BoxRec

Edgar Berlanga vs. Padraig McCrory on Feb. 24 Among Three Cards Announced By Matchroom

Edgar Berlanga will return to familiar territory for his next fight.

Boxing Scene has confirmed that Berlanga’s forthcoming clash versus Belfast’s Padraig McCrory will land at Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. The bout between unbeaten super middleweights will headline a February 24 DAZN show, as previously reported by Boxing Scene senior writer Keith Idec.

Berlanga (21-0, 16 KOs) previously fought in the greater Orlando Area in an April 20201 eight-round, unanimous decision win over Demond Nicholson. The Brooklyn-based Nuyorican went the distance for the first time in his career that night, but scored four knockdowns to the delight of the partisan crowd at Silver Spurs Arena in the heavily Boricua-populated region of Kissimmee, Florida.

A sixteen-fight knockout streak preceded that bout, which became the first of five straight fights where Berlanga has been forced to go to the scorecards. The 26-year-old contender went all twelve-rounds in a unanimous decision over Ireland’s Jason Quigley, whom Berlanga dropped four times but was unable to resume his knockout ways.

McCrory was considered as the opponent for that evening but an executive decision by the DAZN staff called for a more familiar name. The 35-year-old fringe contender now gets his shot and will also make his U.S. debut.

It marks a considerable step up in class for McCrory, who went the ten-round distance in each of his two wins in 2023. His most recent victory came in a unanimous decision over Steed Woodall on August 4 in his Belfast hometown, where McCrory has fought in each of his last three starts and all but two pro career fights.

Berlanga has been teased to be on course for a mid-year showdown versus fellow unbeaten contender Jaime Munguia (42-0, 33 KOs). DAZN brass wanted that fight for 2022, to the point where both parties were instructed to make a deal and not come with lesser fights if they wanted to fight again this year.

Both are afforded separate bouts though versus approved opposition, with hopes that the two will subsequently reach a deal for a mid-summer clash. Tijuana’s Munguia—a former WBO junior middleweight titlist—once again steps up in class as he faces former two-time title challenger John Ryder atop a January 27 DAZN show from Footprint Center, home to the NBA’s Phoenix Suns.

Hearn on Berlanga vs. McCrory: "It's a Thriller, A Dangerous Fight For Both"

“I think you’d look to put him in with Munguia, does he look for a fight with Canelo? If Padraig McCrory wins that fight he has swum the channel and won the Euromillions in the same night,” Hearn told IFL TV.

“People who know the sport, who know Padraig and know Edgar Berlanga, know that that fight is X-rated. It’s a difficult sell to the wider market, but let me tell you now that fight is a thriller. Look at Padraig’s world rankings, number 3 with the WBO, top 10 with all other governing bodies, it’s a big fight, a dangerous fight for both," Hearn said.

I like this fight. McCrory is very much a live dog in this. I’ll check the odds closer to the time.

ya good fight

looking forward to this, hope Mccrory does it. I've voted for KO for him.

Edger Berlanga is Now Working With Memo Heredia Ahead of Padraig McCrory Fight

Boxing Scene has been advised that power punching super middleweight contender Edgar Berlanga (21-0) has retained the services of strength and conditioning coach Angel “Memo” Heredia.

The 26-year-old Nuyorican returns to action on February 24 against Padraig McCrory (18-0) in Orlando, Florida in a DAZN streamed main event.

Berlanga, who is promoted by Matchroom Boxing, began his career with 16 straight knockout victories in the first round. However, his last 5 fights have all gone the distance, as he has increased his level of competition.

Heredia is confident that his training systems will bring that power back and start a new knockout streak for the up-and-coming fighter.

“We will be working on specific drills to increase power again. He already has the muscle memory. We just have to reactivate it and work on certain things to increase his punching power even more,” Heredia told BS.com.

“With him, it’s not that I will give him the power. He already has the power. I just need to reactivate it and increase his punch output a bit more.

“That is one of the keys but also another one is for me to improve his conditioning so he can go 12 rounds and keep his power from round 1 to 12 just like I do with David Benavidez.”

The duo began working together the last week of 2023, and so far, Heredia likes what he has seen.

“Edgar takes this very seriously. He is a very hard worker and I like what I have seen. He knows what’s at stake and what types of fights can be had in the future if he works hard and looks good on February 24,” Heredia explained.

Heredia is best known for his work with Juan Manuel Marquez and also works with current fighters such as David Benavidez, Yordenis Ugas, Jerwin Ancajas, and several others.

I do hope Mccrory is as good as he's been made out to be, will be great to see him win a title.

Andy Cruz-Brayan Zamarripa Confirmed

Come on McCory !!!!

high tower 1 wrote: ↑31 Dec 2023, 20:50 Come on McCory !!!!

I do feel he is going all the way. And sincerely hope he does so too, for what it's worth.

Fight Week!!

Interesting. Is berlanga considered chinny? Considering Padraig has only a 50% ko record do many think he’ll stop berlanga?

I like Poddy, but I think he may lose his unbeaten record this weekend. I think he has a few problems:
1. His age (35) he's getting on a bit and he really has to step it up quite soon if he wants to challenge for top honours.
2. What is the highest rank of the opponents he has defeated? At a cursory glance he hasn't faced anyone in the current top 50 of the Super Middleweight division.

Following on from that roadmap, this weekend can only have one outcome, but I hope i'm wrong...

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑21 Feb 2024, 12:12 Interesting. Is berlanga considered chinny? Considering Padraig has only a 50% ko record do many think he’ll stop berlanga?

Edgar's going to bust him up.

Crease wrote: ↑21 Feb 2024, 20:05 I like Poddy, but I think he may lose his unbeaten record this weekend. I think he has a few problems:
1. His age (35) he's getting on a bit and he really has to step it up quite soon if he wants to challenge for top honours.
2. What is the highest rank of the opponents he has defeated? At a cursory glance he hasn't faced anyone in the current top 50 of the Super Middleweight division.

Following on from that roadmap, this weekend can only have one outcome, but I hope i'm wrong...

The best name looks like Periban to me, who fought for a world title albeit 10 years ago. Berlanga for me.

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑22 Feb 2024, 13:23The best name looks like Periban to me, who fought for a world title albeit 10 years ago. Berlanga for me.

I was thinking exactly the same thing, Periban's name was the one that jumped out to me too... Fought DeGale and got shelled, i remember it.

Berlanga the banger wins this one by stoppage.......round 8

I think Podge is out of his league here. He's too static. He better catch and hurt Berlanga early or he is most likely going to get run over. Getting hurt last time out at British level doesn't look good in the context of this fight. He's holding his ground too much and I think big punches will be landing on his chin within the first couple of minutes to be honest. I wouldn't be surprised to see him making his way to the canvas in the first.

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑21 Feb 2024, 12:12 Interesting. Is berlanga considered chinny? Considering Padraig has only a 50% ko record do many think he’ll stop berlanga?

Podge is a good counter puncher but Berlanga can counter himself. I think we will see Berlanga come out on top if they get into exchanges. The long range right hand could land on the chin of Podge like it did Quigley. Berlanga isn't all that but I think hes got a tailor made opponent here.

Crease wrote: ↑22 Feb 2024, 14:08

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑22 Feb 2024, 13:23The best name looks like Periban to me, who fought for a world title albeit 10 years ago. Berlanga for me.

I was thinking exactly the same thing, Periban's name was the one that jumped out to me too... Fought DeGale and got shelled, i remember it.

I forgot that, you're right mate.

Berlanga stops Pody, I think the version of Pody that beat Leon Bunn would cause Berlanga problems. I thought the Bunn fight would propel Pody's career, but if anything he's regressed since then, Pody will give Berlanga the fight he wants. can see Berlanga ending this between the 6-8 mark.

not a bad card here

deffo a decent one, Andy Cruz, and a heavyweight fight too.