Edgar Berlanga “The Chosen One”
Super Middleweight · United States (Puerto Rican heritage) · Zuffa Boxing
Aggressive come-forward puncher who presses the action early looking for a finish
Opened his career with 16 consecutive first-round knockouts, tying Young Otto's mark but five short of Ali Raymi's all-time record of 21
Record & stats
| Division | Super Middleweight |
|---|---|
| Categories | Boxing |
| Promotion | Zuffa Boxing |
| Nationality | United States (Puerto Rican heritage) |
| Born | Brooklyn, New York, USA |
| Height | 6'1" (185 cm) |
| Reach | 73 in (185 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Age | 29 |
| KO rate | 78% |
| Status | Active |
How the wins come
78% Finish rate- 18 KO/TKO · 78%
- 5 Decision · 22%
Titles & honors
- WBO NABO Super Middleweight Champion (won March 2025)
Biography
Edgar Berlanga turned pro from Brooklyn in 2016 and quickly became boxing's most talked-about puncher, reeling off 16 straight first-round knockouts to open his career — tying Young Otto's long-standing mark for consecutive first-round stoppages, though still five short of Ali Raymi's all-time record of 21 — before Demond Nicholson finally took him the distance in 2021. The 'Chosen One' matured from highlight-reel finisher into a real super middleweight contender, stopping Padraig McCrory and outpointing Jason Quigley and Roamer Alexis Angulo en route to a September 2024 title shot against undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas, which he lost by wide decision. Since then it has been turbulent: a first-round blowout of Jonathan Gonzalez Ortiz won him the WBO NABO belt in March 2025, but a fifth-round stoppage loss to Hamzah Sheeraz that July left him 1-2 in his last three fights. Now 29, Berlanga heads into a July 2026 Madison Square Garden main event against Canadian veteran Steven Butler looking to prove he still belongs among the division's elite.
Fight history
- LHamzah SheerazLoss - TKO, round 5
- WJonathan Gonzalez OrtizWin - KO, round 1 (won vacant WBO NABO title)
- LCanelo AlvarezLoss - Unanimous decision, 12 rounds (undisputed super middleweight titles)
- WPadraig McCroryWin - TKO, round 6
- WJason QuigleyWin - Unanimous decision, 12 rounds (4 knockdowns)
- WRoamer Alexis AnguloWin - Unanimous decision, 10 rounds (WBO NABO title)
- WSteve RollsWin - Unanimous decision, 10 rounds
FAQ
- What is Edgar Berlanga's professional boxing record?
- As of July 2026 he is 23-2 with 18 knockouts (a 78% KO rate), following a fifth-round TKO loss to Hamzah Sheeraz in July 2025.
- Did Edgar Berlanga fight Canelo Alvarez?
- Yes. He challenged undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez on September 14, 2024, in Las Vegas and lost a wide unanimous decision.
- Why is Edgar Berlanga nicknamed 'The Chosen One'?
- The name stuck after he opened his career with 16 consecutive first-round knockouts — tying Young Otto's mark for a career-opening streak, though still five shy of Ali Raymi's all-time record of 21.
- When and where is Berlanga's next fight?
- He faces Canadian veteran Steven Butler on July 26, 2026, at the Infosys Theater inside Madison Square Garden, headlining Zuffa Boxing 9. No title is on the line.