Boxing
Berlanga chose Zuffa, Hitchins had no choice
Hearn made a clear distinction between the two. In his opinion, Berlanga chose a way of making money that suited his ceiling, while Hitchins arrived there when he ran out of alternatives.
In the Berlanga case, Hearn was open about both the possibilities and the limitations.
“I don’t think he’ll necessarily win the world championship, but financially it’s a good opportunity for him,” Hearn told Fight Hub TV.
Berlanga, 28, has essentially become a high-level guard or fighter with special appeal. He may still make good money, but the days of being gifted undeserved shots at the undisputed king for eight-figure checks are probably over. He’s at the point of a complete career reset.
The statistics surrounding the Sheeraz fight are brutal. Berlanga fell three times before being thrown from the ring in his fifth fight last July. When you lose high-profile back-to-back fights to Canelo and then Sheeraz and get stopped in the second, that marketing strategy of the undefeated Power Puncher is dead and buried.
Established promoters like Matchroom or Top Rank probably wouldn’t touch Berlanga at his previous price because he’s proven he can’t crack the top level at 168 pounds.
“He’s not going to beat the top guys at 168. Come on,” Hearn said of Berlanga.
Hearn’s comment is boxing’s version of “saying the peaceful part out clamorous.” It’s a brutal reality check, but when you look at the 168-pound scene, it’s strenuous to argue that he’s wrong.
By saying, “Come on,” Hearn is essentially dismissing the marketing hype he helped build in an attempt to sell the Canelo fight. It shows that even the people who promoted Berlanga didn’t really believe he was part of the elite.
Hearn revealed a situation where options were disappearing one by one for Hitchins. Matchroom withdrew. Other promoters showed little interest. The negotiating stance adopted before the last fight did not lend a hand.
“We withdrew our offer. Top position was not an option and Golden Boy was not really an option,” Hearn said.
“They tried to be astute, but we finished,” he said of Team Hitchins.
By saying, “We have withdrawn our offer,” Hearn is signaling that he doesn’t even want to exchange offers anymore. He felt that the gap between what Hitchins wanted and what he was worth was too great to overcome.
When Top Rank and Golden Boy also passed, Hearn’s position was confirmed. If the biggest players in the game aren’t bidding for you, you’re a misfit.
Hearn is basically criticizing Richardson Hitchins and his team for messing with the bag. In boxing circles, “trying to be astute” is a promoter’s term for a fighter overestimating his market value and asking for money or terms that are not justified by his ticket-selling power.
“If you care about your legacy and want to be great, don’t take it,” Hearn said.
Hearn’s comment directly relates to Zuffa Boxing’s business model and its importance for fighter autonomy. In the classic boxing world, “greatness” is often measured by a fighter’s ability to move up the rankings, earn belts from the four major sanctioning organizations (WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO) and ultimately become undisputed.
By saying “don’t take it”, Hearn argues that signing a contract with Zuffa is effectively trading an “inheritance” for a “paycheck” in a closed system.
Gardzielik was dropped and lost every round on all three scorecards. Nmomah offered limited resistance before being stopped in the ninth. Huerta went the distance but lost 100-90, 100-90, and 99-91. Those victories showed Mielnicki can dominate carefully selected opposition. They did not demonstrate that he is prepared for a championship fight.
Top Rank moved Mielnicki methodically by matching him against fighters with attractive records but little recognition in the United States. The approach helped him collect regional belts and climb the sanctioning-body rankings without facing anyone near the top of the middleweight class.
The more revealing performances came against Khalil El Harraz and Connor Coyle. Mielnicki edged El Harraz by majority decision and then struggled to a majority draw with Coyle. The New York State Athletic Commission later changed the Coyle result to a no-contest after he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, but the ruling did not erase what happened during those 10 rounds.
Mielnicki believes beating Williams would answer criticism of rankings that place him No. 3 with the WBO, No. 7 with the WBA and WBC, and No. 9 with the IBF.
“I feel like having a name like him on my resume will silence a lotta that,” Mielnicki told Keith Idec of The Ring.
Williams (20-2, 13 KOs) is a considerable upgrade. The physically strong southpaw applies pressure and can make Mielnicki fight while moving backward, an area that the trio was not equipped to test. Mielnicki must show that his footwork and inside game hold up when an opponent closes the distance and refuses to remain at his preferred pace.
Still, beating Williams would not establish Mielnicki as one of the best at 160. Hamzah Sheeraz stopped Williams, and Carlos Adames defeated him decisively over 12 rounds. Williams occupies the middle of the first tier: capable enough to expose a protected contender, but well below the elite.
That makes him an appropriate screening test. A Mielnicki loss in his New Jersey backyard would make his lofty rankings difficult to defend. A convincing win would earn him the opportunity to face the leading middleweights, not prove he is ready to beat them.
Martinez was much more effective and landed the harder punches. Lester had the support of the Guatemalan people with a healthy attendance of 6,848 at the USC Galen Center. The interim WBC super middleweight champion is the only boxing champion of any kind for Guatemala; Martinez is held in high esteem, receiving the full support of his country. After the victory, he celebrated at Lafayette Park at the Festival Chapin with his fellow countrymen.
ProBox promoter Garry Jonas stated at the post-fight press conference they’re exploring the options of holding a Lester Martinez fight at a soccer stadium somewhere in Guatemala, hopefully for January of 2027. The energy and crowd at the Galen Center was electrifying as the crowd would erupt in cheers every time Lester would land a big punch.
Holding an event in Guatemala would definitely draw a crowd. Lester is becoming a bigger star with every fight, and if he’s able to secure a fight with the winner of the Canelo Alvarez-Christian Mbilli fight, he would only become that much bigger. Trainer Esau Dieguez said of the fight, “The truth is we would like to face the winner, but because of name recognition and what it would bring, we would like to fight Canelo. Being that we already fought Mbilli, but I expect Canelo to win. I think Canelo will win, I hope we can make the fight. I know the WBC may beat around the bush, but our hope is Lester will fight for the full world title.”
It was the fight against Mbilli that raised Lester’s profile and introduced him to the world. Although it was ruled a draw, there are many who believe Martinez should have been awarded the decision. Lester stood toe-to-toe with the power puncher, exchanging punch for punch with him. Martinez outlanded Mbilli 412 to 273 in total punches, outlanding him in 9 of 12 rounds (Compubox).
He tried securing the rematch with Christian, but the fight never materialized. Expecting a tough fight against the Canelo-Mbilli winner, Lester said, “I think for now I will relax, but I know what is coming will be more difficult, and we will prepare for it.”
Knowing that he will have to perform at his absolute best against whomever the winner may be. Lester has proven he has the skills to compete at the championship level, and he has the full support of an entire country with him in Guatemala; they want nothing more than to have their first full world champion.
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