On Saturday night, March 15, during the night’s co-working competition, Edgar Belanga (Edgar “The The The The The The The The Choose One”) returns to the square circle as he faces Jonathan Gonzalez-Otis at Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida (20-0-1, 16 KOS) Live in Daz.
(Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom)
Six months ago, Berlanga was the headline in the Unified Super Middleweight World Championship Battle in Las Vegas, Nevada. Unfortunately for Berlanga, he lost his unquestionable record. Now, he is ready to bounce back by showing off his talent on Saturday night.
The 27-year-old Brooklyn New York native Edgar Berlanga started his career in an impressive way as he won 16 consecutive knockout wins. Over the next five games, Berlanga made five wins through decision making, which looked average.
Berlanga has reached a multi-fight deal with Eddie Hearn and Match Room boxing matches and continues to make a huge career. A year later, on the evening of February 24, 2024, in his second battle with Matchroom, Berlanga faced undefeated Irish boxer Padraig McCrory, ending his four-year drought.
With 25 seconds left in the sixth round, Berlanga got a spinning right hand and sent McCrory to the canvas. McCrory tried to get up, but before he could get up, his Cornerman decided to throw a towel.
After stopping the victory, Berlanga fought a dream battle as he faced the unified WBO, WBA, WBC super midsize world champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Canelo dropped Berlanga in third place, but Berlanga was able to recover and survive the rest of the round.
Berlanga kept the battle competitive, but at the end of the 12th round, defending champion Canelo Alvarez won by a unanimous decision. Now Edgar Berlanga (22-1, 17 KO) is ready to return to the mandatory challenger argument as he will take on an unbeaten opponent.
Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz is a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico is a stress-fashioned fighter with a good fist and he is used to making his opponents overwhelm with his work rate. The 35-year-old Gonzalez-Ortiz fought twice in 2024, but before that, his last competition was in 2014.
Gonzalez-Ortiz’s decade-long layoffs and the low level of competition he faces are two main reasons why some of them are skeptical of the fight. However, Edgar Berlanga did not underestimate his opponent, as he believed that on Saturday night, he would be involved in a firefight.
“I’m not ignoring this guy, he’s about to win,” Belanga said. “He’s Puerto Rican, he has Puerto Rican blood in him. So, I know he’s fighting. I know he’s not going to run around the ring trying to survive. He’s going there to try to prove a little.”
Austin “Ammunition” Williams vs Patrice Volny is the headlines, but the co-master is a very interesting showdown. Berlanga has a big money battle with Canelo, and his upcoming 1.6-pound battle is limited to 1.6 pounds at a super magnitude of 168 pounds.
That being said, would Berlanga’s lack of focus and discipline open up the chances of Gonzalez-Ortiz’s frustration, or would Berlanga show he was at a different level and had a routine victory?
Last updated on March 14, 20125
