Edgar Berlanga criticizes Canelo Alvarez for pushing for the same date as UFC 306 in Las Vegas… 'I would have pushed us up two weeks'
29/08/2024 15:22
Edgar 'The Chosen One' Berlanga slams Canelo Alvarez for pushing for their upcoming boxing fight to take place on the same day as UFC 306: O'Malley vs Dvalishvili – admits that he'd have preferred if the bout had been pushed back a fortnight so both events had their chance to shine.
Whilst Canelo Alvarez doubles down on his desire to outshine the upcoming 'once in a lifetime' MMA PPV at The Sphere in Las Vegas, his next opponent has the complete opposite opinion; even criticizing the iconic Mexican boxer for not pushing their fight back a few weeks.
Edgar Berlanga slams Canelo for pushing for same date as UFC 306
27-year-old Edgar Berlanga has the chance to shock the world on September 14, Mexican Independence Day weekend, when he takes on the legendary Canelo Alvarez for three world title belts.
Yet that very same night, only just down the road in Las Vegas, the UFC will be hosting one of the biggest (and certainly the most expensive) PPV of all time with UFC 306 at The Sphere, headlined by Sean O'Malley vs Merab Dvalishvili for the bantamweight championship.
Whilst Alvarez has been vocal about his desire to see his boxing showcase outsell and outshine the UFC Noche PPV card, Edgar Berlanga believes that the right decision was to postpone their clash by a few weeks.
Speaking to Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo via the Pound-4-Pound podcast, Berlanga explained that he has the utmost respect for the MMA promotion; and that respect should have been translated into the dates of the two respective events.
"I'm not going to lie man, because I got a lot of respect for the UFC, Dana White, and you guys as the fighters – I respect you guys a lot, warriors just like us but I've seen you guys throw elbows and knees to the face like God damn I ain't never going into that s***.
"But if I was in Canelo's shoes, personally me, I would have said 'Yo let's push this date up, let's push it another two weeks and give the UFC their shine – they're making history that day, and we're make history, but we'll push it up two weeks'."
According to the 22-0 title challenger, the reason why his boxing fight with Alvarez stuck with the clashing September 14 date is that the Mexican icon has "too much pride", as evidenced by his ongoing feud with Turki Alalshikh.
"Canelo's a guy who's got too much pride, you've seen him go back and forth with Turki and stuff, he feels like he's the money man, he's like 'F*** the UFC, f*** Turki' and all that, 'This is my event and my day' – you know what I'm saying?
"Personally, I would have pushed us up two weeks, just to give you guys that shot – especially cause you guys called the day first… It's not like he had the day, you had the whole card set up, the venue and everything so it’s out of respect man."
Regarding the back-and-forth with Turki Alalshikh, who is bankrolling the UFC 306 event as part of Riyadh Season, Berlanga noted that that's not a fight that Canelo can win.
"You can't go against the guy, this guy has major money man and you're going up against him man, you're firing him [up] so that guy is going to do the most to try to build up that event [UFC 306] to be the most craziest event.
"But it is what it is, we just got to focus on September 14 on my event and I just got to come out victorious so that when I do win, times like this, I could push the UFC event [back myself]."
Edgar Berlanga teases fans can 'expect fireworks' when he faces Canelo
Whilst Berlanga was open and honest about his desire to see his boxing fight stand alone, rather than clashing with UFC 306, there's nothing left to be done but prepare for 'fireworks' on September 14.
In fact, that's exactly what Berlanga told Usman and Cejudo on the podcast; that fans can expect fireworks when he steps into the ring against the 61-2-2 champion.
"September 14, the people should be expecting fireworks, it's going to be a big event, Mexico vs Puerto Rico, fireworks – we're coming to fight and now is my time to stamp my name on the sport of boxing, put my name up there with the top dogs – and become a legend myself.
"I got the opportunity, a lot of guys get their first title shot for one belt, we're getting my first title shot for three belts – that's history right there, I don't think there's a fighter that's ever fought their first title fight for three belts against a legend."
"Right there alone, that's history right there," noted Berlanga, with his title fight vs Canelo Alvarez scheduled for September 14 via Amazon Prime Video.
