Edgar Berlanga broke his silence after his tough defeat to Briton Hamzah Sheeraz last Saturday in Queens, New York.
In an evening marked by Sheeraz’s absolute dominance, he sent Berlanga to the canvas three times, which ended in a technical knockout in the fifth round.
The defeat, which left Berlanga out of direct contention for a possible fight against Canelo Alvarez, also left him with a lesson in humility that the boxer himself acknowledged in a reflective post shared on his social networks.
Last night did not go as we trained, prepared or imagined. It was a tough defeat, which in many ways felt unreal
Berlanga reveals why he lost to Sheeraz
Despite the emotional blow, the 28-year-old boxer avoided excuses and said that he and his team take full responsibility.
Berlanga also took the opportunity to congratulate Hamzah Sheeraz on his performance and made it clear that this defeat does not mark the end of his career: “Boxing is as much mental and spiritual as it is physical. Some nights test everything you have inside, and this was one of them,” he said. In that sense, he described this stage as a “turning point” in his professional journey.
He closed his message by thanking his team and followers, assuring them that he will return with “clarity, hunger and focus”, and promising that “the journey is far from over”.
Who will be Berlanga’s next opponent?
Although the defeat to Sheeraz represents a serious setback in his aspirations, Berlanga could still have options in the super middleweight landscape.
One of the most mentioned alternatives is a possible clash with former champion Caleb Plant. Both are going through rebuilding moments in their respective careers, and a fight between them could offer them a new opportunity to return to the spotlight.
Oscar de la Hoya mocks Berlanga
On the other hand, promoter Oscar De La Hoya, with whom Berlanga had been involved in an exchange of provocations prior to the fight, did not miss the opportunity to mock the fighter after his defeat.
In a video posted on social media,De La Hoya ridiculed Berlanga using a wig, alluding to the objects thrown by the boxer during a previous press conference, where he called him a “stripper”.
Beyond the controversy, the truth is that Berlanga will have to work hard if he wants to regain his position among the elite contenders, and in the meantime he will have to aspire to get lower-ranking opponents
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