He was in the mix. His name kept popping up when the fans and promoters discussed Canelo Alvarez and his probable opponent for the Cinco de Mayo weekend. While that seemed like a stretch, it is now closer to becoming a reality. Edgar Berlanga will reportedly replace David Morrell as the WBA regular champion and will be next in line to face the Mexican champion. But the question lingers. Does he have what it takes to absorb the punches from the face of boxing?

After waiting long for a title shot with Alvarez, Morrell has followed in the footsteps of David Benavidez. The Cuban fighter has decided to move up to 175 lbs  to face Radivoje Kalajdzic. That leaves Berlanga, 26, as the only interesting choice. However, that doesn’t come without criticism. He might not have done enough to bag the title, especially when his ratio of churning knockout wins has dried up.

Edgar Berlanga: A knockout machine malfunctioning

What separated Berlanga when he burst on the scene? It was his power and his scary knockouts. The 22-0 record holder has racked up 17 KOs, but before his recent fight with obscure 35-year-old Padraig McCrory, he had turned in performances where he could only manage to win on scorecards. Moreover, Berlanga’s fight with Jason Quigley raised some eyebrows.

Undoubtedly, the American boxer knocked the lights off McCrory, but the little-known Irish boxer seemed beyond his prime and lanky. Few have given him credit as they continue to contest his credentials. In addition, Berlanga doesn’t seem to be on the same level as other prime fighters at 168. Does ‘The Chosen One’ have a chin? Does he have the skill set to confuse the super middleweight champion? Can his power prevail over Alvarez? The signs are not encouraging.

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It’s not only the fans who believe Berlanga has yet to bridge the gap between him and the undisputed champion. His trainer, Marc Farrait, also paints a similar picture. He believes if Jermell Charlo couldn’t translate his trash-talk into punches, his pupil might be heading toward a similar fate.

“I’m going to be honest with you. I don’t think anyone’s ready for Canelo… Edgar has a lot to develop. He still has a lot to develop,” Farrait explained. The skill set is not the only thing that Berlanga needs to improve. The Brooklyn native also needs to beef up his resume and add more fights under his belt. Why? His resume projects a bleak side.

Name or no name?

What if we tell you that Berlanga never fought a former champion in his career? His resume has a big hole as he has fought no big names so far. Despite his staggering 77% KO ratio, many believe he is yet to be tested. No one exactly knows if he is a world-champion caliber fighter or not.

The super middleweight boxer has employed the services of strength and conditioning coach Angel ‘Memo’ Heredia. The trainer is aware of the task in his hand, to reactivate Berlanga’s power. He is already working wonders with Berlanga, restoring his fierce knockout artist reputation by putting McCrory down. But it’s hard to keep his power from rounds 1 to 12, as he has to venture into the championship bouts’ territory. Can he do it immediately against Alvarez? We still might have doubts about it.

Whatever way you look at it, Berlanga fighting Alvarez next might be too much for him. A timeline of 2025 might work in his favor, as he will come with polished skills. The way things stand right now, it might arguably become Alvarez’s weakest matchup since Avni Yildirim. It all boils down to Berlanga’s determination, hard work, and upgrade under Heredia.

What do you make of the chances of Edgar Berlanga facing Canelo Alvarez? Do you think he will withhold the onslaught? Let us know in the comments below.