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Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga: What the Numbers Tell Us

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Canelo Alvarez will headline a Las Vegas boxing event for the 18th time when he faces Edgar Berlanga on Saturday night for the WBC, WBO and WBA super middleweight titles. The fight card at the T-Mobile Arena also includes Erislandy Lara defending his WBA middleweight title against Danny Garcia and a super middleweight bout between Caleb Plant and Trevor McCumby for the vacant WBA interim title.

Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) held titles in four divisions, including the lineal middleweight and super middleweight championships. Alvarez became the undisputed super middleweight champion by defeating Plant via 11th-round TKO in November 2021. He successfully defended the belt four times before the IBF stripped him of the belt in July when Alvarez chose to face Berlanga instead of IBF mandatory challenger William Scull.

“I just want to show everyone that I’m still the best,” Alvarez said during a news conference in Las Vegas on Wednesday. “I still love this sport. When I stop loving it, you’ll know. I love my routine and I love going to the gym every day.”

Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) has never fought for a world title. After starting his career 16-0 with all of his wins coming in the first round, Berlanga has just one knockout win in his last six.

Berlanga, a clear underdog (+900 according to ESPN BET), knows he has to do something special to beat Alvarez, one of the best fighters in the world.

“This is the chance of a lifetime,” Berlanga said. “It’s going to be a shootout this weekend. … I’m going to make everyone believe. It’s Puerto Rico versus Mexico and we’re going to fight on Saturday night.”

Let’s take a look at the title fight by the numbers, using data from ESPN Stats & Information and CompuBox.


-2000: According to ESPN BET, the odds are for Alvarez to win the fight.

1,582: The total number of seconds Berlanga fought in his first 16 fights as a professional, which all ended in the first round, averaged 98.9 seconds per fight. The combined record of all 16 opponents at the time of their fights was 175 wins, 67 losses, and 15 draws.

4: Alvarez’s successful title defenses as undisputed super middleweight champion. He is the only boxer to defend the undisputed title four times in the four-belt era (since 2007).

21: Alvarez’s world title wins; with a record of 21-2-1, he is the fourth Mexican-born fighter with 20 or more world title wins. With a win on Saturday, he would tie Marco Antonio Barrera for third place in world title wins among Mexicans (Julio Cesar Chavez, 31; Ricardo “Finito” Lopez, 25).

11: The undisputed men’s champions in the newfangled era of four belts. In addition to Alvarez, they are: Bernard Hopkins, Jermain Taylor, Terence Crawford, Oleksandr Usyk, Teofimo Lopez, Josh Taylor, George Kambosos Jr., Devin Haney, Jermell Charlo and Naoya Inoue.

14.7: Most punches landed per round by Alvarez out of 41 landed (35.9%, 5th most precise among champions and title contenders).

4.2: Alvarez landed 18.3 punches per round (23%).

10.5: Alvarez landed 22.7 power punches per round (46.3%), which ranked 6th among champions and title contenders.

6.6: The average number of power punches landed on Alvarez by his opponents in each round was 30.1%.

12.4: Berlanga landed 37.6 punches per round (33%).

7.6: Berlanga landed the most powerful punches in every round (17.8 of 42.7%).

5.8: Opponents landed the most power punches on Berlanga per round (29.9%).


  • Although Berlanga was born in Brooklyn, Recent York, his Puerto Rican heritage means this fight will join other notable Mexico-Puerto Rico title fights.

  • Compared to Alvarez’s championship experience, Berlanga will be fighting for a world title for the first time in his career. It will be a major step up in the competition for Berlanga, who enters the fight as the No. 5-ranked super middleweight, according to ESPN.

  • Canelo will be defending at least one super middleweight title for the eighth time. He is currently a -2,000 favorite (according to ESPN BET), which would give him the second-lowest odds to win a super middleweight title fight.


In Their Own Words – From Wednesday’s Final Press Conference in Las Vegas

Berlanga on what the fight with Alvarez means to him: “It all means that I’m in this position. I shouldn’t be here. I was doubted before I turned pro. But I knew I had to end up in this position.

“I can be the face of Puerto Rican boxing after Saturday night. I’ve wanted this for years and now it’s my turn to do it.”

Berlanga on his approach before the fight: “I’m a knockout artist. Every fighter wants a knockout. We know he’s a legend and we can’t just give it our all. We have to do it the right way. A sixth-round knockout, that’s what we’re going for. But we’re ready to go all 12 rounds if we have to.”

Alvarez on aiming for knockout: “It’s basic to say he’s going to knock me out, but it’s much harder to do it. Saturday night will be very complex for him, that’s for sure. I’ve prepared for a knockout. I love the feeling of a knockout and I’ll do everything in my power to do it.

“I always put 100 percent into my fights and training, no matter who I fight. It’s the same mentality in every fight. This is no exception. I had a great training camp and I’m ready.”

Alvarez on fighting on Mexican Independence Day weekend: “It’s an honor to fight on this day. Mexican Independence Day is very critical to us. It’s something special and I’m very proud to fight for the Mexican people.

“The fans mean everything to me and I appreciate them. They support me no matter what and I am grateful to everyone who has supported me throughout my career.”

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George Kambosos moves up to 140, adds Eddie Hearn to team

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George Kambosos beats Teofimo

Former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos approached promoter Eddie Hearn asking for more massive fights.

Kambosos has signed a co-promotional deal with Eddie Hearn, under which the Greek-Australian slugger will continue his association with DiBella Entertainment Inc. and his own company, Ferocious Promotions.

The 21-3 star will move up to the super lightweight division of Matchroom Boxing’s lively division. He aims to become a two-weight world champion in early 2025, and as part of the deal, a title fight is promised as long as he continues to win.

Since his stunning victory over Teofimo Lopez, Kambosos has never shied away from competing against the best. Those three losses on his resume came to Devin Haney [twice] and Vasily Lomachenko, all at home and all for world titles.

The 31-year-old is now set to face compatriot Liam Paro after defending his IBF title against Richardson Hitchins in December in Puerto Rico.

“I am thrilled to be working with Matchroom Boxing. I am excited to have signed a three-way promotional cooperation agreement with my long-time promoter DiBella Entertainment Inc. and Ferocious Promotions,” Kambosos said.

“I made great success and history when I moved up the Matchroom shows by winning my UK elimination fight against Lee Selby. The most noteworthy and unforgettable is my victory against Teofimo at Madison Square Garden in Up-to-date York to become the 135-pound world champion.

“I am officially announcing that I will be moving up to 140 pounds and signing with Matchroom will ensure my continued success and the legacy I want to leave in the sport of boxing.”

Hearn, who adds an experienced campaigner to his stable, added: “I am delighted to welcome George to the team. George’s victory over Teofimo tore up the script and showed that George was the man for the massive time. He has proven to be a huge attraction in Australia and one of the real driving forces behind the rapid growth of boxing Down Under.

“The 140-pound division is full of massive names and massive potential fights. Adding George to the mix only elevates the level, and a possible fight with Liam Paro is a truly appetizing prospect. If Liam manages to win in a great fight against Richardson on December 7th [the fight could be on].

Lou DiBella, who has worked with Kambosos for years, said: “I’m glad I was able to make a deal with my antique buddy Eddie to work with George Kambosos Jr. and Ferocious Promotions.

“Throughout his career, George has been a fighter who has never shied away from a challenge, and now he wants to test himself against top junior welterweights.

Matchroom works with top 140-pounders, including George’s compatriot Liam Paro, and, like DiBella Entertainment, is heavily invested in Australia.

“It’s a natural partnership,” added the Up-to-date Yorker.

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Mike Tyson had absolutely no chance of knocking out Jake Paul

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Mike Tyson comeback black

One of the hottest topics surrounding Mike Tyson’s return at the age of 58 was the possibility of the boxing legend scoring a knockout of Jake Paul.

WBN has weighed in on this topic several times, questioning the validity of five-second training clips that revealed nothing about Tyson’s abilities at this overdue age. One of the most intriguing observations during the preparations was the opinion of UFC commentator Daniel Cormier.

Speaking on his show “Funky and the Champ,” Cormier reflected on Tyson’s social media videos and offered an informed opinion on the meaning of the clips.

“I understand that [he is in amazing shape at 58]and I understand what he is saying [he feels as though he can compete]– Cormier said. “And I agree that when he hits the pads with Rafael Cordeiro, it looks like there’s still something left in him.

“But then I watch Jake Paul fight Mike Perry. I saw Jake Paul get overwhelmed to the point where he started to feel uncomfortable. It looked like Mike Perry had a chance. But Jake has a reserve tank he can go to and benefit from because he’s 28 years ancient. Then he comes back and finally finishes Mike Perry.

“At the beginning of the fight, Mike Perry gets beaten up and dropped. He looks trained and unmatched. This worries me because what if it looks like a 58-year-old man fighting a 28-year-old man while Mike can’t employ the backup tank to stay and compete with this newborn kid? I think it’s a failure for Jake Paul because if you beat Mike Tyson, everyone will love him.

He added: “What if Mike knocks him out? It’s over. Everything is ready. This would be the backfire of all time. If he gets knocked out, nothing like that has ever happened in the history of the sport.”

Unfortunately for Tyson, this revenge backfired spectacularly, as the former heavyweight champion’s return was the only event that bombed. Tyson had nothing left twenty years after he had nothing left in his tank and no desire to box in his mind.

Paul parlayed this into a money-making scheme that would forever be a success for him and his company, but would be poorly received by the die-hard boxing fraternity.

Cormier’s words resonate, especially after what happened in the ring when Mike Tyson struggled to shift into first gear, warning former fighters thinking about returning after 50.

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Lauren Price looks to win Jonas vs Habazin with an undercard victory

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Lauren Price

Lauren Price MBE will defend her world title for the first time on Saturday, December 14 at the Exhibition Center in Liverpool, while the Welsh champion plans to stage an all-British unification clash with welterweight rival Natasha Jonas, which will headline the Collision Course that night.

Price defends her WBA welterweight title against undefeated Colombian challenger Bexcy Mateus on the same night as Jonas attempts to unify the IBF and WBC titles with Ivana Habazin as part of BOXXER’s ‘Collision Course’ fight night, which can be seen live and exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK UK and Ireland and Peacock in the US.

Price MBE (7-0, 1 KO) made history with an excellent performance, defeating former undisputed welterweight world ruler Jessica McCaskill in front of her fans in Cardiff in May.

Price, the first Welsh boxer to win Olympic gold, once again entered the record books by becoming the country’s first world champion in just her seventh professional fight. The 30-year-old from Ystrad Mynach, who has yet to lose a round as a professional, will now defend her world titles for the first time as she focuses on dominating the welterweight division.

Mateus (7-0, 6 KO), ranked No. 5 in the WBA rankings, is undefeated in the professional ranks and has won all but one of her seven fights by knockout. The 29-year-old from Bogota, fighting outside her native Colombia for the first time, will now have her first chance at global fame, with her goal to dethrone Price and take the top spot in the welterweight division.

Lauren Price said: “I’m excited to defend my belts and complete what has been an crucial year for me. I have full respect for Mateusz. I will prove that I am the best in the division and I will not let anything or anyone stand in my way of being undisputed.”

BOXXER Founder and CEO Ben Shalom said: “It’s a massive night for the women’s welterweight division with three world champions competing. Natasha Jonas returns to her hometown for a mandatory unification fight against Ivana Habazin, and Lauren Price defends her world titles against undefeated challenger Bexcy Mateus. The fight for the undisputed continues. If Natasha and Lauren win on December 14, it will set the stage for a massive “Battle Of Britain” world title unification fight next year.

There’s reason to celebrate as BOXXER delivers a Christmas cracker to end the year. In addition to the world championship fights between Natasha Jonas and Lauren Price, fight fans can expect a gala full of drama and entertainment.

Undefeated Irishman Stephen McKenna (15-0, 14 KO) will face English champion Lee Cutler (14-1, 7 KO) in an invigorating super welterweight fight for the silver WBC International title.

McKenna impressed fans in his three-round fight against Joe Laws last August at Oakwell Stadium in Barnsley. The two struck out in the first round, then McKenna began to apply the pressure, losing Laws three more times and maintaining his undefeated record after a third-round stoppage.

English cruiserweight champion Viddal Riley (11-0, 6 KO) returns to action from a rib injury that has kept him out of the ring since a career-best victory over Mikael Lawal in March. Riley will be looking to shake off the ring rust as he takes on high-profile opponents in the recent year.

Undefeated Chorley super middleweight Mark Jeffers (18-0, 5 KO) scored an explosive fifth-round knockout victory over Darren Johnston in May and will be looking to bring more drama to Liverpool’s Exhibition Center as he goes in search of his 19th professional win.

Mason Cartwright (20-4-1, 8 KO) from Cheshire, a former two-time British title challenger from Ellesmere Port, will be counting on local support as he returns to the title track.

After signing a promotional contract with BOXXER, local star Frankie Stringer (8-0, 1 KO) can achieve his third victory in 2024, when he returns in front of his fans in Liverpool. The 23-year-old lightweight fighter is a player of the notable city team Rotunda ABC, and his manager is former world champion Liam Smith.

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