Edgar Berlanga says he’s planning his “comeback fight” but is open to challenging Terence Crawford for his undisputed crown at 168. The Brooklyn, New York native states that he’s got “big things on the plate” for 2026 when he returns to the ring.
Can He Be Rebuilt?
The former Matchroom-promoted Berlanga didn’t give any hints about who he could be facing for his next fight, but it would be in his best interest to choose a safe, lower-level opponent to ensure that he’s not beaten again. His record is essentially built on victories over tomato cans. So, if he keeps doing that, he can remain a viable option for the true talents at 168.
Berlanga (23-2, 18 KOs) was crushed in five rounds by Hamzah Sheeraz earlier this year on July 12 in Queens, New York. He didn’t look good at all in that fight, getting dropped twice late in the fourth round by Hamzah, and was finished off at the start of the fifth.
The defeat was Edgar’s second in his last three fights, and it’s questionable whether he can be rebuilt sufficiently by his manager, Keith Connolly, to be a major player to be given other big paydays.
Despite having beaten no notable fighters, Berlanga has made millions from his fights against Sheeraz and Canelo Alvarez. He’s now wealthy and can afford to be choosy. At 28, Edgar is rich and will need to remain hungry to turn his career around. We’ve seen what’s happened to many fighters after they get a taste of money.
Crawford on His Radar
“For sure. Definitely,” said Edgar Berlanga to Fighthype when asked if he’d be interested in challenging Terence Crawford for his undisputed super middleweight championship. “Right now, I’m focused on my comeback fight.”
It’s unrealistic that Crawford would give Berlanga a title shot because it would be a pure waste. There would be no interest from fans in a mismatch like that. At this point, Berlanga is down and out and is low-hanging fruit for Bud or any of the top dogs at 168.
Superstar or Mirage?
“I got to put my head down. Whatever happened in my last fight is cool,” said Berlanga about his fifth-round knockout loss to Hamzah Sheeraz on July 12th. “That ain’t dimmed my light at all. I’m still a superstar. I’m the King of New York. I’m fly. I look good and I fight good.
Edgar is free to sign with anyone now, as a free agent after leaving Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom. It’s unclear whether Turki Alalshikh would take an interest in using him for another one of his events after the way Sheeraz blew him out.
It would be more worthwhile for Turki to focus on better talents, like these three super middleweights:
- Osleys Iglesias
- Christian Mbilli
- Lester Martinez
“I’m excited for next year. I got big things on the plate,” said Berlanga.
Written by Ken Woods, Ringside Boxing Analyst, covering world title fights since 2018.
Last Updated on 10/19/2025
Read the full article here
