Edgar Berlanga


Edgar Luis Berlanga 'Jr'. is an American professional boxer who challenged for the unified super middleweight championship in 2024.
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Early life

Berlanga was born to the large Nuyorican community of Brooklyn, to parents from Puerto Rico. He started boxing at the age of 7, As a child, he was a fan of Félix Trinidad, a former world champion who frequently fought at Madison Square Garden. When queried about his heritage, Berlanga responded “I feel a hundred percent Puerto Rican I was born over there, but belong here. I am very Puerto Rican”. He also emphasized that most of his family still resides on the islands, and that when he boxes he represents them and its "beautiful flag."

Amateur career

Berlanga began boxing at the age of seven, gathering an amateur record of 162–17.

Professional career

Early career

Berlanga made his professional debut on April 29, 2016, scoring a first-round knockout victory against Jorge Pedroza at Isla San Marcos in Aguascalientes City, Mexico. He has gone on to compile a record of 23–2, with 18 knockouts, 16 coming by first-round stoppage.

Chasing the record

By late 2020, Berlanga's record had improved to 16–0, with all of his victories coming in the 1st round, although some critics would consider his previous opponents, "tin cans", catching the attention of media as he was closing in on the official world record for consecutive 1st-round KOs held by Ali Raymi. On December 12, 2020, Berlanga equalled Young Otto's record when he knocked out Ulises Sierra in the first round. Berlanga attempt to capture the world record for consecutive 1st-round KOs ended on April 24, 2021 when he was taken the full distance in his unanimous decision victory against Demond Nicholson in his 17th pro fight.

Berlanga vs. Cóceres

On October 9, 2021 on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder III, Berlanga overcame a knockdown in the ninth round against former WBO title challenger Marcelo Cóceres to attain his eighteenth successive professional victory. He won via unanimous decision with all three scorecards reading 96–93.

Shoulder Bite Incident

Berlanga attracted controversy due to an incident during his June 11, 2022 fight against Roamer Alexis Angulo, during which a frustrated Berlanga attempted to bite Angulo on the shoulder. The incident was not noticed at the time by referee Ricky Gonzales. Berlanga went on to win the fight by unanimous decision. The following day Berlanga joked about the incident saying "I was about to do a Mike Tyson on him". Berlanga received criticism for this comment and later apologized. The New York State Athletic Commission later fined Berlanga $10,000 and suspended him from professional boxing for a period of six months for the incident.

Berlanga vs. McCrory

On February 24, 2024 in Orlando, Florida, Berlanga faced Padraig McCrory in a 12-round bout at super middleweight. He won the fight by TKO in the sixth round.

Berlanga vs. Álvarez

Berlanga challenged Canelo Álvarez for his WBA, WBC and WBO super middleweight titles at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on September 14, 2024. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Berlanga vs Ortiz

Berlanga returned to the ring in on March 15, 2025, in Orlando, Florida against Jonathan González Ortiz. Berlanga won by TKO in the first round, securing two knockdowns along the way. Berlanga missed the super middleweight limit by 1.6 lbs, but was still eligible to win the title.

Berlanga vs Sheeraz

After Berlanga's comeback win in March 2025, Berlanga wanted the hardest fight possible and thus accepted a fight with 6'3" undefeated Hamzah Sheeraz immediately. Sheeraz vs. Berlanga would headline the Riyadh Season fight night. Berlanga was confident coming into the fight despite all sports books marking him as the underdog. Both weighed the same 167.6 pounds.
Berlanga showed heart by surviving a clean knockout punch that affected him for the rest of the fight, he was down twice in the fourth round with a series of combinations, leaving the latter visibly shaken and struggling to survive until the end of the round. As the fifth round commenced, Sheeraz concluded the bout decisively with a right-left combination, sending Berlanga to the canvas for the third time. The referee, David Fields, promptly stopped the fight just 17 seconds into the round. According to CompuBox, Sheeraz landed 62 of 162 punches thrown and Berlanga landed 46 of his 119 thrown.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
25Loss23–2Hamzah SheerazKO5, 0:17Jul 12, 2025Louis Armstrong Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.
24Win23–1Jonathan González OrtizKO1 2:31Mar 15, 2025Caribe Royale, Orlando, Florida, U.S.Won vacant NABO super middleweight title
23Loss22–1Canelo ÁlvarezUD12Sep 14, 2024T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.For WBA (Super), WBC, WBO, and The Ring super middleweight titles
22Win22–0Padraig McCroryTKO6, 2:44Feb 24, 2024Caribe Royale, Orlando, Florida, U.S.
21Win21–0Jason QuigleyUD12Jun 24, 2023Hulu Theater, New York City, New York, U.S.Retained NABO super middleweight title
20Win20–0Roamer Alexis AnguloUD10Jun 11, 2022Hulu Theater, New York City, New York, U.S.Retained NABO super middleweight title
19Win19–0Steve RollsUD10Mar 19, 2022Hulu Theater, New York City, New York, U.S.Retained NABO super middleweight title
18Win18–0Marcelo CóceresUD10Oct 9, 2021T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Las Vegas, Nevada, USWon vacant NABO super middleweight title
17Win17–0Demond Nicholson8Apr 24, 2021Silver Spurs Arena, Kissimmee, Florida, U.S.
16Win16–0Ulises SierraTKO1, 2:41Dec 12, 2020MGM Grand Conference Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
15Win15–0Lanell BellowsTKO1, 1:29Oct 17, 2020MGM Grand Conference Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
14Win14–0Eric MoonKO1, 1:02Jul 21, 2020MGM Grand Conference Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
13Win13–0Cesar NunezTKO1, 2:45Dec 14, 2019Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
12Win12–0Gregory TrenelTKO1, 2:24Aug 10, 2019Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
11Win11–0Gyorgy VarjuKO1, 0:43May 25, 2019Osceola Heritage Park, Kissimmee, Florida, U.S.
10Win10–0Samir dos Santos BarbosaTKO1, 0:46Apr 20, 2019Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
9Win9–0Gregory ClarkTKO1, 2:29Sep 29, 2018Kings Theatre, New York City, New York, U.S.
8Win8–0Aaron GarciaTKO1, 1:24Jun 9, 2018Kings Theatre, New York City, New York, U.S.
7Win7–0Jaime BarbozaTKO1, 2:42Jan 26, 2018SugarHouse Casino, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
6Win6–0Enrique GallegosTKO1, 1:42Nov 18, 2017Resorts World Casino, New York City, New York, U.S.
5Win5–0Saadiq MuhammadKO1, 0:41Sep 9, 2017Resorts World Casino, New York City, New York, U.S.
4Win4–0Christopher SalernoTKO1, 1:14Mar 24, 2017Orlando Live Event Center, Orlando, Florida, U.S.
3Win3–0Jose Alberto Leal1, 2:40Nov 18, 2016Cancha IV Centenario, Aguascalientes City, Mexico
2Win2–0Jose Antonio Leos NeryKO1, 0:49Jun 16, 2016Auditorio Hermanos Carréon, Aguascalientes City, Mexico
1Win1–0Jorge Pedroza1, 1:02Apr 29, 2016Isla San Marcos, Aguascalientes City, Mexico