Edgar Berlanga is stepping back into the ring this Sunday night at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, facing Steven Butler in a super middleweight headliner that carries massive weight. This isn’t just another fight; it’s a critical moment after a really rough stretch for Berlanga. The Nuyorican hasn’t fought since getting knocked out by Hamzah Sheeraz last July, right there in New York. Before that, his other career defeat was a unanimous decision loss to none other than Saul “Canelo” Alvarez back in September 2024. That’s two losses, one by brutal KO, in his last two fights. This dude needs a win, plain and simple, to stop the slide and prove he’s still a top contender.
Butler’s Hot Streak Vs. Berlanga’s Pressure Cooker
Steven Butler isn’t coming to New York to be a stepping stone. The Canadian slugger rolls into this fight riding a four-bout win streak, which is some serious momentum. His last outing was a Round 2 knockout of Ramadan Hiseni in March, showing he’s got that knockout power locked and loaded. Can Berlanga shake off those recent defeats and deliver a dominant performance against a guy who’s been on fire, a guy who’s absolutely looking to make his name at Berlanga’s expense? The pressure on Berlanga is immense, especially fighting in the city where he suffered that last KO. He’s got 18 KOs in his 23 wins, so we know he can bring the thunder, but will it be enough to stop Butler’s charge and get his own career back on track after a couple of brutal setbacks?
Undefeated Welterweight Stares Down a Streak of His Own
The co-main event also brings some serious heat with Richardson Hitchins clashing with Ricardo Salas in a welterweight showdown. Hitchins is coming in undefeated at 20-0 with 8 KOs, and this marks his welterweight debut. He’s a former IBF super lightweight champion, and his last performance was a career-best, an eighth-round stoppage victory over George Kambosos Jr. in June 2025. This guy is on a roll and looking to make a statement in a new weight class. Salas isn’t backing down from anyone, though. He’s 24-2 with 18 KOs and sits in the top 15 of two major boxing governing bodies. What’s even wilder? The Mexican fighter is riding a five-year, 10-bout unbeaten streak himself, coming off a career-best win against Jesus Saracho this past March in Las Vegas. Someone’s incredible streak is gonna break here, and this fight is gonna be an absolute barn burner.
The Stakes For Sunday Night in NYC
You can catch all this action starting at 5 p.m. ET with the prelims on Paramount+, with the main card kicking off at 8 p.m. ET. Main event ring walks are expected around 10 p.m. ET. For Edgar Berlanga, this isn’t just about a win; it’s about proving he can still compete at the elite level and get back into the title picture after those back-to-back losses. For Steven Butler, a victory against Berlanga would be a massive step up, solidifying his four-bout win streak and launching him into bigger fights. For Richardson Hitchins and Ricardo Salas, it’s about keeping those incredible unbeaten runs alive and cementing their status as legitimate contenders in the welterweight division. Every punch thrown this Sunday night carries heavy implications for these fighters’ careers.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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