Rolando Romero scores unanimous decision against Manuel Jaimes
Former 140-pound titleholder Rolando Romero received a made-to-order matchup to get back into the groove, besting the little-known Manuel Jaimes for a unanimous decision.
Romero leaned on his experience to outlast Jaimes in a workman-like win, as the three judges scored the 10-round junior welterweight contest 99-91 to kick off the pay-per-view portion of the card.
Romero outlanded Jaimes in nine out of the 10 rounds and tied for landed shots in the other, with the final tally totaling 112 to 89 in his favor. There were a lot of missed opportunities, however, as Romero landed 28% of his punches and Jaimes landed just 25% of his.
Romero (16-2, 13 KOs) came into the fight having lost two out of his last three bouts via stoppage against known knockout artists Gervonta Davis and Isaac Cruz. Northern California’s Jaimes (16-2-1, 11 KOs), meanwhile, had never fought in a scheduled 10-rounder before.
Watch: Canelo Álvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga weigh-in, press conference
While you wait for the main event featuring Canelo Álvarez and Edgar Berlanga to begin, look back at their weigh-in from Friday as well as their recent press conference.
Tale of the tape: Canelo Álvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga
Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez
Age: 34 (July 18, 1990)
Hometown: Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Record: 61-2-2, 39 KOs
Nickname: Canelo
World championship fights: 22-2-1, 11 KOs
Championships: Super-welterweight (154 pounds), Middleweight (160 pounds), Super-middleweight (168 pounds), Light-heavyweight (175 pounds)
Total rounds fought: 496
Knockout Ratio: 63.9%
Height: 5-foot-8
Reach: 70½ inches
Weight: 166.8 pounds
Stance: Right-handed
Manager/trainer: Eddy Reynoso
Turned Professional: 2005
Notable wins: Jaime Munguia, Jermell Charlo, John Ryder, Gennady Golovkin (two wins; one draw), Caleb Plant, Billy Joe Saunders, Callum Smith, Sergey Kovalev, Daniel Jacobs, Rocky Fielding, Julio César Chávez Jr., Liam Smith, Amir Khan, Miguel Cotto, James Kirkland, Erislandy Lara, Alfredo Angulo, Austin Trout, Josesito López, Shane Mosley, Kermit Cintrón, Matthew Hatton.
Edgar Berlanga
Age: 27 (May 18, 1997)
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Record: 22-0, 17 KOs
Nickname: The Chosen One
Total rounds fought: 72
Knockout Ratio: 77.2%
Height: 6-foot-1
Reach: 73 inches
Weight: 167.7 pounds
Stance: Orthodox
Trainer: Marc Farrait
Turned Professional: 2016
Canelo Álvarez: ‘Berlanga is going to see the truth’
The following is an excerpt of an interview with Canelo Álvarez ahead of his fight against Edgar Berlanga. Questions and answers have been edited for length and clarity.
How does it feel to be headlining another Mexican independence day weekend fight?
I feel good. I feel proud about it. Always fighting on those days for me is amazing. I feel proud to represent my country. I am proud to be here.
Berlanga has made you mad during the build-up of this fight. And we don’t see that side of you very often, when you are visibly upset and annoyed. Why are you so confident that you are going to knock him out?
I believe in my skills and my experience. I am a strong fighter. I am smart. I have a lot of talent. I know every style and everything about boxing. I am ready to do whatever I want.
Berlanga said he is going to beat you with his mental approach and IQ, and you have laughed at that. Do you respect Berlanga? And what is the biggest danger that he presents to you?
We’ll see Saturday [what his biggest danger is]. He’s going to see the truth and face something different. I just can’t wait to be there in the ring.
Do you envision this being an entertaining war for as long as it lasts?
I would love for [an entertaining war]. That’s what I hope for the people. I hope the people enjoy this fight.
You and Conor McGregor have been going at it in recent months. Fighting him would be a mega event and mean major money for you. Are you open to fighting Conor McGregor?
Yeah, why not? We’ve never talked about it. We’ll show boxing is better.
Is the McGregor fight easy money for you?
It’s very, very easy money. I’ll knock him out at the time that I want. One round, two rounds, three rounds, whatever I want.
The three best fights remaining for you are either against David Benavidez, Terence Crawford, or the winner of Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev. Will we see those fights for you before you retire?
Could be, why not? We are in boxing. It could be.
What is the minimum payday you are looking for to take those fights?
You know already [how much I want]. Right now I am 100% focused on my fight. You know the answer.
Crawford said you’re afraid to lose to a smaller guy and tarnish your legacy. You are saying the Crawford fight would be a massive mismatch. Why do you believe Crawford is such an easy fight for you?
What we saw in the last fight [vs. Israil Madrimov] — that’s why there are weight classes. That’s why I think it’s an easy fight for me. He moves a lot and he’s a good fighter, and he’s a good boxer, and he’s going to complicate the first four rounds. Then I’ll figure him out, and that’s what I think.
The last time we talked, you said that Benavidez is a risky fight, but that you would beat him, only, not in the way you always did. How would you beat Benavidez?
[I would beat Benavidez] with my skills, and with my talent. I’m a strong fighter who has a lot of experience in this sport.
You are 34 years old and have been fighting professionally for almost 20 years. How many more years do you want to fight?
I don’t know. I am just going fight by fight. I am still in my prime. This Canelo beats the 24, 25, 26-year-old Canelo.
What’s the No. 1 motivating factor for you right now?
I love what I do. I still enjoy boxing. I still enjoy all of this and that is motivation.
What does a perfect fight look like for you against Berlanga?
Winning by knockout — eight rounds or less.
Edgar Berlanga: ‘People want a new face, I’m going to retire Canelo’
The following is an excerpt of an interview with Edgar Berlanga ahead of his fight against Canelo Álvarez. Questions and answers have been edited for length and clarity.
Why you are more deserving to get this fight than David Benavidez and some of the other opponents Canelo Álvarez could have been facing?
They don’t sell. They don’t have a country behind them. I am Puerto Rican, and that is a big help to get the fight. They are not somebody that people must watch. When I fight, people want to watch me. Everyone is tuning in. I don’t need a title. I have the credentials from what I bring to the table. I got this fight due to my hard work and from my last performance and knockout win against Padraig McCrory. It definitely set me up and put me in this position.
How has your initial confrontation and faceoff with Canelo further motivated you and enhanced your fire heading into this fight?
It’s just more fire for me to win. ... I’m fighting a legend, and I am going to become a legend. It’s my time to shine. I am destined for this, to take over the sport and become the face by defeating him and retiring him on the night. He already made his mark in the sport. People are tired of him and want a new face.
Do you believe Canelo has gotten too overconfident in this fight?
He’s overlooking me. He knows that I have skills. He’s probably doubting that too, and that I don’t hit hard. He’s 100% doubting my fighting IQ and experience. He thinks it’s a cakewalk for him, and that he’s just going to walk in and make $35-40 million against a younger guy. He thinks it’s a walkthrough, but he’s going to walk into a brick wall. He’s going to see something different. It is what it is.
You said you are training to enhance IQ, intelligence and being smart. How are you doing that?
I don’t want to talk about that. I’m not trying to expose my strategy. We have the same jab, the same right hand and the same combination. It’s just taking the mentality to a whole new level. It’s about this [points to head]. It’s about how you set it up and how you can be smart in that ring and break a fighter like him down. He’s gotten broken down numerous times. His code has already been cracked four times by Floyd Mayweather Jr., Erislandy Lara, the first Gennadiy Golovkin fight and by Dmitry Bivol. I’m not going in there like, ‘Oh my God, I have to figure this guy out.’ It’s just about the mind and showing him that I have the IQ and experience. Everything that he says I don’t have, I’m going to show him that I have it.
Why did you move your training camp to Colorado?
I wanted to be trained in the wilderness at high altitudes. I’m in the woods. There are bears who visit me every morning. I like being around that. That’s the real fighter’s mentality. It’s putting me in the zone. It’s putting me in the space to be locked in. I could have done camp anywhere, but I needed to be out here in nature. When God wants you to elevate in life, he isolates you. And that is why I am in isolation. I’m in the jail.
Canelo has dropped his last three opponents but hasn’t had a knockout in his last five fights. Do you believe Canelo is past his prime or is he still operating at the peak of his powers?
Yeah, he’s getting old, but he fought a great fight in the last fight against Jaime Munguia. I don’t see a decline. I still think that he is good. I am not taking anything away from him. I know what I am going up against, and who I am going up against. I know what it takes to beat a guy like that. Now it’s my time though. I am destined. It’s the perfect time to take over the sport of boxing.
Experts predict when Canelo Álvarez will beat Edgar Berlanga
Who will win Canelo Álvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga? The Los Angeles Times asked the following boxing experts for their predictions.
“Although I don’t agree, some people think Canelo Álvarez is no longer the fighter he once was. What’s 100% certain is that Edgar Berlanga has never been the fighter that Álvarez still is. Berlanga should go in throwing bombs, pray that one of them lands and gratefully cash his check either way.
“Álvarez has little to gain from this fight and plenty to lose, whether in a shocking result or in an unimpressive PPV number against UFC 306. As for Álvarez’s future, I completely agree with his reluctance to fight David Benavidez without a massive payday to compensate for the huge physical disadvantage he’ll face. I think Cinco de Mayo weekend 2025 is the perfect time for a possible career-defining bout against one of his few boxing peers: Terence Crawford. Álvarez by late-round KO.”
— Greg Beacham, sports writer, Associated Press
“Berlanga is tough and strong, but he isn’t experienced, skillful or durable enough to last 12 rounds with Álvarez. The Mexican icon will batter Berlanga’s body and arms, soften him up, and take him out for his first knockout win in nearly three years. The 34-year-old Álvarez should reward fans who are loyal enough to either purchase tickets to this complete mismatch in Las Vegas or buy the pay-per-view show for $90 by embracing a legitimate challenge next.
“Almost 20 years into his pro career, he’s still an elite-level boxer and shouldn’t continue concocting excuses for avoiding David Benavidez, who is younger and bigger than Álvarez, yet hardly unbeatable. A showdown with another four-weight world champion, Terence Crawford, would be a safer fight than battling Benavidez because Crawford would need to move up two divisions for it, but there is plenty of public demand for Álvarez-Crawford as well. Álvarez by ninth-round TKO.”
— Keith Idec, boxing analyst, Uncrowned.com/Yahoo! Sports
“Make no mistake, this isn’t the fight that boxing fans wanted from the Mexican superstar. That would be a showdown with divisional boogeyman David Benavidez or a unique super fight with pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford. But Álvarez gets to call his shots thanks to everything he has accomplished as the face of the post-Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao era.
“And at 34, even amid whispers that he’s slowing down just a bit some 19 years into his legendary career, Álvarez’s recent results of blowout wins against Jermell Charlo and Jaime Munguia make it hard to agree with that. Berlanga’s nickname of “The Chosen One” seems apropos because he’s only in this spot due to Álvarez choosing him. Berlanga has power in both hands and no shortage of confidence but he badly lacks the type of experience and is an overwhelming underdog. Expect Álvarez to shine, once again, where the real suspense will come from whether or not he mentions Benavidez or Crawford’s name during his postfight interview. Álvarez by eighth-round technical knockout.”
— Brian Campbell, combat sports senior insider, CBS Sports, co-host of Morning Kombat and The Brian Campbell Experience founder
“With heavy hands and a befitting bravado, Berlanga is tailor-made for Álvarez, whose class, experience, power, and chin propel him to another 168-pound championship defense. Devoid of a KO since 2021, he ends a spirited fight in the seventh round — securing a second consecutive victory over a younger, bigger, fresher foe.
“If the 34-year-old Mexican icon emerges victorious over the 27-year-old Nuyorican, three marquee opponents await: former two-time WBC super middleweight champion turned light heavyweight David Benavidez, WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol and WBA junior middleweight champion Terence Crawford, a fellow four-division titlist. Other prospective challengers — at least in theory — won’t issue a proper challenge to Álvarez, whose sustained all-time greatness warrants the ilk of opposition he hasn’t faced since his 2022 loss to Bivol. That said, with his legacy — and drawing power — in tact, he’s right to fight whoever he’d like.”
— Sam Gordon, sports reporter, San Francisco Chronicle
“Álvarez is a huge, odds-on favorite. The only way I envision anything different is if Canelo has his worst night ever in the squared circle; and somehow, Berlanga ... is superhuman. Right now, Álvarez needs defining fights. For me, there are four defining moments in his career. Floyd Mayweather Jr., the first two Gennadiy Golovkin fights and Dimitry Bivol. Three of those — counting the first Golovkin encounter as a loss — he was defeated in, but Álvarez still rose after them. The red-haired legend is a modern great. That is undeniable.
“If Bivol defeats Artur Beterbiev, that would be a great challenge as a return match. And then finally, we would also like to see Álvarez fight the big white elephant in the room, David Benavidez. The issue with Álvarez-Berlanga — and I do not write this with any lack of respect for Álvarez — is that it does not thrill in your blood. Those other two fights would whet the appetite enormously. Álvarez to win on points or by late stoppage.
— Gareth A. Davies, boxing correspondent, The Daily Telegraph
“I see Álvarez going after Berlanga early due to his trash-talking during the build-up. However, if Álvarez goes too gung-ho, I can also envisage him getting caught as he does so and potentially being hurt. That initial success for Berlanga will only antagonize the Mexican superstar further, though, and with the help of those stunning uppercuts used effectively against Jaime Munguia, I expect Álvarez to record his first knockout since 2021 in rounds five through eight.”
— Phil Jay, editor, World Boxing News
“While Álvarez has to be considered the favorite, is he a near 18-1 favorite over an undefeated opponent with so many physical advantages? Álvarez will win a decision, but I believe it will be anything but comfortable. Álvarez’s future, with a win on Saturday, will be whatever he wants it to be. He’ll fight for any promoter he wants to fight for, against any opponent he wants to face. Only Álvarez has that kind of power.”
— Randy Gordon, host, SiriusXM Fight Nation’s “At The Fights”
“Berlanga simply isn’t in Álvarez’s class and it’s a massive disappointment that Álvarez chose this type of opponent. His last three fights were against John Ryder, Jermell Charlo, and Jaime Munguia, all of whom were disappointing, but not to this level. Álvarez remains a great fighter, but he was defined for most of his career by seeking out the biggest challenges. Recently, he’s been seeking the biggest purses for the least risk. That’s not the Álvarez I know and fell in love watching. Álvarez by fifth-round TKO.”
— Kevin Iole, founder, KevinIole.com
“I’m expecting Álvarez to knock out Berlanga in the 10th round to record his first stoppage in nearly three years. Álvarez could have ended his KO drought against Jaime Munguia, but it appeared he had too much respect for the fellow Mexican and eased up in the final rounds. Berlanga isn’t on Munguia’s level, one of the many reasons why I think the New Yorker isn’t deserving of this high-profile bout. Berlanga is slow-footed and his power might have been overrated based on the poor quality of his opponents in his career. Álvarez took the easy way out by not tabbing David Benavidez as his next opponent. But I’ll give the boxing superstar a pass out of respect for fighting many champions in his decorated career. If Álvarez looks dominant and this bout turns out to be more of a tune-up for Benavidez, then all will be forgiven, hopefully by Cinco de Mayo 2025.”
— Gilberto Manzano, staff writer, Sports Illustrated and co-founder of Compas on the Beat
“Berlanga isn’t in Álvarez’s class, which is why he probably will be overwhelmed and ultimately knocked out. This is the fourth mismatch for Álvarez since the Mexican star lost a decision to Dmitry Bivol and arguably the eighth in his last nine fights, dating back to his meeting with Sergey Kovalev in 2019. That’s frustrating for boxing fans because a genuine threat is ready and willing, the dangerous David Benavidez. Álvarez has the right — and leverage — to fight anyone he pleases as his career winds down but make no mistake: His treasured legacy is taking a hit.
“The good news for him is that there’s still time to get it right. He could face Benavidez yet, although he still hasn’t shown much interest. And he said publicly that he’d like a second shot at Bivol if Bivol beats Artur Beterbiev on Oct. 12. Bottom line: Let’s hope Álvarez’s next opponent has a chance to have his hand raised.
— Michael Rosenthal, editor, Boxing Junkie (USA Today Sports)
“Most fans and all the oddsmakers feel it’s a foregone conclusion that Álvarez defeats Berlanga. What is up for debate is how he picks up his 62nd win. Although a war of words has been the centerpiece of the promotion, Álvarez, who has predicted a knockout in under eight rounds, will likely box his way to a 12-round unanimous decision. Álvarez is at a stage in his career where “risky” isn’t a word that would be used to accompany a future opponent. At 34 years old and heading into his 66th pro fight, there isn’t any need to take on the biggest challenges. An Álvarez fight at this stage in his career is an event, and before he hangs up the gloves, we will see him face decent opponents (Chris Eubank Jr.) or fighters willing to move up (Terence Crawford) and take a considerable risk for a shot at the top spot. Álvarez’s last years will mirror that of Floyd Mayweather Jr., which is something he has earned and has every right to take that approach for the last phase of his boxing career.”
— Abraham Gonzalez, founder, FightsATW.com
“Álvarez is a prohibitive favorite. Any prediction for this fight focuses on the how, and not the who. Yes, Berlanga has power. His remaining skillset is still too immature to challenge the ring command, speed, footwork, defense, and precision of Álvarez. Should Álvarez make a mistake and Berlanga hits him flush, the Mexican star has among the best chins in boxing. If Gennadiy Golovkin couldn’t wobble Álvarez, Berlanga won’t. Álvarez admitted he could have stopped Jaime Munguia in May, but allowed him to finish on his feet as a show of respect for his countryman. He will not grant this courtesy to Berlanga. Álvarez will school Berlanga, much as he did Caleb Plant. Álvarez will be too elusive, using Berlanga’s body for target practice. As damage accumulates, Berlanga will eventually yield. Álvarez by eighth-round TKO.”
— Gayle Falkenthal, West Coast bureau chief, NYFights.com
“Álvarez hasn’t scored a stoppage in nearly three years. It’s a reason, just one, that leads to lots of talk suggesting that the Mexican pay-per-view star is sliding out of his prime. Berlanga is the perfect opponent for Álvarez to counter the talk, if not stop it altogether. The guess here is that Álvarez will deliver on his promise with a KO, sometime in the later rounds against Berlanga, who goes into the fight with little to lose. After all, there is nobody — absolutely no one — who thinks he can win.
“If the fight somehow goes to the scorecards, the court of public opinion will judge the fight as a Berlanga victory and a Álvarez loss. But don’t expect a decision, at least not in this fight. The real decision is about what Álvarez will do next. Reportedly, there are two options: David Benavidez or Terence Crawford. If you follow the money — and Álvarez does — bet on Crawford. Then again, it’s not exactly clear what Álvarez is thinking. He’s 34. He says he wants to fight until he’s 37. He can keep himself in the public eye and still make plenty against another Berlanga-like opponent. Álvarez by ninth-round TKO.”
— Norm Frauenheim, writer, 15Rounds.com
Álvarez is once again fighting against much lesser opposition, a fighter that hasn’t even challenged for a world title. Berlanga has power, a decent jab, and a good distance. However, he has the style that Álvarez likes, which is going forward, making himself vulnerable to counterattacks. Álvarez will knock out the inexperienced Berlanga unless the Mexican champion’s power or stamina has diminished. The Brooklyn native shouldn’t rush like Jaime Munguía did in May. But if he starts too slow, he can lose many rounds and have trouble catching up. Either way, Berlanga is young and talented but is not quite ready. Álvarez KOs Berlanga.
— Eduard Cauich, sports reporter, LA Times en Español
I don’t expect this to be an epic Mexico-Puerto Rico battle. Álvarez will get it done by the ninth round as Edgar Berlanga will succumb to the pressure of it all. Álvarez needs a knockout and this is his best chance against an inferior fighter. It will be another nice payday for Álvarez.
— Jad El Reda, sports reporter, LA Times en Español
Undercard features Erislandy Lara, Danny Garcia, Caleb Plant and Rolando Romero
The pay-per-view card headlined by the Canelo Álvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga fight will begin at 5 p.m. PDT and will be complemented by three other fights.
In the co-main event, Erislandy Lara will defend his WBA middleweight title against Danny Garcia. Lara (30-3-3, 18 KOs), a 41-year-old from Cuba, is best known for giving Álvarez one of the toughest tests of his career in 2014 in a competitive split decision loss. Now he’ll give Garcia (37-3, 21 KOs) a chance to become a three-division champion. The former 140 and 147-pound titleholder from Philadelphia is making his middleweight debut after a 26-month hiatus.
Also featured on the card is Caleb Plant, who lost to Álvarez in 2021 via 11th-round knockout. The former 168-pound titleholder Plant (22-2, 13 KOs) is looking to get back into the win column after losing to David Benavidez 18 months ago. Plant will be pitted against Trevor McCumby (28-0, 21 KOs).
Kicking off the card will be a contest between former junior welterweight titleholder Rolando Romero (15-2, 13 KOs) and Northern California’s Manuel Jaimes (16-1-1, 11 KOs).
The night of fights will kick off on the PBC YouTube channel with a trio of bouts starting at 3 p.m. PDT.
Former unified 122-pound champion Stephen Fulton Jr. (21-1, 8 KOs) will make his featherweight debut against Carlos Castro (30-2, 14 KOs). Fulton hasn’t fought since getting knocked out in July 2023 in Japan against Naoya Inoue.
Welterweights Roiman Villa (26-2, 24 KOs) and Ricardo Salas (19-2-2, 14 KOs) and featherweights Jonathan Lopez (16-0, 12 KOs) and Richard Medina (15-2, 8 KOs) will also be featured.
Canelo Álvarez vs. UFC’s Dana White is Saturday night’s fight within the fights
May and September fight dates are considered sacred in combat sports because of the massive number of Mexicans who celebrate their holiday weekends — Cinco de Mayo and Mexican independence day on Sept. 16 — by watching boxing.
Julio César Chávez, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Canelo Álvarez have had a chokehold on the dates during the past 30 years.
But the UFC is throwing a counterpunch.
Álvarez will a Mexican independence day weekend matchup Saturday against Edgar Berlanga at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The super middleweight king and Mexican superstar Álvarez will not only have to fend off the undefeated upstart Berlanga but the UFC as well, as the mixed martial arts outfit is staging the first live sporting event at The Sphere across the street with plenty of planned pomp and circumstance.
UFC president and CEO Dana White is dedicating and branding the $20 million production of UFC 306 / Noche UFC as a “love letter” to Mexico and plans to consistently stage shows around Mexican holidays moving forward.
Boxing versus MMA has become a fight within the fights on Saturday night, even if the principals don’t openly admit that market share is on the line.
Last year, UFC was first in line to take the Mexican independence day weekend date at T-Mobile Arena, pushing Álvarez to fight on Sept. 30 in the same venue. Álvarez’s camp delivered a counterpunch this year by locking in the date before UFC could with arena operator MGM Resorts.
“If this didn’t happen, or go down the way that it did, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to do the Sphere,” White said in an interview.
Álvarez, who is coming off a unanimous decision win against Jaime Munguia on May 6 at T-Mobile Arena, doesn’t deem the UFC’s infiltration on his traditional fight dates as a threat.
“No, nothing — competition is good,” he said. “May and September are my dates. I just focus on what I am doing. If somebody wants to do another show, it’s fine.”
Álvarez and the UFC’s dates have clashed before, and although Álvarez won the fight, he lost the narrative of the night.
During his Nov. 2, 2019, knockout win against Sergey Kovalev, Álvarez infamously was slumped on a sofa inexplicably waiting for the UFC to complete its card at Madison Square Garden in New York. Álvarez’s streaming partner at the time, DAZN, made the call to wait for the Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal fight to be done before they moved on with their show at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Adding insult to injury, the MGM Grand screens streamed the UFC card inside the arena to keep fans busy before Álvarez could make his ringwalk.
“It’s not like I’m looking to compete or hurt Canelo [on Saturday] in any way, shape, or form,” said White. “I respect Canelo as a fighter and a person. I have no beef with him. I have no beef with [Álvarez handler and Premier Boxing Champions head Al] Haymon.”
White said UFC 306 — headlined by bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley’s title defense against Merab Dvalishvili — will be a financial success despite its massive operating costs. The UFC’s sponsorship with Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia, has also helped offset costs.
Although Alalshikh plans to work with Álvarez, the combat sports power broker is also promising UFC will eat up Álvarez’s event on Saturday night.
“This is going to be the biggest gate in UFC history, coming in at $22-23 million,” said White. “MGM is guaranteeing [Álvarez’s] gate at $25 million. My gate is legit. I’m sure Canelo is going to do fine. He’s going to make money, and we’re going to do our thing on the same night.”
Tom Brown, head of the San Fernando Valley-based TGB Promotions, works with PBC and has been Álvarez’s lead promoter across four fights in Las Vegas in recent years. The career-long boxing executive refuted White’s claim that MGM is guaranteeing the gate.
“I’m a huge fan of Dana White and respect him, but our gate is not guaranteed by MGM, and he knows that,” said Brown. “Competition is good, and it’s great for the city of Las Vegas, for Mexican fans and for combat sports. It will only help both sports. I think both shows are going to be successful and I wish nothing but success for the UFC. We’re going to have a big night on Saturday, and it’s a grand slam for the city.”
White said the UFC has broken its pay-per-view pre-buy record for the event. UFC’s PPV is priced at $80 and Álvarez’s PPV is priced at $90, not including subscription costs.
Fight fans with PPV buying power will either consider watching the UFC’s more competitive card and the Sphere’s glitz and glamour or go back to the tried-and-true Álvarez to see if he can score his first knockout win in five fights against the massive underdog Berlanga.
Álvarez rolled the dice and picked the Puerto Rican instead of fighting the more deserving David Benavidez, especially as he waits for Alalshikh to accommodate his $100 million-plus payday proclamation to fight the fast-rising Mexican-American contender.
Álvarez’s cavalier attitude toward scheduling bouts with less-deserving opponents could be music to White’s ears as they battle for attention during two of the most important fight nights on the calendar.
“They still have a lot of boxing fans, and not all Mexican people are fans of the UFC yet,” said White. “My thinking of Noche UFC has changed. The following day I will be thinking about how to make it even more special next year.”
Canelo Álvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga betting odds
Canelo Álvarez is a -1800 betting favorite, and Edgar Berlanga is a +1000 betting underdog, according to DraftKings.
The over/under line on the total number of rounds to fight is set to last is 8.5 rounds. A full breakdown of bets and methods of victory can be seen here, as offered by DraftKings.
Dan Canobbio, an analyst for DraftKings, shared his insight.
Canelo Álvarez steps back into the ring Saturday night against Edgar Berlanga and these are the hard facts: it will be his 66th professional fight; he’s won 61 of them. His 232 championship rounds and 21 champions fought both rank No.1 among active fighters.
Berlanga has zero champions on his resume and will be fighting in only his 23rd pro fight.
This is why Álvarez is a massive favorite in this fight. While the Álvarez money line should not be in play for Saturday night, the over/under of 8.5 rounds and an Álvarez late stoppage will be.
Álvarez is a notoriously slow starter, using the early frames to “download data” on his opponent. Over his last four fights, Álvarez has not thrown more than 49 punches in any of the first three rounds.
Expect him to take his time with Berlanga and the over 8.5 rounds prop to hit.
Álvarez has not registered a stoppage win in five fights dating back to 2021, but that streak will end Saturday night due to the extra venom toward Berlanga in the buildup, and the fact Berlanga opponents land 30% of their power shots.
Expect a calculated Álvarez early on and a powerful one late — with the over 8.5 rounds and 7-12 rounds win being the smart play for this fight.
How to watch Canelo Álvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga fight
The fight between Canelo Álvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga can be purchased for $89.99 through Prime Video, DAZN, or PPV.com.
The PPV portion of the fight card begins at 5 p.m. PDT.
If you’re in Las Vegas and want to be ringside at the T-Mobile Arena, tickets can be purchased through AXS.com, the event’s official ticket distribution service.
On Tap Sports has a directory of sports bars and restaurants around the country showing the fight.
Select movie theaters across the United States will carry the fight via Fathom Events. Click here to see which locations.