ORLANDO, Fla. — This Saturday night, Edgar Berlanga will square off against Padraig McCrory at the Caribe Royale Orlando in Orlando, Florida on February 24.
Champion Berlanga (21-0, 16 KOs), who is undefeated in the super middleweight class, believes that he was up against an energetic opponent who gave it his all in their most recent battle against Jason Quigley last summer. Given that Berlanga, 26, will lose against McCrory if he fights like he did against Quigley, he needs to appear far better against the undefeated opponent.
If Berlanga from United States, loses or performs poorly in winning over the undefeated McCrory (18-0, 9 KOs), he will not be given the opportunity to defend his title against Canelo Alvarez or take on Jaime Munguia in the near future.
Hearn was thrilled to sign Berlanga at first, but he hasn’t matched the former boxer backed by Top Rank against any of the major names he had mentioned. Berlanga signed a multi-fight contract with Matchroom in February of last year. He has only fought once, winning a lackluster 12-round decision over Irish fighter Jason Quigley. Berlanga still has two bouts left with Matchroom, and he needs to perform well to get another contract.
“Quigley came in shape. I dropped him four times. He got crushed, especially in the 12th round, and he still got up. He didn’t have no quit in him. A lot of these fighters go in there with a different mentality when they’re facing me,” said Berlanga in media reports, regarding his most recent encounter in Madison Square Garden in New York, where he lost to gatekeeper Jason Quigley in June.
“I watched the fight, and I believe I have even more what it takes. I’m a different fighter. Winning will not only be massive for me but massive for the community. It’s massive for West Belfast. “I believe I’m one punch away from changing my life. I truly believe it’s going to happen. I’m going to go down in Irish boxing history,” said McCrory from Nothern Ireland, speaking of having observed Berlanga’s most recent battle with Quigley.
It’s not as though fighters approach their battles with Berlanga with a whole different mindset. It’s more that he’s not good enough to dominate them.
