Edgar Berlanga is attributing his recent career struggles to a lack of professional discipline as he prepares for his July 26 return at Madison Square Garden. The New York native insists a renewed focus has unlocked his potential after comprehensive defeats to elite opposition.
Berlanga built his name on a sequence of 16 first-round knockouts, a streak that generated significant hype. But he now suggests that early success was achieved without full commitment. “I feel like I was just getting by just because of my talent,” Berlanga stated. He expanded on this, saying, “What separated me from those guys was my dedication and my discipline. I always gave myself 50%. This camp has been different. The light switch turned on.”
This narrative, however, overlooks the context of his career. The knockout streak was built against carefully selected opponents. Once the level of competition increased against fighters like Demond Nicholson and Steve Rolls, Berlanga was extended the distance and his vulnerabilities were exposed. His limitations became fully apparent in one-sided losses to Canelo Alvarez and a stoppage defeat against Hamzah Sheeraz, the first time he faced world-class operators.
Now, Berlanga aims to reshape his identity in the ring. “I want to change the perspective of people,” he said. His ambition is to be recognised for technical ability, not just power. “I want to be talked about like Bam Rodriguez, Shakur Stevenson… that I got skill, IQ. I owe it to myself.” But this goal presents a fundamental challenge. Berlanga’s established style is that of an aggressive, power-punching brawler. Attempting to transform into a nuanced technical boxer at age 29 is a significant risk. Fighters who abandon their natural strengths to adopt a style that does not suit them are often left hesitant and ineffective. His bout against Steven Butler will be the first test of whether this change is a genuine evolution or a miscalculation.
