“Zuffa.”
When asked if he would make more money with Zuffa, Berlanga confirmed it to Ring Champs.
“Yeah, make more money.”
The exact figures remain private. Berlanga reportedly earned millions challenging Canelo in September 2024, while rumors have put his Zuffa agreement at more than $10 million. Neither figure has been officially confirmed.
Facing Canelo has long represented one of boxing’s biggest paydays. Berlanga also headlined a Turki Alalshikh-backed card against Hamzah Sheeraz in Queens before moving to Zuffa. His claim about the value of the new contract therefore carries some significance.
The matchmaking makes the arrangement look even better for Berlanga. His Zuffa debut on July 26 at Madison Square Garden came against Steven Butler. Berlanga survived a second-round knockdown before stopping him in the seventh.
Butler arrived with five losses. Patrice Volny, Zhanibek Alimkhanuly, Jose de Jesus Macias and Ryota Murata had all beaten him. His career had shown a pattern of falling short when moved against stronger opposition.
Zuffa had other options at super middleweight. Osleys Iglesias, Lester Martinez, Jacob Bank or Kevin Lele Sadjo would have presented much different tests for Berlanga following his loss to Sheeraz. Instead, he received a New York date that allowed him to return to the win column with a stoppage.
One fight doesn’t establish Zuffa’s long-term plan. Dana White has repeatedly told Berlanga that he should become a superstar in New York, however, and immediately matching an expensive signing against the division’s most dangerous contenders wouldn’t necessarily serve that objective.
The strategy would also be familiar territory for Berlanga. Top Rank built his name through favorable matchmaking while his string of first-round knockouts generated hype. Matchroom later moved him toward the Canelo payday. After losing to Canelo, Berlanga returned against Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz, stopped him and announced his free agency from the ring.
Zuffa may be starting another building process. Berlanga has a lucrative contract, a promoter who wants to make him a major New York attraction and, through one appearance, matchmaking that hasn’t demanded the highest degree of risk.
Other expensive Zuffa signings have received similar treatment. Conor Benn faced Regis Prograis, while Richardson Hitchins was matched against Ricardo Salas. Paying established names well while giving them time to increase their promotional value before tougher fights is an old boxing formula.
Berlanga’s next few opponents should tell us more about Zuffa’s plans. Thus far, he’s getting paid handsomely, he’s back in the win column, and Dana White still has his New York superstar project intact.
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