Edgar Berlanga will headline Zuffa Boxing 9 against Steven Butler on July 26 at Madison Square Garden’s Infosys Theater. The 10-round super middleweight contest is a critical moment for Berlanga, who is looking to halt a difficult run against an in-form opponent.
The promotion has stated, “The Chosen One has returned.” Berlanga (23-2, 18 KOs) enters the fight needing to re-establish his credentials following a tough stretch. He is attempting to recover from a fifth-round knockout loss to Hamzah Sheeraz nearly a year ago. That result was part of a 1-2 run which also included a decision defeat to Canelo Alvarez in late 2024. A victory is essential for the New York native to regain his trajectory in the division.
He faces a confident opponent in Steven Butler. The Canadian super middleweight (38-5-1, 32 KOs) is currently on a four-fight winning streak. His most recent outing was a second-round finish of Ramadan Hiseni in March, and he brings considerable power and momentum into this high-profile bout. For Butler, this fight represents a significant opportunity to defeat a major name on an international platform.
The Zuffa Boxing 9 event, which will be broadcast on Paramount+, is building a solid undercard. A 12-round welterweight showdown between Richardson Hitchins and Ricardo Salas has also been made official. Additionally, the main card will open with a 10-round contest between veteran Sergiy Derevyanchenko and Jalil Hackett. Further bouts for the preliminary portion of the card are expected to be announced soon.
