Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez defended his unified super middleweight title with a major unanimous decision over Edgar Berlanga in Las Vegas.

PBC promoted the Canelo vs Berlanga fight, with DAZN and Amazon Prime sharing broadcast rights.

The 27-year-old Puerto Rican entered the contest as a clear underdog and it seemed like he had a chance early on. He was immediately pushed onto his back leg by Alvarez, refused to let go of his hands and bit challenging at the champion’s feints.

In the third round, Canelo absolutely floored him with a left hook and passed Berlanga’s defender at a speed so quick it bordered on cartoonish. To his credit, “The Chosen One” didn’t look seriously hurt and survived the rest of the round well.

Getting him on the canvas seemed to somehow solidify Berlanga’s position in the contest, and he gradually gained confidence from there. While he didn’t win many rounds, the Brooklyn boxer had moments of success later in his career and showed impressive defense on the ropes—not to mention a forceful chin.

The left hook that dropped Berlanga was felt in San Juan 🇵🇷. #CaneloBerlanga pic.twitter.com/QP94bYobdc

— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) September 15, 2024

There were some violent moments, most notably when Canelo landed a pristine right hand after the referee called a stoppage, though it was somewhat of a justified response to the blatant utilize of the head by his youthful opponent.

However, at the end of the incredibly emotional final round, the pair immediately hugged, with Berlanga thanking the Guadalajara star for the opportunity before admitting that he is his idol.

Nothing beats boxing in Vegas during Mexican Independence weekend. 🇲🇽 RESPECT 🇵🇷#CaneloBerlanga pic.twitter.com/TxOiFmOp8i

— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) September 15, 2024

To the surprise of no one at T-Mobile Arena, Alvarez won by unanimous decision and marches on with his three-word titles. Berlanga, though well beaten, answered several long-standing questions that cast a shadow over him and proved he has plenty of substance to back up his fervor.

Lara defends herself against Garcia

In the veterans’ fight, Cuban Erislandy Lara (31-3-3, 19 KO) defended his WBA middleweight world title by defeating Danny Garcia (37-4, 21 KO).

Garcia looked a shadow of his former self and retired after nine rounds. Lara, 41, is still enjoying the Indian summer and has won six matches in a row.

Shipping plants or McCumby

Former super middleweight world champion Caleb Plant (23-2, 14 KOs) made his first fight since losing to David Benavidez last year with a ninth-round stoppage of unannounced Trevor McCumby (28-1, 21 KOs).

Plant, who survived an early knockdown, currently holds the interim belt at 168 pounds and could be in line for another world title fight in 2025.

IT’S OVER!! REVENGE TOURISM CONTINUES WITH ANOTHER KO BY @SweetHandsPlant! #PlantMcCumby

Order #CaneloBerlanga Now: https://t.co/TTL3b5uHde pic.twitter.com/thEITuxwpq

— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) September 15, 2024

Romero is back in form

Polarizing super lightweight Rolando Romero (16-2, 13 KOs) returned to action at T-Mobile following a loss to Isaac Cruz in March.

Manuel Jaimes (16-2, 11 KO), who had previously only fought in compact gyms, was forceful and powerful but found himself on the wrong side of a unanimous decision win over “Rolly,” who had been earmarked as a potential opponent for Ryan Garcia’s comeback.

Fulton squeaks fit for Castro

In his first fight at 126 pounds, former super bantamweight world champion Stephen Fulton (22-1, 8 KOs) found himself in a tougher fight than advertised against the rugged Carlos Castro (30-3, 14 KOs).

“Scooter” was clamorous on several stages and even fell challenging, but managed to clinch the victory by a split decision on the scorecards.

Lots of action in #FultonCastro with 💣s landed by both players and Castro gets the KD. How did you score that?

Order #CaneloBerlanga Now: https://t.co/TTL3b5uHde pic.twitter.com/lM78e5gis0

— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) September 15, 2024

Villa surprised by Salas

It was a night to remember for Jaron Ennis’ former opponent, Romain Villa (26-3, 24 KOs), who suffered a shock third-round defeat to Ricardo Salas Rodriguez (20-2-2, 15 KOs).

Villa came out on the attack as usual but unleashed a devastating right hand that ended the contest.

Ricardo Salas makes his US debut with a KO finish over Romain Villa in RD3. #WillaSalas

Order #CaneloBerlanga Now: https://t.co/TTL3b5uHde pic.twitter.com/3FKD4ldCmw

— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) September 14, 2024

Further Undercard Recap

In eight rounds, both Yoenli Hernandez (5-0, 5 KOs) and Laurence King (17-1, 14 KOs) scored second-round KO victories over Jose Sanchez Charles (21-6-1, 12 KOs) and Vaughn Williams (12-2, 8 KOs), while Jonathan Lopez (17-0, 12 KOs) had to settle for a decision victory over Richard Medina (15-3, 8 KOs).

Undefeated Kazakhstan’s Bek Nurmaganbet (12-0, 10 KOs) needed just two of six to dispatch Joshua Conley (17-7-1, 11 KOs) in the first set.

With no judges to score, Mayweather claimed a moral victory, and the two hugged after the fight.

Subcard Summary

Another exhibition took place on the undercard, and Victor Ortiz, Mayweather’s former foe and potential future exhibition opponent, failed to impress in his scoreless fight with Rodrigo Damian Coria.

Alan Picasso Romero (29-0-1, 16 KO) improved his class and regained the WBC Silver super bantamweight title with a points victory over former world title challenger Azat Hovhannisyan (21-5, 17 KO). It was a lopsided fight, but Romero won by unanimous decision.

Dutch lightweight Jursly Vargas (3-0, 2 KOs) maintained his unbeaten record with a points win over Brian Eduardo Carrillo (3-2, 2 KOs) in the lightweight division, while Sekaye Terry (1-0, 0 KOs) made his debut and scored a four-round victory over Carlos Rosas (1-2, 0 KOs) in the super featherweight division.

Denzel Bentley successfully defended his WBO International middleweight title, defeating Derrick Osaze in the second round of their meeting at York Hall.

Bentley (20-3-1, 17 KOs) lost his British title in a majority decision loss to Nathan Heaney last November, but won it back with a two-round stoppage over Danny Dignum in April. Osaze (13-2, 3 KOs) has been largely inactive since winning the BOXXER tournament in 2019, and was last seen in March stopping Joel Julio in a third-place finish in Bulgaria.

Both men got off to a busy start in the first round, with Osaze taking the fight to “2 Acute” in the second, causing problems for the champion until he found the surefire equalizer, flattening the 30-year-old with a powerful right uppercut that sent him face down to the canvas and the contest was abruptly ended.

Bentley, who is ranked second by the WBO, is in line for a rematch with the unified WBO and IBF champion, Janibek Alimkhanulywho defeated him on points in November 2022.

The 29-year-old could also target the winner of the September 21 clash between Tyler Denny and Hamzah Sheeraz.

Junior secures first lanes

Aloys Jr. won his first professional titles, winning the full ten rounds and capturing the vacant WBA and IBO Continental cruiserweight titles with a narrow points victory over Oronzo Birardi.

Junior (8-1, 7 KO) was tested by Birardi (8-1, 6 KO) but largely controlled the fight and edged the winner by two scores of 97-93 and a third of 98-92.

Defeat defeats Rodriguez

The only eighth-round contender was in the super welterweight division, where Ben Fail went the distance to defeat Omir Rodriguez on points.

A tiny left hand put Rodriguez (15-20-1, 6 KOs) on the deck in the second round, but a shootout ensued after that and it was Fail (7-0, 5 KOs) who secured the victory in a 77-74 judge’s score.

Remaining Undercard

Joshua Frankham (10-0, 2 KOs) had his first fight of 2024, and the super welterweight did as he pleased, taking all six sessions against Artjom Spatar (4-10-1, 1 KO).

In the super featherweight division, Billy Adams (4-0) impressed by winning all six rounds against Marvin Solano (24-19, 8 KOs).

William Hamilton (6-0, 3 KO) earned a narrow points victory in the heavyweight division against Perry Howe (5-17-1, 1 KO), triumphing 60-54 over six rounds.

Mykyle Ahmed (1-0, 1 KO) made his super flyweight debut and came away with a victory over Stephen Jackson (1-53-1, 1 KO), who has only lost twice early in his 54 previous fights.

Mason Payne (1-0) also bowed out and scored a points win in his welterweight fight against John Henry Mosquera (5-17, 1 KO).

Frankie Wood (1-0) was the third to make his professional debut, with the super featherweight winning all four rounds in his clash with the experienced Engel Gomez (8-35-3, 4 KOs).