Canelo Alvarez successfully defended his unified super middleweight titles in front of a raucous Las Vegas crowd, defeating Edgar Berlanga by unanimous decision.
During Mexican Independence weekend, there was a strong crowd from south of the border in Sin City, and their man put on a show against his New York-born opponent.
Alvarez dropped Berlanga with a left hook in the third round and was eventually crowned the victor, with the judges scoring the fight 117-110, 118-109 and 118-109.
In the latter stages of the fight, Berlanga was warned for an intentional headbutt and the fighters nearly came to blows after the American landed an illegal punch.
There was trash talk throughout the event and Canelo admitted afterwards: ‘I got angry,’ before attempting to explain to the packed crowd with the phrase: ‘I’m a Mexican man.
Canelo Alvarez (right) lands a huge right hook on his opponent Edgar Berlanda in Las Vegas
In the third round, Berlanga was sent to the canvas for the first time in his career by Canelo.
Speaking in the ring after the victory, he told the crowd at the T-Mobile Arena: “I’m the best fighter in the world.”
On a huge weekend for fight sports in Las Vegas with UFC at The Sphere right around the corner, Alvarez put on a clinic against his previously undefeated opponent, whose record now falls to 22-1.
Canelo, meanwhile, improved to 62-2-2 at the age of 34.
After the fight, Berlanga said in the ring: “I could have done a lot more, but I was there with a legend.”
That legend celebrated with a Mexican flag in the ring, while jumping on his trainer’s shoulders to the applause of the supporting crowd.
