Edgar Berlanga defended his WBO NABO super middleweight title at Madison Square Garden, as he took a wide points win against Roamer Alexis Angulo on Saturday.
Berlanga (20-0, 16 KOs) had built a reputation as a knockout artist, with his first 16 wins coming in the first round, but had been forced to go the distance in his last three outings. Angulo (27-3, 23 KOs) had challenged twice for world honours previously, failing on the cards against Gilberto Ramirez in 2018, and he was also halted by David Benavidez in August 2020.
The Colombian weighed in over the limit, so the title was on the line for the champion only.
Both began this one trying to get short, sharp punches off, and Angulo plodded forward in search of the power shots, but Berlanga remained calm and worked off a high guard, clipping his foe with a right hand in the first round and establishing his jab.
This shot by Berlanga đł #BerlangaAngulo pic.twitter.com/d2PEA7wLHE
â ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) June 12, 2022
The home favourite worked well to head and body in round two, and it was pretty much in the pocket stuff as the pair exchanged blows in the third.
The visitor landed a crisp uppercut that got Berlangaâs attention in the fourth, with his nose bloodied.
Angulo did catch the 25-year-old with a left hand in the seventh, and âThe Chosen Oneâ did appear to go to bite his opponent during a clinch.
Berlanga largely boxed and moved in the later rounds, and although Angulo did have his moments, he couldnât pin his man down to make a significant dent, and the fight went to the cards.
Two scores of 99-91, and a third at 98-92 ensured the belt stayed with Berlanga.
Remaining Undercard
On the undercard, the battle of the Lebrons was won by Henry Lebron (16-0, 10 KOs), who took the vacant WBO Latino super featherweight title with a points win over his namesake, Luis Lebron (18-4-1, 11 KOs). Scores of 80-72, 79-73, and 78-74 confirmed the win.
Victor Santillan (12-0, 4 KOs) remained unbeaten, as he inflicted the second defeat in three outings on Carlos Caraballo (15-2, 14 KOs) at super bantamweight. Two scores of 78-74, and a third at 77-75 got the job done for Santillan.
At super lightweight, Josue Vargas was upset by Dakota Linger (13-5-3, 9 KOs), who took a second round stoppage win.
Vargas (20-3, 9 KOs)s suffered a second defeat in three bouts, after a first round loss to Jose Zepeda in October.
Orlando Gonzalez (18-1, 11 KOs) rebounded from defeat last time out, as he stopped Pablo Cruz (22-5-1, 6 KOs) in the fifth of their scheduled eight rounder at featherweight.
Armani Almestica (6-0, 6 KOs) saw his knockout run continue, as he halted Eliseo Villalobos (2-3, 1 KO) in the sixth and final round at lightweight.
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Omar Rosario (7-0, 2 KOs) took a decision win against Julio Rosa (4-1, 1 KO) at super lightweight, and there were also points wins for Christina Cruz (3-0) against Maryguenn Vellinga (3-3-2, 2 KOs) at flyweight, and for Frevian Gonzalez (5-1, 1 KO) against Refugio Montellano (2-1, 1 KO) at lightweight.
