By Daniel Mkenya

The 34-year-old Alvarez will put his WBC, WBO and WBA super middleweight world titles on the line against the 27-year-old Berlanga on Saturday, September 14 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Alvarez has won titles in four divisions and is coming off a unanimous decision win over Jaime Munguia in May. He has won four straight fights, all by unanimous decision, since his loss to Dmitry Bivol in May 2022, where he was challenging for a light heavyweight title.

Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) was the undisputed champion at 168 pounds until he was stripped of the title by the IBF in July after he decided to face Berlanga instead of the promotion’s main challenger William Scull.

Berlanga, number 5 in the super middleweight class, is going for his first title.

Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) scored first-round knockout victories in his first 16 professional fights, but has scored just one KO in his last six fights since then, a sixth-round TKO of Padraig McCory in February.

Both are proud to represent their country in this match, which will pit Mexico (Canelo) against Puerto Rico (Berlanga).

“This is going to be a good fight for the fans, I know he’s going to give it his all, and so am I. It’s the kind of fight I really enjoy. I can’t wait,” Alvarez said in media reports.

“Canelo is definitely going to bring out the best in me, every time I step up, I step up my skills. This fight is about intelligence. I have to make sure I match him in that. It’s willpower versus willpower. We’re not going to run away. We’re going to stay and do what we do,” Berlanga said in a press conference.

“This is a special week. Mexican Independence Weekend, and of course, another defense of the undisputed championship of the great Canelo Alvarez. I’m excited about this fight,” Eddie Hearn said in media reports.

Both boxers are aiming for a TKO, but it will depend on who can land the punch.

You have Puerto Rico vs Mexico. Berlanga vs Canelo, Puerto Rican superstar and a Mexican superstar. It’s going to be a big night.