EDGAR Berlanga may be a couple of months removed from his first career loss, but the brash New Yorker has been engaging in some angry social media exchanges as he lines up his next move. Berlanga was dropped by Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in Las Vegas while challenging for three of the super-middleweight belts but battled back to last the course and give a reasonable account of himself.
Berlanga made his name as a heavy-handed finisher, removing opponents in the opening round for fun. After a while, as the opposition level rose, the KOs dried up and he was forced to adopt a new strategy. Now, he has turned his attention to another destroyer, claiming he is willing to shave off almost 20 pounds to make a fantasy fight happen.
I want to fight tank next year I’ll go on fasted diet like 50 cent did and we make the fight happen at 150lbs.
— Edgar Berlanga Jr (@EdgarBerlangaJr) November 24, 2024
Of course, a fight with Gervonta Davis is bizarre and unrealistic. Still, Davis’ former promoter, Floyd Mayweather, teased Naoya Inoue with similar challenges, inviting him to move up in weight and meet ‘Tank’ at a catchweight. A more realistic venture is a fight with former IBF champion Caleb Plant at 168 pounds.
The ferocious pair have not been shy in goading one another towards a 2025 showdown. Plant accused Berlanga of deleting messages, including a foul-mouthed exchange of DMs where Berlanga angrily reminded Plant of his tough background, claiming he was willing to “die in the ring”. Caleb Plant fought Trevor McCumby on the Canelo-Berlanga undercard and was given a more thorough inspection than many expected. He reckons Berlanga doesn’t fancy the heat.
Keeps saying everyone’s name but mine…. This is the reason we don’t believe anything you say…. https://t.co/6NHw7iDpkr
— CalebPlant (@SweetHandsPlant) November 24, 2024