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Mexican boxing superstar Saul "Canelo" Alvarez retained his three world titles in the super middleweight division on Saturday in Las Vegas, securing a unanimous decision victory over American fighter Edgar Berlanga.
The Guadalajara native handed the first defeat to Berlanga, a Puerto Rican-born fighter who is seven years his junior, after sending him to the canvas with a hook in the third round.
Alvarez (34) achieved his 62nd win, with 39 of those coming by knockout, along with two draws and the same number of losses. This record was enough to keep his WBA, WBO, and WBC super middleweight titles.
Alvarez often finds himself the target of criticism, particularly from boxing fans who have questioned his career over the years. Many believe that Alvarez is past his prime and that his time has come and gone. However, he continually demonstrates the unique skills he possesses. The popular Mexican fighter has a ready response for his critics and doubters, and it appears that the best answer to such challenges is simply to win.
"Now what are they gonna say?" Alvarez said, as quoted by ABC.
"I fight younger fighters. They say I fight older fighters. They always talk. ... My experience, my talent, my hard work, my intelligence, everything together [makes me the best]. If you have talent but you don't have discipline, you have nothing."
The 34-year-old acknowledged feeling somewhat frustrated with his opponent's tactics but expressed happiness for the opportunity to represent his country and achieve a significant success. He was fully aware that his opponent was not to be underestimated, recognizing the high level of skill and quality he brought to the ring.
"I got a little angry with his tactics, but I'm Mexican man,” he added. “It means a lot to fight on this day. It's an honour to represent my country on this day.”
Berlanga was cautious with his power punches, likely to avoid giving Alvarez, one of the best at exploiting counter-punching opportunities, a chance. After being knocked down, Berlanga, sitting on the canvas and clapping his gloves, quickly turned into a defensive stance.
Alvarez continued to press the attack, trying to close the gap while Berlanga kept his jab at a safe distance. Despite Berlanga's resilience and display of toughness in close quarters, he was reluctant to take risks that might lead to him being knocked out.
Berlanga shared his disappointment after the fight, recognizing that he had gone up against a true legend. He’s hopeful that this experience will mark the start of his own path to becoming a legend in the future. He also mentioned that he took Alvarez’s strongest punch during the third round.
Berlanga knew he was facing a very experienced boxer who had achieved a lot in the sport. Despite the challenge, he was excited and felt he had the skills to beat the seasoned Mexican fighter. Stepping into the ring with such a tough opponent was a huge pressure. Berlanga wanted to take on this major challenge and show everyone what he could do, but he didn’t succeed in his attempt.
Canelo Alvarez expressed his happiness and satisfaction with his performance, emphasizing that he did what was necessary to win. He described the night as delightful and compared it to just another day at work, emphasizing his love for boxing.
When asked about missing a knockout, he explained that the fight was about showcasing who the best fighter is over the course of 12 rounds. He stressed that while a knockout is special, his primary goal was to secure the victory. This boxing superstar that his opponent, Berlanga, fought more defensively than usual, which influenced the outcome, but he still did what was required to win.
Eddy Reynoso reacts
Alvarez's trainer, Eddy Reynoso, had every reason to be pleased with the performance, and his comments after the fight reflected his satisfaction with his fighter's showing. Reynoso believes that Alvarez will continue to improve and achieve even greater success.
At 39, Reynoso is not sure about what the future holds or what specific plans might come next. However, he mentioned that future decisions will largely depend on the financial aspect. The experienced trainer knows the value of Alvarez's name in the boxing world and understands that the financial rewards need to reflect the importance of his presence in the sport.
Berlanga reflected on the difficulty of fighting a legendary boxer and admitted that the odds were heavily against him. He felt he handled the situation well despite the pressure and doubts from the boxing world. He pointed out that Mexicans and Puerto Ricans are known for their toughness and resilience. While many expected him to be knocked out early in the fight, he managed to surprise everyone by staying in the ring and showing his skills. He sees this experience as an important step towards becoming great.
English (US)