Edgar Berlanga topped a card at Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida, and became mandatory challenger for Canelo Alvarez’s WBA super middleweight title with a sixth round stoppage win against Padraig McCrory.
Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) shot to stardom with 16 straight first round knockouts, but had found higher-level opposition tough to crack, going the distance in each of his last five contests. McCrory (18-1, 9 KOs) came into this one unbeaten, and a former IBO champion at light heavyweight, but was firmly the underdog, having only fought twice outside his native Belfast.
It was a pedestrian first three rounds, but Berlanga started to turn the screw in the fourth, landing flush with a left hook, and he cranked up the pressure further in the fifth, connecting with several spiteful combination punches, bloodying McCrory’s nose in the process.
The sixth saw the conclusion to the fight, as ‘The Chosen One’ bullied McCrory towards the ropes, and then let go of a looping right hand that dropped the visitor heavily.
His corner threw the towel in as the referee was about to halt the bout.
Berlanga called for a showdown with undisputed super middleweight champion, Canelo who is currently without an opponent for his scheduled May 4 date.
“I want him now,” the 26-year-old told DAZN’s Chris Mannix.
“We want Canelo next. Look at [my promoter] Eddie [Hearn] right there.
“He’s going to make it happen.”
DOWN GOES MCCRORY AND IT’S OVER 🔥🔥🔥
Sixth round KO 💣#BerlangaMcCrory | @DAZNBoxing pic.twitter.com/ywvdpFoSE9
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) February 25, 2024
Cruz eases past Rodriguez
Cuban amateur starlet, Andy Cruz dominated his meeting with Brayan Zamarripa Rodriguez (14-3, 5 KOs), defending his IBF International lightweight title with a points win.
Cruz (3-0, 1 KO) won all ten rounds on all three scorecards.
Giyasov secured TD win over Cano
On the undercard, Shakhram Giyasov took a technical decision win against Pablo Cesar Cano that won him a WBA welterweight title eliminator.
Giyasov (15-0, 9 KOs) dropped Cano (35-9-1, 25 KOs) in the third round with a body shot, and the fight was called to a premature end in round 11, with Cano unable to continue due a suspected broken ankle.
Shakram Giyasov DROPS Pablo Cesar Cano WITH A HUGE BODY SHOT ⚡️
Watch #BerlangaMcCrory Live on https://t.co/FoiaUucI53 pic.twitter.com/S4hj0IGcCc
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) February 25, 2024
Giyasov ran out a 110-99 winner on all three cards and cemented himself as the number one contender with the WBA, with Terence Crawford [super champion] and Eimantas Stanionis [regular champion] holding the belts.
Vargas stops Rodriguez in thriller
Another WBA title eliminator came at bantamweight, where Antonio Vargas got off the deck in round one, before dropping Jonathan Rodriguez (17-2-1, 7 KOs) twice on the way to an eighth round stoppage victory.
Vargas (18-1, 10 KOs) responded to being knocked down in the opening round, by flooring Rodriguez in the second, although he was deducted two points for hitting his rival after the knockdown.
HUGE KNOCKDOWN AT THE END OF THE EIGHTH!
Rodriguez survives.. JUST! @DAZNBoxing pic.twitter.com/mb5oOjzj5L
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) February 25, 2024
The 27-year-old scored another knockdown at the end of the eighth and Rodriguez’s corner pulled out their charge before the start of the ninth round.
Vargas became the mandatory challenger to Takuma Inoue, who retained his title with a ninth round knockout of Jerwin Ancajas in Japan on Saturday.
Remaining Undercard
Yankiel Rivera (5-0, 2 KOs) took the battle of unbeatens at flyweight, winning 99-91 on all three scorecards against Andy Dominguez Velasquez (10-1, 6 KOs).
Super lightweight prospect, Aaron Aponte (8-2-1, 2 KOs) suffered an upset points defeat over eight to Joseph Hernandez (18-5-3, 6 KOs).
