Announcing retirement seems to have become a trend in boxing! In recent years, WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson and even WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis have done it. Now, former number one contender Edgar Berlanga is causing a stir on social media after he spoke about retiring from the sport.
However, his retirement is conditional, which he revealed on X earlier today. ‘The Chosen One’ is slated to square off against San Juan, Puerto Rico’s undefeated Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz at the Caribe Royale Orlando on March 15th. This will be Berlanga’s first fight since being embarrassed by Canelo Alvarez in his last fight.
Berlanga suffered the first loss of his career, presumably alongside the biggest paycheck of his career thus far. However, Berlanga aims to assert his dominance once again, as he is gunning for a knockout finish. If not, Berlanga has promised he would retire from the sport for good. “IF I DON’T KNOCK HIM OUT I WILL QUIT BOXING AND WORK IN WALMART,” Berlanga wrote on X.
IF I DON’T KNOCK HIM OUT I WILL QUIT BOXING AND WORK IN WALMART
— Edgar Berlanga Jr (@EdgarBerlangaJr) February 26, 2025
Berlanga first rose to prominence because of his 16-fight knockout streak after turning professional. However, in recent years, Berlanga has slowed down quite a bit, with fans eager to see how Berlanga performs against the likes of Caleb Plant and others. Regardless, despite Berlanga’s bold words, his team had to justify his choice of next opponent.
Team Edgar Berlanga reveals why they chose Gonzalez-Ortiz
After reports revealed Berlanga was fighting Gonzalez Ortiz, some fans were surprised by the matchup, but Berlanga’s coach, Marc Farrait, believes every fight has a purpose. “I think every fight serves some form of purpose,” Farrait told BoxingScene. “When you’re in the ring, you’re going to learn something, whether it’s someone you think you can walk through, or someone you think you’re gonna have a hard night with.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 05: Edgar Berlanga attends the Canelo Alvarez And Edgar Berlanga Press Conference on August 05, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Following his 12-round battle with Canelo Alvarez in September, Berlanga is staying active rather than waiting on another big fight. “Activity, being in the ring, under the lights… I think it’s more about the mental preparation and being ready,” Farrait added. Berlanga is expected to handle Gonzalez-Ortiz with ease. “I think Edgar should have no problems in this fight,” Farrait said.
That said, it appears Edgar Berlanga has raised the stakes for his upcoming fight against Gonzalez Ortiz. Whether he follows through with his promise is yet to be seen. Do you think if he fails to get a knockout finish, he will retire?
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