Boxing has had its fair share of "passing of the torch" bouts that have helped shape the sport, like Rocky Marciano vs. Joe Louis and Wladimir Klitschko vs. Tyson Fury.
For Edgar Berlanga, a win against Mexican legend Canelo Alvarez could be considered a true "passing of the torch" moment.
Berlanga recently signed a long-term deal with Matchroom Boxing. The goal after signing was to fight Canelo, once the undisputed super middleweight champion. Berlanga, 27, gets his wish Sept. 14, when he faces Canelo for the status of the unified champion at 168 pounds.
WATCH: Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga, live on DAZN
A new era could begin if Berlanga beats Canelo, at 34 "the face of boxing."
“I'm fighting a legend, and I’m going to become a legend,” Berlanga told BoxingScene. “It's my time to shine. I’m 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.”
The Sporting News breaks down Berlanga’s career and how he matches up against the mighty Canelo.
Edgar Berlanga pro record, titles
After an amateur career with more than 160 wins, Berlanga has a pro record of 22-0 with 17 wins via knockout.
"The Chosen One" hasn't won a world gold at this stage of his career.
Edgar Berlanga career bio, biggest wins
Boxing since he was 7, Berlanga won bronze (2013) and gold (2015) in the US Youth National Championships. He turned pro in 2016, fighting in Mexico to start things off.
In 2019, the Brooklyn-born boxer signed with Top Rank, making New York and Las Vegas his boxing home.
MORE: Who is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world?
Since 2021, he has won five bouts via decision, ending a 16-fight knockout streak. Berlanga won NABO gold in October 2011, and he has beaten the likes of Steve Rolls and Roamer Alexis Angulo. The Angulo bout was in June 2022.
In February 2023, Berlanga signed with Matchroom Boxing and knocked down Jason Quigley four times in his Matchroom debut. Berlanga's last fight was a knockout win in February against Padraig McCrory.
Is Edgar Berlanga Puerto Rican?
Matchroom Boxing is billing this fight as another addition to the epic Mexico vs. Puerto Rico boxing rivalry to go with matchups like Salvador Sanchez vs. Wilfredo Gomez and Felix Trinidad vs. Fernando Vargas.
“There’s a lot of doubt out there on me, but I’ve been facing adversity all my life. This is my opportunity to be legendary in the sport of boxing. September 14 is going to be something to remember. Puerto Rico vs. Mexico is the biggest rivalry in boxing, and we’re making history September 14,” Berlanga said.
Berlanga was born in a sizeable Nuyorican community in Brooklyn. His parents came to America from Puerto Rico. Despite not being born there, he feels a special connection to Puerto Rico.
“I am from Brooklyn, but my parents are from here," Berlanga told Metro in 2018 while in Puerto Rico. "I feel 100 percent Puerto Rican. My family, almost all of it, lives here on the island and I want people in Puerto Rico to know that I am working very hard to become another important figure in boxing.”
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