Edgar Berlanga claims he's only facing 'C-level fighter' Hamzah Sheeraz to secure rematch against Canelo as Louis Armstrong Stadium is announced as venue for July 12 bout
Edgar Berlanga has dismissed undefeated British fighter Hamzah Sheeraz as a mere stepping stone on his path back to a high-profile rematch with Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, branding Sheeraz a 'C-level' opponent ahead of their July 12 bout.
Berlanga, 27, will meet Sheeraz on a stacked card co-headlined by Shakur Stevenson and William Zepeda at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, NY.
The fight will mark Sheeraz's first venture into the super middleweight division—territory Berlanga has occupied his entire professional career.
While some are viewing the 21-0-1 (17 KOs) Sheeraz as one of Berlanga's most formidable opponents to date, the Brooklyn native firmly disagrees.
'I don't see it that way,' Berlanga said when asked if Sheeraz ranks among his top challenges. 'He's a C-level fighter. I'm not underestimating him, but let's be real.'
Berlanga, who made headlines with a streak of 16 consecutive first-round knockouts early in his career, insists his past opposition was no walkover.
'We never picked guys off the street. These were real fighters, and I just made it look easy,' he said.
Confident he can deliver another emphatic finish, Berlanga predicted a swift end to Sheeraz's night.
'He's going to be my 18th first-round knockout,' he declared. 'If he comes to fight early, he's getting stopped early. You got gifted your last win and fired your trainer. Now you think you can come here and mess with me? You'll have to kill me to win.'
The July clash comes as part of Berlanga's first appearance under the promotional banner of Turki Alalshikh and The Ring Magazine.
According to Alalshikh, the stakes are high—possibly determining the next challenger for Canelo Alvarez after the Mexican's blockbuster bout with Terence Crawford.
'This event will shape our next one,' Alalshikh explained. 'All eyes are on the result of Berlanga vs. Sheeraz. Canelo is watching.'
He went on to add: 'This is an important night for boxing, and Berlanga wants to make a serious statement in his debut with us.'
Berlanga, now 23-1 (18 KOs), is eager to rebound from his only career loss—a decision defeat to Canelo Alvarez in September 2024. With a dominant win, he hopes to reignite that rivalry and position himself once again among the super middleweight elite.
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