Edgar Berlanga says he wants to fight Caleb Plant, preferring him over the unbeaten WBC interim super middleweight champion Christian Mbilli if he’s victorious on Saturday night against Hamzah Sheeraz.
Berlanga’s Plant Preference
Choosing the down-and-out Plant, 32, over the unbeaten Mbilli would be the ultimate example of a cherry pick by Berlanga, showing what he’s all about with his career. He’d already taken flak in the past by choosing not to fight former WBA ‘regular’ super middleweight champion David Morrell when he was the mandatory for his title in 2024.
Caleb Plant’s Recent Struggles
Plant (23-3, 14 KOs) looked old and feeble, losing a 12-round split decision to his tune-up opponent Jose Armando Resendiz last May. That fight and the one before that for Sweethands’ Plant showed that he’s just a shell of the fighter he’d been in 2021 when Canelo Alvarez knocked him out.
This Saturday, July 12th, Berlanga (23-1, 18 KOs) battles Sheeraz in a 12-round WBC 168-lb title eliminator at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York. The event will be shown live on DAZN PPV for $59.99.
“I’ll fight Caleb Plant,” said Berlanga to The Ring when asked whether he wants to fight Christian Mbilli, Jermall Charlo, or Plant.
Turki’s Fight Decision
The question is, will Turki be interested in paying Berlanga for a fight against Plant? Honestly, I don’t know why he would because it’s not one that fans could get up for due to how Plant has lost two out of his last four fights. David Benavidez beat the living daylights out of Caleb in 2023. Plant losing that fight to his tune-up opponent, Resendiz, on May 31st, showed that he has nothing left, and really was never that good to begin with.
“I want to finish the fight with a bang, fighting in November or December,” said Berlanga to Ring Magazine channel when asked about his plans after Hamzah Sheeraz.
Berlanga’s Canelo Rematch Hopes
Edgar’s main target is a rematch with Canelo Alvarez for a second shot at picking up “that bag,” but that option won’t be there, no matter how good he looks in defeating the unbeaten Sheeraz (21-0-1, 17 KOs). Turki Alalshikh wants Sheeraz or the Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn rematch winner for the Canelo clash next February.
Read the full article here