The perfect foil FULL RESULTS

Jack Hirsch watches Mccrory bring out the best in Berlanga who in turn would surely do the same for Canelo

Edgar Berlanga (168lbs), 22-0 (17), w rsf 6 Padraig Mccrory (168lbs), 18-1 (9); Shakhram Giyasov (147lbs), 15-0 (10), w td 11

Pablo Cesar Cano (146lbs), 35-9-1 (25);

Andy Cruz (135lbs), 3-0 (1), w pts 10

Brayan Zamarripa (135lbs), 14-3 (5);

Antonio Vargas (117 1/2lbs), 18-1 (10), w rsf 7 Jonathan Rodriguez (118lbs), 17-2-1 (7); Yankiel Rivera (112lbs), 5-0 (2), w pts 10

Andy Dominguez (1111/2lbs), 10-1 (6);

Joseph Fernandez (1401/2lbs), 18-5-3 (6), w pts 8 Aaron Aponte (141lbs), 8-2-1 (2).

UTSIDE of perhaps Edgar Berlanga himself, there was probably no one more ecstatic over the Puerto Rican’s sixth round stoppage of Padraig Mccrory at the Caribe Royal (Matchroom promoted) than Canelo Alvarez. The Mexican superstar has been accused of entering a phase in his career where he’s only interested in having high reward-low risk fights. In Berlanga he gets more than that, a big payday in which Alvarez would have virtually no chance of losing. Better, it can be marketed to a public which has now become so gullible that they can be sold anything based on hype.

We were told by promoter Eddie Hearn, and accurately so, that in such a matchup, Berlanga would engage Canelo in a firefight and go punch for punch with him. What was left unsaid is that Berlanga lacks the talent to hold Alvarez off and would have no choice but to trade. But that is all hypothetical, at least for the time being.

For all the talk about who will be Canelo’s next opponent in May, make no mistake about it, Berlanga has the inside track. From a business vantage it is best to get him inside a ring with Canelo as soon as possible. Although Berlanga is only 26, it is prudent to cash out now

OORLANDO, FL

FEBRUARY 24

★★★★★ MAIN EVENT

★★★★★ UNDERCARD because he is nothing more than an above average fighter who is likely to be defeated by the first world class boxer he tangles with. Some careers are built to last but, with respect, Berlanga’s isn’t.

Edgar himself seems to be a decent fellow. The way he consoled Mccrory for a lengthy period once the fight was over is reflective of that. Berlanga is humble; there is no real trash talking before a contest. His approach in that regard is something more boxers should follow. However, there seems to be a feeling of entitlement with Team Berlanga, kind of like a golfer insisting on one mulligan after another until he gets things right. And that is exactly how Edgar’s career is playing out.

Berlanga, who spent most of his career in Brooklyn, but now lives in Tampa, created a buzz right from the start of his professional career by scoring 16 straight one-round stoppages. At that point he was being groomed to box Canelo. The selling point was Berlanga’s power. But then he went five fights without a stoppage.

Top Rank seemed to lose interest in him. Matchroom then signed Berlanga with Canelo in mind. But they kept waiting for a performance from him that would at least give the illusion he was a threat to the Mexican king. Berlanga was back, we were told, as if he had been on vacation during those last five fights which all went to the scorecards.

Mccrory, from Belfast, deserves credit for troubling Berlanga to an extent. After an uneventful first round in which nary a punch was thrown, a left hook forced Berlanga to regroup in the second.

Showing no fear, Mccrory moved forward. Although Berlanga was jabbing effectively, he and Mccrory were getting tangled up on the inside. A frustrated Berlanga – who in June 2022 was suspended for six months for biting Alexis Angulo – resorted to flagrantly fouling Mccrory in the third. First there was an intentional elbow to the neck and later a headbutt. Referee Christopher Young warned Berlanga but did not deduct any points.

By the fourth Mccrory was tiring and became more hittable. A left hook from

Berlanga wobbled him. Berlanga, still behind that strong jab, applied pressure in the fifth. Berlanga’s right eye was cut. He had a cut on his cheek as well but was the much fresher man. In the sixth he forced Mccrory to the ropes, the worst possible place for the weary Irishman to be. They traded punches, Berlanga’s more powerful and accurate. A right to the chin hurt Mccrory, then another sent him sprawling to the canvas. At the count of eight the towel flew in the ring as Mccrory was getting to his feet. The time was 2-44 of the round.

Shakhram Giyasov, from Uzbekistan, was declared a technical decision victor over Pablo Cesar Cano when the Mexican was unable to come out for round 12, due to a nasty fall that occurred at the bell during the previous round. Cano’s right leg twisted awkwardly, his ankle taking the brunt of it after toppling backward after the men were tangled up. It was thought he might have suffered a fracture. Although Giyasov led 109-99 on all three cards, he failed to impress.

Cuba’s Olympic Gold medalist

Andy Cruz did everything he could to stop Mexican

Brayan Zamarripa but had to settle for a unanimous decision over 10 rounds. It was scored 100-90 across the board.

By the sixth round things were so one-sided that it looked like Zamarripa would not survive, but kudos to him for finding a way to do so.

It was a rough start for Antonio Vargas who was dropped heavily at the end of the first round of his WBA bantamweight title eliminator against Bethlehem’s Jonathan Rodriguez.

Then in the second round when Vargas returned the favour, the Florida fighter was deducted two points by referee Young for hitting his opponent while he was down. It was a competitive fight after that, but Vargas was too strong and in command when a left hook to the chin dropped Rodriguez heavily at the end of the seventh. He was not allowed to come out for the following round of the scheduled 12.