Boxing
Berlanga is eyeing Crawford’s throne in the 2026 comeback plan
Published
8 months agoon
Edgar Berlanga says he’s planning his own “fight for return” but he is open to fighting Terence Crawford for his undisputed 168 crown. The Brooklyn, Fresh York native says he has “substantial things on the plate” for 2026, when he will return to the ring.
Can it be rebuilt?
The former Matchroom promotion Berlanga hasn’t given any hints on who he might face in his next fight, but it would be in his best interest to pick a sheltered, lower-level opponent to ensure he doesn’t get beaten again. His record is mainly based on victories over cans of tomatoes. So if he continues like this, the 168-pound weight class may remain a viable option for real talent.
Berlanga (23-2, 18 KO) was crushed in five rounds by Hamzah Sheeraz earlier this year on July 12 in Queens, Fresh York. He didn’t look good at all in this fight, being dropped twice at the end of the fourth round by Hamzah and being finished early in the fifth.
The defeat was Edgar’s second in his last three fights, and it is doubtful whether his manager Keith Connolly will be able to rebuild him enough to make him a mainstream fighter for other substantial prizes.
Despite the fact that he did not defeat any significant competitor, Berlanga made millions from fights with Sheeraz and Canelo Alvarez. He’s opulent now and can afford to be picky. Twenty-eight-year-old Edgar is opulent and will have to stay hungry to change his career. We have seen what happened to many players when they get a taste of money.
Crawford on your radar
“For sure. Definitely,” said Edgar Berlanga Fight when asked if he would be interested in fighting Terence Crawford for his undisputed super middleweight championship. “Right now I’m focused on fighting to come back.”
It’s unrealistic for Crawford to give Berlanga a shot at the title because it would be a pure waste of time. Such a mismatch would not arouse fan interest. At this point, Berlanga is at the bottom and is low-hanging fruit for Bud or any of the top dogs at 168.
Superstar or Mirage?
“I have to keep my head down. Whatever happened in my last fight, it’s frosty,” Berlanga said of his fifth-round knockout loss to Hamzah Sheeraz on July 12. “It didn’t dim my lightweight at all. I’m still a superstar. I am the king of Fresh York. I’m flying. I look good and I fight well.
Edgar is now free to sign with anyone as a free agent after leaving Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom. It is unclear whether Turki Alalshikh would be interested in using him for another event after Sheeraz blew him away.
It would be more profitable for Turki to focus on better talent like these three super middleweights:
- Osley Iglesias
- Christian Mbilla
- Lester Martinez
“I’m excited for next year. I have substantial things on my mind,” Berlanga said.
Ken Woods was a senior writer in Boxing News 24 since 2013, covering sports from every angle. With years of reporting from the ring, he delivers fight news, results and analysis that cuts through the noise. Ken’s work consistently focuses on champions, challengers and prospects, giving fans a piercing and well-informed view of the global boxing scene.
Last update: 19/10/2025
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Boxing
Tim Bradley explains why Lamont Roach can beat William Zepeda
Published
1 hour agoon
June 13, 2026
Bradley says Roach’s experience against pressure players and southpaws will give him an advantage on August 1
Tim Bradley thinks Lamont Roach Jr. he is the player best placed to make William Zepeda lose. In a speech on his YouTube channel, Bradley selected Roach as the winner of the vacant WBC lightweight title on August 1 and cited the fight’s stylistic advantages as a key factor.
“I’m picking Roach to win this fight,” Bradley said on his channel. “I think it’s a perfect match in style. I think Roach fights southpaws better than orthodox fighters.”
Roach comes into the fight coming off a draw with Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz and a contentious draw with Gervonta Davis, as well as two physically demanding fights against high-pressure fighters that Bradley says has prepared him for Zepeda’s relentless approach.
“I think he fought one of the best southpaws in the world in Tank Davis. And he did damn well against him,” Bradley said. “He wasn’t scared by the force of the impact.”
Bradley believes Roach has the tools needed to neutralize Zepeda’s pressure.
“When guys who like to get forward and be aggressive, nine times out of 10 they don’t like being tackled,” Bradley said. “Roach has the ability to do it. He has the knowledge and the IQ to be able to do it. And if he does it, he will win this fight.”
Bradley also cautioned that Roach cannot afford to leave matters in the judges’ hands, arguing that he needs to create more separation than in recent draws with Isaac Cruz and Gervonta Davis.

Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fighting landscape. His reports focus on the most vital fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
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Last update: 2026/06/13 at 14:20
Boxing
Roy Jones Jr Says He’ll Return to Fighting One Fighter If He Gets an Eight-Figure Salary: ‘It’ll Make Me Prepare’
Published
3 hours agoon
June 13, 2026
Roy Jones Jr has announced his price and is demanding an eight-figure purse if he is to make it through the ropes.
At his peak, the American became one of the best players to ever grace the sport, and his breathtaking speed and overall physical prowess made him seem almost unbeatable.
After winning world titles at middleweight, super middleweight and airy heavyweight, Jones even moved up to heavyweight and dethroned John Ruiz to win the WBA belt in 2003.
The pound-for-pound legend retired in 2018, when many thought his best days were behind him, only to take it to the next level exhibition match with Mike Tyson in 2020
Although it was a non-contest, many believed that Tyson outplayed Jones, who then returned professionally against Anthony Pettis and lost an eight-round decision to the former UFC champion in 2023.
Since then, the 57-year-old has remained on the safer side of the competition, but is now eyeing another comeback, this time against Misfits boxer Tommy Fury.
Having delved into the power side of the sport following previous professional victories over Jake Paul and KSI, Fury is now preparing to face former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall.
I’m talking to Betting showroomJones said he would only be willing to challenge the 27-year-old if he was handsomely rewarded for his troubles.
“Is me vs. Tommy Fury dead? Nothing is dead forever. Roy Jones is still alive. Tommy Fury is still alive. Who knows? For the right money, it would make me go to the gym to get ready.”
“If they give me $10 million of course. Ten and more, yes. If they don’t give me $10 million and more, then no, I’m not wasting my time.”
Fury’s six-round exhibition match with Hall will take place later today at the Manchester Arena, although the result will not affect his professional record of 11-0 (4 KO).
“There are a confined number of fights and he can’t fight every fighter. So why don’t you consider that [Iglesias and Sheeraz] think about who wants to be at the front of the line,” Kellerman said on InsideRingShow.
Kellerman rejected the idea that Canelo was firing any of the fighters.
“He’s not saying he’s ignoring Sheeraz and Iglesias. In fact, he just gave them a path. He said, ‘I’m fighting Mbilli.’ You are fighting each other. This is not a duck. This is about business,” Kellerman said.
Sheeraz has already made it clear that he has no interest in following the route proposed by Canelo. Responding to a suggestion from an earlier interview, the British fighter said he respected Alvarez but would not allow another boxer to dictate his career decisions.
A fight between Sheeraz and Iglesias could answer many of the remaining questions about both men.
Canelo is preparing to fight Mbilli, a fighter widely viewed as one of the most threatening fighters in the division due to his constant pressure and furious attacks. Meanwhile, Sheeraz has had two fights since moving up to 168 pounds, a fight against Edgar Berlanga, who he stopped in July 2025 after Canelo had already beaten him a year earlier, and 39-year-old Al Begic for the vacant WBO title.
A fight between Sheeraz and Iglesias could eliminate many of the questions that still haunt both men. Sheeraz would have the opportunity to silence critics who believe his super middleweight resume is slim, while Iglesias could reaffirm a growing reputation that has led some fans to consider him the division’s boogeyman.
The winner would pose a bigger and more marketable challenge. Instead of facing Sheeraz immediately after his victory over Begic, Alvarez could face an opponent who had a decisive victory over another world champion, adding more significance to what could be one of the final marquee fights of his career.
Max Kellerman reacts to Canelo Álvarez’s comments about Hamzah Sheeraz and Osleys Iglesias 👀#InsideTheRing | The latest episode LIVE NOW on YouTube The Ring 📺 pic.twitter.com/tfOhDtjgit
— InsideRingShow (@InsideRingShow) June 12, 2026
Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fighting landscape. His reports focus on the most essential fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
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