Edgar Berlanga can win on Saturday night time (dwell on DAZN PPV) if he can observe Dmitry Bivol’s blueprint for defeating Canelo Alvarez with high-volume punching. Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) has by no means been generally known as a fighter who throws loads of punches, however his crew has studied Canelo’s loss to Bivol, and so they’ll observe his strategy.
Berlanga raved about Bivol’s jabs in his win over Canelo in 2022, which he’s prone to attempt to mimic. Nevertheless, he doesn’t have the gasoline tank to throw the variety of pictures that Bivol threw in opposition to Canelo.
“It’s harmful as a result of, in my view, you must be lively within the struggle as a result of Canelo’s output isn’t that nice,” mentioned Eddie Hearn to Matchroom Boxing, discussing how Edgar Berlanga can doubtlessly defeat Canelo Alvarez on Saturday.
“If you happen to return to the Bivol efficiency. What he did so nicely [against Canelo] was his output was glorious. The punches in bunches, the all the time prepared to throw and to shoeshine with 20 seconds to go to win these rounds.
“You’ll be able to win rounds with Canelo Alvarez, however on the identical time, the extra lively you’re, the extra you’re placing your self beneath strain to be counted or stand in vary. So, you’ve acquired to be sensible with it as nicely.
“I maintain listening to individuals say, ‘He’s [Canelo] not been stopped,’ and ‘He’s not been down.’ So what? What are you going to do? ‘Oh nicely, we’ll overlook about that tactic. Edgar is without doubt one of the greatest punchers on this planet at 168. There’s little doubt about that.
“Can he harm Canelo? Everyone might be harm, particularly whenever you get to the again finish of your profession, however you’ve acquired to attempt to put a dent on this man,” mentioned Hearn. “That’s simpler mentioned than carried out. I wouldn’t be shocked if Edgar and the crew determined to field somewhat and attempt to win a few of these early rounds.”
Canelo might be harm, however you’ve acquired to hit him laborious or throw a flurry of pictures like Jose Miguel Cotto did when he had Alvarez harm.
“What you actually need to do is get by that midway stage within the struggle, having banked some rounds as a result of he can change off somewhat at instances, Canelo, particularly down the straight. Within the John Ryder struggle the place he thought he was dominating, after which rapidly, he can come again and lose rounds,” mentioned Hearn.
Successful early rounds in opposition to Canelo is not any assure that Berlanga will struggle nicely sufficient to win the later rounds and get a choice. If something, Canelo will struggle more durable if he loses the early rounds, and that might be unhealthy for Berlanga.