Edgar Berlanga is back in shape – mentally and physically – after signing with Zuffa Boxing.
The super middleweight contender, who was knocked out in five rounds by Hamzah Sheeraz last July, had been keeping busy behind the scenes – even teasing a music career – but coming back to boxing was always his priority.
“I was doing the music thing so people would think ‘Sheeraz has made him quit boxing and move over to music’. But I was laughing, ‘these people don’t understand what’s coming’,” Berlanga told BoxingScene.
“We’ve been working on this deal for four or five months. We kept going back and forth with different numbers, working out a good strategy, good gameplan. [Zuffa’s] Dana [White], Nick Khan, they didn’t give us no issues. They’re excited, we’re excited; it’s pretty dope.”
Berlanga, 23-2 (18 KOs), scored 16 consecutive first round KOs after turning professional in 2016. But as the quality of opposition got better, and the paychecks heftier, the Puerto Rican found his dedication to the sport dwindled between fights.
“I’ve found my motivation again,” said the 28-year-old who was outpointed by Canelo Alvarez in 2024. “I wasn’t doing that until I started making more money and you only got two fights a year… when you only fighting two times a year, I started getting fat. [Now] I found the love again for boxing.
“When I’m in camp, I’m a dog, I’m training my ass off, I train like a world class athlete. But it takes a toll on me when I take those breaks; I’m big, I’m walking around like a football player. When I come into camp, I’m big, and I got to worry about dropping the weight. I can’t really focus [just] on technique.”
Now, whatever he is doing, Berlanga is honing his craft.
“I’ve been in the gym working every day, man. Wherever I go, and I go to New York to see my son, I’m bringing my running shoes, I’m bringing my gloves and I’m finding a gym anywhere.
“Now I’ve been staying slim, trim, and I’m good to go.”
