Edgar Berlanga is setting his sights on Jaime Munguia as his next opponent, hoping that victory will set him on a path towards securing a rematch with Canelo Alvarez. Along with Munguia, Berlanga has his sights set on Jermall Charlo, who hasn’t stepped into the ring for two years, and Caleb Plant. The Puerto Rican pugilist (23-1, 18 KOs) believes that dispatching these heavy hitters will make Canelo eager to face him again.
### Berlanga’s Ambitions
Judging by his performance against Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz, Berlanga might just have the advantage over Munguia, Charlo, and Plant purely due to his size. It’s quite evident that Berlanga is no longer fitting snugly in the super middleweight category. Missing weight and appearing more a cruiserweight than a super middleweight raises a few eyebrows.
However, the trio Berlanga targets for his Canelo campaign aren’t the top dogs at 168 pounds. Jermall Charlo, for instance, has been absent from the ring and will turn 35 soon. It’s fair to argue he’s not among the division’s elite.
Munguia saw defeat at the hands of Bruno Surace recently and also lost to Canelo last May. His current standing of 2-2 isn’t exactly intimidating at 168 pounds. As for Plant, at 32, he hasn’t faced high-caliber opposition since being bested by David Benavidez.
Despite the size advantage, Berlanga’s penchant for missing weight could spell trouble. Against Gonzalez-Ortiz, Berlanga tipped the scales at 169 ¾ lbs, while his rehydrated weight ballooned to an estimated 200 lbs, echoing his previous bout against Canelo where he weighed in at 193 lbs after rehydration.
“We haven’t negotiated yet, but we’re planning to,” Berlanga told Brian Campbell on YouTube, hinting at future talks with Turki Alalshikh. “There are plenty of opportunities. We aim to discuss directly with those in charge at DAZN, bypassing a traditional promoter.”
### Canelo’s Rematch Pipe Dream
Berlanga’s ambitions stretch far beyond immediate fights. “I’m aiming for mega fights starting 2025 and extending through 2029, hoping to cement my legacy and get that Canelo rematch,” he declared, despite not having bested a top-tier contender yet.
The likelihood of a rematch with Canelo is, however, shaky. It largely depends on the Mexican boxer’s willingness to entertain a seemingly unnecessary revisit, especially if lucrative enticements come from Turki Alalshikh’s camp.
In a bold declaration regarding Caleb Plant, Berlanga stated, “I’ll retire him when we meet in the ring. I’m in a class of my own, regularly testing myself against the crème de la crème.” Yet, considering Plant’s potential to outbox him like Canelo did, Berlanga’s resolve might waver when push comes to shove.
>>> “First, I need to dominate the 168 weight class,” Berlanga stated when asked about a possible move to 175 to face former super middleweight world champions David Benavidez and David Morrell. “I have to take down Munguia, Plant, and [Jermall] Charlo. Conquering these will fortify my standing.
Finally, with eyes squarely on revenge: “Then it’s onto Canelo. I can beat him; our last fight saw me at half capacity, amid MRI appointments, battling elbow tendinitis, and on cortisone. I faced him at 50% strength with just six-weeks prep,” Berlanga shared.
