Unbeaten boxer with 16 knockouts wants Canelo Alvarez to pick him for May fight

Unbeaten boxer Edgar Berlanga Jr has told Canelo Alvarez to fight him in May as he looks to extend his perfect record next month.

WBC, IBF and WBO super middleweight champion Canelo is yet to name an opponent for his next fight but he is the boxer that everyone wants to take on.

That includes Berlanga Jr, whose most recent outing saw him defeat Irish fighter Jason Quigley at the Hulu Theater in New York City in June 2023.

The Brooklyn-born boxer takes on super middleweight contender Padraig McCrory next month on February 24 in Orlando, Florida.

Another win would see the 26-year-old extend his record to 22-0 in a fight he is expected to win and he has since told Canelo to take him on for Cinco de Mayo in May.

When asked if he would be interested in fighting Alvarez on May 4, he told Fight Hub TV: “Yes of course.

“That would be perfect because I’d just be coming off a win, a beautiful win.

“I just feel like I got to perform in this next fight and make a statement so I can have [Canelo’s] eyes open like, ‘oh, okay’.

“He likes what he sees, do you get what I’m saying?”

Berlanga Jr had been building his reputation up as an early knockout artist, winning his first 16 fights via knockout or technical knockout.

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But he has not delivered a knockout blow since December 2020 when he bombarded Ulises Sierra in the first round fans are desperate to see Canelo face David Benavidez in May on the famous Mexican holiday.

However, Berlanga Jr is not giving up and hopes an eye-catching win over McCrory will alert Canelo to his availability.

“Right now, he’s the boss at 168,” the Purto Rican added. “He makes the move, he’s the money man at 168. He can do whatever he wants to do if he feels like it.

“You can’t take that away from him. He’s paid his dues to get to this point where he can pick and choose who he wants to fight.

“I just got to make a statement next month. I got to make a statement and then call him out. Listen, let’s do it for the fans. Let’s bring Puerto Rico and Mexico together.

“I don’t think, besides Benavidez, that there is a bigger fight out there for him.”

Canelo boasts an extraordinary record across four weight classes, having won world championships in all of them.

In 64 fights, the 33-year-old has lost twice – once to Floyd Mayweather Jr and once to Dmitry Bivol – and always looks to fight on Cinco de Mayo weekend.