MMA Fighting has Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga live round-by-round updates for one of the most anticipated boxing fights of the year at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., on Saturday night.
The main event is expected to begin around 11 p.m. ET on DAZN and PPV.com pay-per-view. Check out our Canelo vs. Berlanga results page to find out what happened on the undercard.
Canelo Alvarez (61-2-2) has won four straight fights and competes for the second time this year. He defeated Jaime Munguia via unanimous decision this past May.
Edgar Berlanga (22-0) knocked out Padraig McCrory in the sixth round this past February in his only appearance of 2024. His previous five fights before McCrory were all decision wins.
Canelo Alvarez and Edgar Berlanga up next.
The fighters are set to make their entrances following the singing of the national anthems.
The challenger has entered and here comes Canelo.
Referee Harvey Dock on hand to oversee this title clash.
Check out the Canelo vs. Berlanga round-by-round live blog below:
Round 1: Canelo and Berlanga patient to start, neither fighter wanting to make the first mistake. Punches from range being deflected off the gloves. Canelo with a glancing right to the body. Canelo blocks a couple of punches and advances with a combinations. Berlanga lands a clean counter left. Canelo cuts off the ring and jabs Berlanga in the corner, the challenger jabs back. Another jab by Berlanga. Short left from Canelo scores and there’sa brief clinch. Canelo lands a jab.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Canelo.
Round 2: Berlanga probing with the jab, Canelo not giving him much to work with. Canelo with a pair of hard body shots. Berlanga answers with straight punches, but Canelo has him cornered again. Nice jab by Berlanga. Left hook from Canelo. Berlanga complains it was to the back of the head, but Dock tells them to carry on. Quick 1-2 by Canelo. The champ is slipping and landing. Short right by Berlanga. Canelo pressuring with that jab. Berlanga tries to punch his way out of the corner, Canelo scoring as he circles. Fun round.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Canelo. Overall, 20-18 Canelo.
Round 3: Canelo right back on the offense. He’s landing as he chases Berlanga, though Berlanga is firing back. Left hook out of nowhere puts Berlanga on his backside. He’s quick to answer the count, but has he recovered? Canelo pressing the advantage, he lands a big uppercut inside, then another right. Berlanga hanging tough. Canelo right hand to the body. He is all over Berlanga. The challenger survives the round, but that was a big one for Canelo.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-8, Canelo. Overall, 30-26 Canelo.
Round 4: Canelo letting that jab fly freely, he scores and follows with a body shot. Berlanga sticking with his jab as he’s backed into the corner again. Another jab-body combo by Canelo. There’s Canelo with a hard right. He’s not showing much respect for Berlanga. Canelo with a right hand as Berlanga chills against the ropes. Berlanga tries to sneak in a right, but can’t get past Canelo’s defenses.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Canelo. Overall, 40-35 Canelo.
Round 5: Canelo takes the center of the ring. He’s content to let Berlanga’s jabs smack smack harmlessly against his gloves. Canelo lands a jab and a left hook. Dock has to step in as the fighters tie up and start throwing body shots while grappling. A Canelo right hand to the body. Berlanga getting picked apart as he stays in the pocket with Canelo. Big rip to the body by Canelo, Berlanga hits him with a 1-2. Canelo giving Berlanga zero room to breathe. Clean jab from Canelo.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Canelo. Overall, 50-44 Canelo.
Round 6: Canelo effortlessly walking Berlanga down without even throwing a punch. Good uppercut inside by Berlanga. Still, Canelo comes forward. Berlanga cornered, but active. Canelo sticking that jab in his face. Another right to the body by Canelo. Right hook scores for Berlanga. Canelo with an uppercut-body shot combo. Left hook tags Berlanga. Canelo takes the action back to the corner. Jab lands for the champion, who’s pitching a shutout so far.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Canelo. Overall, 60-53 Canelo.
Round 7: Berlanga aggressive with his jab. He drives a left to the body. Jab right to Berlanga’s face. Dock has to step in to warn Canelo after an obvious low blow. Canelo left hook to the body. Berlanga hits a 1-2. Beautiful jabs from Canelo. He connects with a lead left. A couple of Berlanga jabs get through. Awkward moment as Berlanga hits the mat hard following a wild slip. Sheepish laughter from him as he gets up.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Canelo. Overall, 70-62 Canelo.
Round 8: Berlanga catches Canelo with a right hand. Canelo back to the body work. Left hook from Canelo JUST misses taking Berlanga’s face off. Berlanga with a 1-2, but he eats two hard lefts to the body for his troubles. Another left to the body by Canelo. Right hook for Canelo, Berlanga with a pair of solid counter punches. Dock calls for a pause to the action to warn Berlanga about a headbutt, but Canelo connects with a stiff punch before the referee separates them. Right uppercut by Canelo on the reset. A Canelo right hand gets through. He’s landing body shots at will.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Canelo. Overall, 80-71 Canelo.
Round 9: Canelo using that right hand to get around Berlanga’s defense. Big right by Canelo. A 1-2 connects clean for Canelo. Berlanga needs to wake up here. Rabbit punch by Berlanga and Dock pauses the action, but no point deduction. Canelo staying loose as he walks Berlanga down. Looks like he’s actually goofing off a little. Berlanga rifles in some jabs to straighten Canelo out, but that just draws out Canelo’s offense. Berlanga just can’t stop getting cornered. Canelo lands a combination to end the round.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Canelo. Overall, 90-80 Canelo.
Round 10: Back to the corner we go. Deja vu. Canelo hits Berlanga with an uppercut. Berlanga goes to the body and then fires a 1-2 up top. Good short left by Berlanga. Canelo cracks Berlanga’s body. The champion connecting with pretty much anything he wants. Right uppercut by Canelo. Three straight punches from Canelo, Berlanga not offering much here. Berlanga talking trash, not sure why. Canelo continues to dismantle him. Canelo drops his defenses at the sound of the 10-second clapper and Berlanga actually manages to hit him. Odd moment.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Canelo. Overall, 100-89 Canelo.
Round 11: Canelo out quickly. They’re brawling. Canelo fighting like he wants a finish, Berlanga fighting like he still thinks he can get one. Left hook hurts Berlanga, but seconds later he’s right back in there. Left hook to the body, Berlanga complains and Canelo seems to acknowledge it was a little low. Back in the corner, Canelo goes headhunting, Berlanga dodges out of there. Canelo cracks Berlanga with a jab. They trade punches as the round comes to an end.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Canelo. Overall, 110-98 Canelo.
Round 12: Canelo rallies the crowd to start the final round. He keeps the pressure up and punches away at a gutsy Berlanga. Every Canelo jab seems to be getting through. Right hand lands for Berlanga. Straight right to the body by Canelo. Defense has definitely become secondary for both guys. Canelo letting the hands go. Berlanga just eating punches without a care. Berlanga coming forward to end the fight and Canelo meets him to put a cap on an entertaining—if lopsided—scrap.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Canelo. Overall, 120-107 Canelo.
Official result: Canelo Alvarez def. Edgar Berlanga via unanimous decision (117-110, 118-109 x2)
In his post-fight interview, Canelo scoffs at critics who said he avoids fighting younger opposition. He talks about how proud he is about fighting for his people on Mexican Independence Day weekend.
He tells Berlanga that he’s a great fighter and to keep working.
