The reaction from fans was split. Some backed Berlanga’s confidence. Others questioned whether he can still compete with the top names at 168 pounds after the Sheeraz loss exposed problems that have followed him throughout his career.
The defeat changed the way many fans look at Berlanga because it was not a close fight or a controversial decision. Sheeraz walked him down, landed clean shots, and stopped him in the fifth round. Berlanga had already lost a wide decision to Canelo Alvarez before that.
The move to Zuffa Boxing gives Berlanga, 28, another chance to rebuild his value, but it also places him inside a system that may not allow much room for failure. Dana White’s model has always favored fighters who produce results quickly and stay active. If a fighter loses momentum, the company usually moves on fast.
That creates pressure for Berlanga because there is little appetite for slow rebuilding jobs at the top level. At 168, another loss like the Sheeraz fight would likely push him into gatekeeper territory.
The decision to leave Matchroom also raised the pressure for Berlanga’s team. Since manager Keith Connolly moved Berlanga, Richardson Hitchins, and Conor Benn toward Zuffa, Eddie Hearn said he no longer plans to work with Connolly. Berlanga is now fully tied to the Zuffa project with no clear road back to the Matchroom side if things go badly.
There are signs that Berlanga is trying to make changes physically. Trainer Marc Farrait recently said Berlanga has stayed around 188 pounds between fights, lower than in past camps. The goal appears to be improving his conditioning and mobility after Sheeraz exposed how vulnerable he looked under pressure.
The problem is that super middleweight remains one of boxing’s hardest divisions to survive in if a fighter cannot take shots cleanly or keep opponents off him. Berlanga still has power and name recognition, but the unbeaten prospect label is gone.
Zuffa wants action fighters and memorable performances. Berlanga now has a short window to prove he still belongs near the top of the division instead of becoming another name used to build the next attraction.
If you ain’t got no haters you ain’t poppin !! I will never change who I am to satisfy you haters! So keep hating and trolling the kid. While I stack belts and keep making HIT RECORDS! pic.twitter.com/CiOQLgPWRa
— Edgar Berlanga Jr (@EdgarBerlangaJr) May 13, 2026
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