Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez remains the unified super-middleweight world champion after earning a unanimous decision over Edgar Berlanga on Saturday.
The Mexican knocked down Berlanga in the third round in front of more than 20,000 fans at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The four-weight world champion then remained dominant throughout to inflict the first defeat of Berlanga’s career and mark Mexican Independence Day celebrations with his fifth straight victory.
The fight was scored 118-109 by two judges and 117-110 by the third in favour of Alvarez, who retains his WBA, WBC and WBO titles.
The 34-year-old’s record improved to 62-2-2 while 27-year-old Berlanga, born in New York and of Puerto Rican heritage, is now 22-1.
“I did good,” said Alvarez. “Before they say I fought older fighters. Now what are they going to say? I fight younger fighters? They always talk.
“I’m the best fighter in the world. It means a lot. It’s an honour for me to represent my country on this day. I feel proud about it.”
Alvarez was stripped of his IBF belt in July after opting to take on Berlanga rather than the IBF’s mandatory challenger William Scull.
Alvarez put Berlanga under pressure early and the younger fighter tried to respond after being caught by a right to the head in the third round, but a devastating left hook sent him down.
Vastly experienced champion Alvarez continued to go after Berlanga with fierce body blows, before rocking him with a big right in the waning seconds of the ninth.
Berlanga remained defiant, taunting Alvarez as they came out for the 12th round, but he could not find the stoppage he had predicted.
