Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga fight results, highlights: Mexican star retains titles with systematic win

Alvarez dished out tons of damage on the Puerto Rican star to hold on to his trio of titles at 168 pounds

LAS VEGAS – Despite the bad blood between them in the build to Saturday's continuation of boxing's celebrated Mexico-Puerto Rico rivalry, Edgar Berlanga succeeded in using his toughness to gain the respect of unified super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez.

Unfortunately, for Berlanga (22-1, 17 KOs), that is the only thing he won on this night.

Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) systematically dominated his younger and far less experienced foe from start to finish, including a knockdown he scored in Round 3 on a brutal left hook. The Mexican superstar took home scores of 117-110 and 118-109 (twice) inside T-Mobile Arena to claim a dominant and unanimous decision to defend his WBC, WBO and WBA titles at 168 pounds.

"I did good. Now, what are they going to say?" Alvarez said. "I fought all of the fighters. Now, what are they going to say? They always talk but I'm the best fighter in the world."

Alvarez had been heavily criticized coming in for avoiding marquee fights against super middleweight boogeyman David Benavidez and pound-for-pound stalwart Terence Crawford. But despite the constant trash talk and taunting between Alvarez and Berlanga, which continued throughout their 12 rounds against one another, the two embraced at length after the fight, which saw Berlanga showcase good poise and a strong chin despite the blowout defeat.

"He said he respects me and I'm his idol," Alvarez said. "But you know? He did good. I got a little angry [before the fight] but, I'm Mexican, man."

"I was telling him that he's my idol and it sucks that before I get to even speak to him, we signed the contract," Berlanga said. "But he was my idol since I was a kid. I always looked up to him and I felt bad that we had to have bad blood later. I just wanted to thank him for the opportunity. I humbly say that."

Alvarez, 34, backed Berlanga up to the corner and ropes at will. He outlanded the 27-year-old Berlanga by a margin of 201 to 119, according to CompuBox. Alvarez also landed an incredible 43% of his punches overall and 49% of his power shots.

The sellout crowd of over 20,000 fans chanted Alvarez's name throughout this Mexican Independence Day weekend celebration as he sent his countrymen home happy despite going to a decision for the fifth straight fight.

"I feel great and I felt ready. It's an honor for me to represent my country," Alvarez said. "[It was] my experience, my talent, my hard work and my intelligence. It's everything together. Because if you have a talent but you don't have discipline, you have nothing."

After a slow and tense opening round, Alvarez began to go on the assault by cutting off the ring and chopping away at Berlanga with power punches. A beautiful left hook connected in Round 3 while Berlanga's back was to the ropes as Alvarez scored first blood with a beautiful knockdown.

But Berlanga, who had yet to face an elite opponent before this fight and entered as an 8-to-1 betting underdog to the 20-to-1 favorite Alvarez, proved able to earn his respect by absorbing big punishment and still trying to win, all the way up to the final bell even though he was ultimately outgunned.

"We did a big performance," Berlanga said. "I'm upset because, at the end of the day, I'm a winner. But he is a legend. I fought a legend in there, tonight. I know that I was in there. I took his best shot in the third round and got dropped but came back. And I knew that was the best punch he could give me and I took it."

Alvarez twice buckled the legs of Berlanga over the second half but was unable to finish him.

After the fight, despite Crawford's presence at ringside, a happy Alvarez decided against declaring which opponent he would like to return against in May when he likely returns to Las Vegas for Cinco de Mayo weekend.

"I am going to rest and enjoy my family right now and then I'm going to respond," Alvarez said.

Alvarez did, however, deliver a heartfelt message to Berlanga in front of the entire arena."Hey, keep going," Alvarez said. "You are a good fighter. Keep working and being busy in the boxing. Keep focus, my friend."

Elsewhere on the card, Erislandy Lara retained his WBA middleweight title against Danny Garcia in what felt like a sluggish affair for both fighters. Garcia suffered the first knockdown of his career in the ninth round before his corner called off the action in his first fight since 2022. Plus, Caleb Plant survived a rocky start to his bout with Trevor McCumby to score a late knockout and earn an interim WBA super middleweight title. Rolando "Rolly" Romero got back in the win column with a decision over Manuel Jaimes. And Stephen Fulton survived an early knockdown to take a split decision over Carlos Castro in his debut at featherweight.

CBS Sports was with you throughout the entire way on Saturday with the live results and highlights below. 

Fight card, results

• Canelo Alvarez (c) def. Edgar Berlanga via unanimous decision (117-110, 118-109, 118-109)
  
• Erislandy Lara (c) def. Danny Garcia via ninth-round TKO
• Caleb Plant def. Trevor McCumby via ninth-round knockout
• Rolando Romero def. Manuel Jaimes via unanimous decision (99-91, 99-91 99-91)
• Stephen Fulton def. Carlos Castro via split decision (94-95, 96-93, 95-94)

Alvarez vs. Berlanga scorecard, live coverage

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	Total
Alvarez (c)	9	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	9	118
Berlanga	10	9	8	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	10	109

[Sep 15, 2024 at 12:23 am ET · Brian Campbell]

Scorecards: 117-110, 118-109, 118-109 for Canelo Alvarez. It's a unanimous decision.

[Sep 15, 2024 at 12:21 am ET · Brian Campbell]

My unofficial scorecard is 118-109 for Canelo Alvarez. 

[Sep 15, 2024 at 12:20 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R12: 10-9, Berlanga. (Overall scorecard: 118-109 Alvarez)

[Sep 15, 2024 at 12:20 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R12: They have returned to phone booth fighting in the center. Good action late. Right uppercut from Canelo. Berlanga lands a hook at the bell and they embrace. Respect from both. 

[Sep 15, 2024 at 12:19 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R12: Berlanga answers with a left uppercut from long range. Another right hand from Canelo hits. Clean combo for Alvarez.

[Sep 15, 2024 at 12:19 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R12: Berlanga lands a nice right cross. Canelo is still pushing forward in hopes of a stoppage. Right to the body from Alvarez. 

[Sep 15, 2024 at 12:18 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R12: Berlanga is still throwing big as he lands a combo. This has been largely masterful by Canelo. He just can't seem to finish his young, hungry opponent.

[Sep 15, 2024 at 12:17 am ET · Brian Campbell]

ROUND 12: Both fighters take turns gesturing to the crowd. Berlanga is met with boos.

[Sep 15, 2024 at 12:16 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R11: Big right late by Canelo and they need to be separated after the bell. 10-9, Alvarez. (Overall scorecard: 109-99 Alvarez)

[Sep 15, 2024 at 12:16 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R11: Berlanga is one, tough kid. Wow,

[Sep 15, 2024 at 12:15 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R11: Right hand to the body from Alvarez in the corner. He is teeing off but Berlanga is fielding the barrage well. 

[Sep 15, 2024 at 12:15 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R11: They are trading shots in the center of the ring. Nothing too big is hitting for Berlanga but he's standing up strong to Alvarez's offense. 

[Sep 15, 2024 at 12:14 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R11: Heavy jabs from Alvarez. Berlanga gets backed to the corner and eats power shots. Lead right hook from Canelo wobbles him. 

[Sep 15, 2024 at 12:13 am ET · Brian Campbell]

ROUND 11: The only uncertainty now seems to be whether Alvarez can stop him. Berlanga hits a hard right hand. Alvarez takes it and counters with a hook.

[Sep 15, 2024 at 12:12 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R10: Canelo briefly turned his head to taunt and ate a left hand late for it. They exchange words until the bell. 10-9, Alvarez. (Overall scorecard: 99-90 Alvarez)

[Sep 15, 2024 at 12:11 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R10: Berlanga is talking trash but he's eating big shots. Who would have guessed he could take this kind of pounding?

[Sep 15, 2024 at 12:11 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R10: Big combos from Canelo in the center of the ring. They are fighting in a phone booth. Berlanga answers with an uppercut in close.

[Sep 15, 2024 at 12:11 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R10: Good left hook to the body from Canelo. And an uppercut inside. Berlanga is taking the shots well. Canelo now mixing in a variety of right hands from different angles and release points.

[Sep 15, 2024 at 12:10 am ET · Brian Campbell]

ROUND 10: Alvarez has landed 50 percent of his power shots. Big jabs back Berlanga up to the corner. Alvarez's defense is still on point as he swallows up combination attempts.

[Sep 15, 2024 at 12:08 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R9: Berlanga can't help but get cornered all fight. Alvarez digs shots to the body. They trade punches along the ropes. Alvarez got the better of it. 10-9, Alvarez. (Overall scorecard: 89-81 Alvarez)