168-pound contender Edgar Berlanga (23-1, 18 KOs) got back to his winning ways and first-round knockouts after stopping Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz (20-1-1, 16 KOs) in the first round at Caribe Royale in Orlando on Saturday night on the undercard of the Ammo Williams-Patrice Volny clash.
The Brooklyn native, who recorded the 17th first-round knockout of his career, landed a big left hand, which dropped Gonzalez-Ortiz. He would get up, but Gonzalez-Ortiz was in serious trouble. Berlanga would put the fight away with an onslaught against the ropes for the second knockdown, and the referee would step in, and Berlanga would get the TKO victory at 2:31 in Round 1.
Berlanga, who came into the fight 1.6 pounds over the 168-pound limit, returned to the ring after suffering his first defeat, a unanimous decision loss to Canelo Alvarez last September.
The 27-year-old was not expected to have much of an issue with Gonzalez-Ortiz, and he didn’t.
Besides Alvarez, Berlanga believes that he’s the top dog at 168 pounds.
“The experience [against Canelo] was amazing,” he said. “I went from middle school straight to college, and I did very well. I went 12 rounds with him. Hard, strong, and we gave the fans a good fight. I think right now, besides him, he has all the titles. I’m the king.”
Berlanga says he wants the top guys at 168 pounds, especially former world champion Caleb Plant.
“You know who I want, who’s on my hit list. Jaime Munguia, Jermall Charlo. Caleb Plant and Canelo,” he said. “I want to shut his [Caleb Plant] mouth. He already got knocked out twice. He got beat up by [David] Benavidez and knocked out by Canelo. So, it’s time for me to retire him and send him off into the sunset.”
Eddie Hearn, Berlanga’s promoter, thinks Berlanga can beat the top guys at 168 pounds.
“He’s ready for all those guys [Plant, Munguia, Charlo] you said before, and I think the experience of Canelo Alvarez will lead him to beat those guys,” he said. “I like the Caleb Plant fight. I think that’s a brilliant fight, two guys who are really going to spice it up at the press conference. Two great fighters, two great 168-pounders.”
I’m not sure where Berlanga stands at 168 pounds. He definitely is a name, and he has some ability. Whether Berlanga can beat the top guys in the division is still debatable. We haven’t seen it yet. Hopefully, he can get the opportunity to show it sooner rather than later.
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