Edgar Berlanga began a new chapter in his career ahead of Jason Quigley at the Theater in Madison Square Garden on Saturday in New York City.
The 168-pound contender is returning from a year-long hiatus and with a new promoter, Matchroom Boxing, as he embarks on what he hopes is a final attempt to win a major title on world.
Berlanga (20-0, 16 KOs) is from Brooklyn, meaning he’ll be fighting in front of his hometown fans.
“It was a big night on Saturday, he said. “Having been out of work for a year, we are going home to a new promoter and I am ready to perform.”
Berlanga made a splash by stopping his first 16 opponents in the first round, earning him a reputation as a knockout artist.
However, his four most recent opponents have given him the lead, including close fights with Marcelo Coceres (who knocked out Berlanga) in October 2021 and Steve Rolls in March of last year in his scheduled first 10 inning match.
The last time he faced Roamer Alexis Angulo, whom he easy to point out. He was suspended for six months later for biting Angulo during their fight.
Berlanga then left Top Rank in January, after which he signed with Matchroom. He is said to have made the second move in part to land a lucrative fight with champion Canelo Alvarez, who also works with Matchroom.
He said he didn’t feel any extra pressure to make a strong statement. And he insists that he doesn’t take Quigley lightly (28-2, 14 KOs).
“Others are trying to say Jason was an easy fight,” he said, “but I know it was an uphill fight. We are well prepared for that. He won’t stand in the middle of the ring. We are well prepared for him.
“I have a lot of respect for him and his team, but we’ll handle the business.”
If he succeeds, he hopes to move on to more important battles.
“For me, there are bigger fish out there,” he said, “GGGs (Gennadiy Golovkin), (Jermall) Charlo’s, these are the people I want to be in the ring with. I feel I’m ready and experienced enough to fit in with them.
“But I have to beat Jason Quigley this weekend. That’s what it is.
