Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez remains the undisputed super middleweight champion of the world after taking a unanimous decision over Edgar Berlanga on Saturday.
The Mexican knocked out Berlanga in the third round in front of more than 20,000 fans at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The four-weight world champion then remained dominant to inflict the first loss of Berlanga’s career and mark Mexico’s Independence Day celebrations with his fifth straight victory.
The fight was scored 118-109 by two judges and 117-110 by the third in favor of Alvarez, who holds the WBA, WBC and WBO titles.
The 34-year-old’s record improved to 62-2-2, while the 27-year-old Berlanga, born in New York and Puerto Rico, is now 22-1.
“I did well,” Alvarez said. “Before they say I’ve fought bigger fighters. Now what will they say? Do I fight younger fighters? They always talk.
“I’m the best fighter in the world. It means a lot. It’s an honor for me to represent my country on this day. I feel proud about it.”
Alvarez was stripped of his IBF belt in July after choosing to face Berlanga instead of IBF mandatory opponent William Scull.
Alvarez put Berlanga under pressure early and the younger fighter tried to fight back after being caught with a right to the head in the third round, but a devastating left hook sent him down.
The highly experienced champion Alvarez continued to hound Berlanga with heavy body shots before rocking him with a big right in the dying seconds of the ninth.
Berlanga remained defiant, taunting Alvarez as they went out for the 12th round, but he couldn’t find the break he had anticipated.
