on the Canelo vs. Crawford blockbuster, set for this fall.
The former world title challenger, who faced Canelo Alvarez on Mexican Independence Day weekend last year, believes Terence Crawford can give a good account of himself.
Berlanga took Alavarez the distance for the super middleweight championship, losing via unanimous decision. This kind of result is becoming a common theme with Canelo in the later portion of his career.
The Mexican superstar hasn’t scored a knockout since Caleb Plant in 2021. Berlanga is certain Crawford won’t get on his bike, so Canelo may have another opportunity to add to his KO count in September.
Asked how Crawford will fare against Canelo, the 27-year-old Puerto Rican exclusively told Worldboxingnews.com, “It’s going to be a little tricky.
“I think Crawford has gone up in weight and his levels. That’s why his weight class is for a reason. I don’t doubt anyone, and I don’t doubt Crawford. I think Crawford has the skills.
“We will have to see when the fight comes to see how everything looks and how he performs.”
Some question Crawford’s resume. But Berlanga says he deserves to be high on the Pound for Pound list.
“Yes, for sure, he is a two-time world champion, and you have to give him respect,” Berlanga said.
“You can’t really count him out. You don’t know what he is going in there thinking. Everybody is different at the end of the day.
“Just because Charlo fought him, ran the whole twelve rounds, and was scared to death, doesn’t mean Crawford will do the same thing.
“I feel like Crawford has a bigger heart, and they say in Spanish, ‘cojones’ to go in and fight a guy like him.
“I wouldn’t be scared, and I know he is coming in with that dog-like mentality,” concluded the first-round knockout artist.
The Canelo vs Crawford event is currently in transition. Turki Alalshikh has revealed plans to move the date to September 13, which rules out the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
The University of Las Vegas booked out the venue some time ago, leaving Alalshikh with a dilemma. He can move the show to the lesser-capacity T-Mobile Arena or out of Nevada entirely.
Alalshikh is now considering sites in New York and Los Angeles for the date.
Berlanga is back in action on July 12 when he faces ex-middleweight contender Hamzah Sheeraz. Reports suggest the WBC may sanction the bout as a final eliminator that could earn the winner a crack at Canelo or Crawford.
Whoever comes out on top could face a wait, though, if Canelo beats Crawford. As WBN reported, the 34-year-old aims to face Chris Eubank Jr. in the UK next May.
Canelo’s next available date would be September 2026, the final bout on his four-fight Riyadh Season deal.
Sign up for the WBN Newsletter for free and get daily news directly in your email. Never miss a story.
Read all articles and exclusive interviews by Phil Jay and learn more about the author, an experienced boxing writer and World Boxing News Editor since 2010.
