Undisputed tremendous middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Álvarez outpointed challenger Edgar Berlanga on Saturday night time in entrance of a sold-out crowd at T-Cell Enviornment.
Making his eighth tremendous middleweight title protection, the 34-year-old Álvarez (61-2-2) dominated a lot of the battle, utilizing his expertise and tenacious pursuit to put on down the 27-year-old challenger, regularly sending 20,312 followers right into a frenzy, typically chanting “Mexico! Mexico!” or “CA-NEL-O! CA-NEL-O!”
Berlanga misplaced for the primary time in his profession, dropping to 22-1-0.
“I did good. Now what are they going to say? They stated I don’t battle younger fighters,” stated Álvarez, who was making his eighth tremendous middleweight title protection. “They at all times discuss, however I’m the most effective fighter on this planet.”
Judges Max DeLuca and Steve Weisfeld scored the battle 118-109, and choose David Sutherland had it 117-110.
Berlanga nearly matched Álvarez’s punch output, however the champion was way more correct. Álvarez landed 43.3% (201 of 464) of the punches he threw, whereas Berlanga linked on simply 119 of 446 (26.7%). Álvarez additionally landed 49.1% (133 of 271) of his energy punches.
Álvarez, a four-division champion, nonetheless hasn’t ended a battle early since scoring a technical knockout of Caleb Plant almost three years in the past, when he grew to become the undisputed champion.
It appeared that drought would possibly finish when a pointy left hook to the chin dropped Berlanga within the third spherical, and additional punishment from Álvarez gave the impression to be taking a toll. Álvarez landed a crisp proper uppercut within the fifth and a vicious hook within the sixth.
However Berlanga wouldn’t go away, as he stood toe-to-toe and matched Álvarez’s machismo, refusing to be bullied by the person he’d name “my idol” after the battle. He additionally received wild within the seventh, lacking a wild overhand proper that induced him to fall on the canvas, and was warned for a headbutt to Álvarez’s face within the eighth spherical.
“I received a little bit indignant along with his techniques, however I’m Mexican man,” Álvarez stated. “It means rather a lot to battle on this present day. It’s an honor to signify my nation on this present day.”
It marked one of many largest nights in fight sports activities on Mexican Independence Day for Las Vegas, because the UFC made its debut on the Sphere, simply three miles down Las Vegas Boulevard, with seven Mexican fighters within the lineup.
The IBF eliminated Álvarez’s title after he selected to battle Berlanga reasonably than battle its No 1 challenger, William Scull.
In a really uneventful WBA middleweight championship bout, 41-year-old Erislandy Lara (31-3-3) efficiently defended his title in opposition to Danny Garcia (37-4-0) with a TKO at three minutes of of the ninth spherical because of a straight left jab to the face. Garcia’s father and coach, Angel, requested the stoppage after the spherical.
“The punches I used to be touchdown had been hurting him,” stated Lara, the oldest energetic world champion in boxing. “That punch that ended the battle was a giant shot.”
After falling behind on the scorecards early throughout a battle for the interim WBA tremendous middleweight belt, Caleb Plant overcame being knocked down within the fourth, dominated the final 4 rounds, and earned a ninth-round TKO of Trevor McCumby (28-1-0). With time winding down, Plant unleashed a flurry of punches to McCumby’s head that prompted referee Allen Huggins to cease the bout on the 2:59 mark.
“I knew I had him damage and needed to go to work,” Plant stated. “It was time to get my belt. Now I’m able to go house and play with my daughter.”
Within the first battle of the primary card on the pay-per-view occasion, Rolando Romero improved to 16-2-0 with a unanimous determination over Guide Jaimes (16-2-1), with all three judges scoring the battle with similar scores, 99-91.
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