Edgar Berlanga, one of boxing’s most polarizing figures, says he’s a “different fighter” now. That’s a bold claim for someone gearing up for their Zuffa Boxing debut, especially after a brutal fifth-round knockout loss to WBO super middleweight titleholder Hamzah Sheeraz just last year. But Berlanga isn’t just saying it; he actually sounds *glad* that devastating defeat went down the way it did. This isn’t just a comeback fight; it is a full-blown reinvention.
That Brutal KO Was Actually the Best Thing to Happen to Him
Berlanga, the 29-year-old Brooklyn native who proudly reps Puerto Rico, has always had that flashy bling and spoken in the third person. But lately, his words? They are hitting different. He told CBS Sports, “I’m actually glad [about] what happened to me last year with [Sheeraz] and the way it happened.” Can you believe that? Glad about a knockout! He went on to say he “needed that to be where I’m at now mentally.” If he had won that fight, he thinks he “probably would’ve went in a different direction mentally, physically and spiritually.” He sees a lot more clearly now. It is more than just boxing for Berlanga; he feels he is a “better father.” He is taking pride in this newfound clarity, excited to prove the haters wrong and laugh at them. That’s a mindset shift, for real. His record, 23-2 with 18 KOs, already shows power. Now, he thinks he has the mental edge to match.
Zuffa Boxing’s Big Bet and Berlanga’s Return
This isn’t just some random fight; it is Berlanga’s major promotional debut with Zuffa Boxing, the upstart promotion backed by UFC CEO Dana White, WWE president Nick Khan, and Saudi Arabia. Berlanga, who signed with Zuffa in April, is headlining the Zuffa 09 card on Sunday night at New York’s Madison Square Garden Theater. That’s a huge stage for a return. His opponent, Canadian slugger Steven Butler, brings his own heavy hands with a 38-5-1 record and 32 KOs. This is a 10-round super middleweight clash that will test Berlanga’s “different fighter” claim right away. Zuffa isn’t messing around either; they have also signed big names like Shakur Stevenson, Jai Opetaia, Conor Benn, and Richardson Hitchins. Hitchins, an undefeated former IBF 140-pound titleholder (20-0, 8 KOs), even makes his welterweight debut in the co-main event against Mexico’s Ricardo Salas in the co-main event. Berlanga knows what’s up, saying he is “excited for Dana White” and that White is “bringing over” everything he has done in the UFC to boxing. Zuffa is clearly banking on Berlanga’s effortless swagger and almost irrational self-belief to “move the needle,” win or lose.
Berlanga has a chance to rewrite his narrative this Sunday night. He is stepping into Madison Square Garden Theater, ready to show if that brutal knockout truly forged a new, more dangerous fighter. He wants to prove everyone wrong, and with Steven Butler standing across the ring, he will get his shot to back up those strong words.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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