Days before the fight between Edgar Berlanga and Hamzah Sheeraz in the super middleweight category, tension broke out when the Puerto Rican deviated to an old conflict with Oscar de la Hoya over statements that he was not up to the task or had the level to face Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and that he was not from Puerto Rico, but rather 100% American.
Everything happened during the public training and Berlanga did not hold back, threatening the former Mexican boxer: “F*** you, I’m going to beat you up”. This fight is not new, the dispute has been going on for more than a year and could explode at the press conference when they meet face to face.
Why are Edgar Berlanga and Oscar de la Hoya facing off outside the ring?
It all started in 2024 when Berlanga was an aspiring contender to fight Canelo and the founder of Golden Boy Promotions harshly criticized the Puerto Rican’s level, belittling the fight and calling it “a snooze fest”. But that was not all, he also got into his nationality claiming that he was “100% American” and that he did not represent the boxing rivalry of Mexico vs Puerto Rico.
The comments were not well received by Edgar and now that they are on the same card, he has made it clear that he will not let it go unnoticed. De La Hoya will be at the event accompanying his fighter William Zepeda, who faces Shakur Stevenson, making a face-to-face encounter inevitable.
Edgar Berlanga and Oscar de la Hoya to face off at Ring III pre-show
With the tension at its peak, the protagonists exchanged messages, with De La Hoya being the first to promise “a surprise” for the boxer
See you on July 10 at the conference. I look forward to you trying to slap me as you have promised
Berlanga was not intimidated and replied: “I’m going to beat you up,” which he repeated for the DAZN cameras in the public workout, making it clear that he is not going to be intimidated by the former boxer and that the 2024 statements are still ringing in his mind.
The Ring III card will take place on Saturday, July 12 and could bring us the long-awaited face-off between Berlanga and De la Hoya
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