Edgar Berlanga steamrolled Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz three days ago, scoring a first-round TKO like it was a walk in the park. After going to-in-toe with Canelo Alvarez last year, he probably knew this one was going to be a breeze. What’s funny is the fact that he even skipped the weigh-in, blaming the flu. But come fight night? He looked sharp as ever, barely breaking a sweat. But why would he do that?
Edgar Berlanga was actually furious with Eddie Hearn. Mr. Promoter set him up for an undercard of a small event. But what Berlanga wanted was big fights, big names, and, of course, big money. But with this being his last fight under Matchroom Boxing, Hearn wasn’t about to roll out the red carpet. Can you blame him? And now that Berlanga’s moving on, the real question is—who’s next? While we wait for that answer, here’s five facts you probably didn’t know about him.
1. The New Yorker’s early life set him up for success
Most people might not stick with anything that long, given the circumstances Edgar Berlanga had to face. But for Berlanga? 20 years in boxing, and still counting more. But did you know why boxing and no other sports? Edgar Berlanga Jr.’s story starts in Bushwick. He wasn’t just some kid running around aimlessly in his neighborhood. He had something in him. No surprise Edgar Berlanga Sr. saw the potential. “This kid is crazy,” Berlanga’s mom told his dad, seeing their 7-year-old son fighting at such a tender age.
His dad had a friend, Benny Roman, a local boxing trainer. His job was not just to train the younger Berlanga, but also to keep him grounded during his father’s absence. And it worked out pretty well. Berlanga was in the gym twice a week! But it wasn’t always boxing. Growing up in NYC, the 23-1 boxer was obsessed with baseball. At one point he was even convinced that if he had stuck with baseball, he’d be in the MLB someday. But somewhere along the way, baseball lost its hold on him.
Fast forward to when he turned 15, Berlanga was fully committed to boxing. He saw how the top fighters were making money. And the lifestyles? Yes. Tempting. That was the moment when he knew THIS was the path for him. But when has money ever come so easily? It only started with $1,000 per fight. Then it jumped to $4,000, then $10,000. When he signed with his manager, Keith Connolly the real money started flowing. Suddenly, it was $60,000 per fight… then $300,000. Talk about cash flow!
2. He found amateur success before impressive pro KOs
Edgar Berlanga started boxing when he was just seven years old. From there, he built an impressive amateur record. 162 wins, and 17 losses. That’s a lot of fights! And it wasn’t just about the numbers. Those early years shaped his aggressive style and raw power when he turned pro in 2012. And now when you check his resume, you’ll figure out why he could deliver early-round KO victories in his first 16 pro matches.
3. Edgar Berlanga Had To Go Through Disciplinary Action
Edgar Berlanga had to pay the price of his overexcitement on June 11. Back in 2022, the 23-1 boxer got hit with a six-month suspension. What’s worse was an extra $10,000 fine from the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC). Why, you ask? Well, the then 25-year-old tried to bite his opponent, Alexis Angulo, during their fight in Madison Square Garden Theater, New York. Yes, you read that right.
In the middle of the 7th round, Berlanga attempted to bite Angulo’s left shoulder. Surprisingly, ref Ricky Gonzalez didn’t penalize him in the moment. As a result, The Chosen One could beg a 10th-round unanimous decision victory. But that didn’t mean Edgar Berlanga remained indifferent. Later, Berlanga explained that it was retaliation for what he claimed were repeated elbows from Angulo. Even though he initially laughed it off, comparing the situation to Mike Tyson’s infamous bite on Evander Holyfield during their rematch, he later apologized on X, saying “I was in the moment and got a little ahead of myself.”
4. Berlanga’s ex has Cardi B ties
We might not know about his current marital status, but we can talk about Edgar Berlanga Jr.’s love life—specifically, his ex-girlfriend, Genesis Calderon. And mind you, she’s not just his former partner; she’s also the mother of their son, Chosen Berlanga. She’s a businesswoman through and through. Her main venture? Gens Brow Lab, a beauty business focused on eyebrows. And she also runs Chosen Alias, a fitness clothing brand that she promotes regularly on Instagram.
Interestingly, over 240k followers keep up with her lifestyle, fashion, and business moves. It all started in August 2021, when she posted her first photo in a gray unitard. Since then, her IG feed has been filled with stylish outfits and glimpses into her world. She even had a viral moment in April 2024 when Cardi B featured her in the song Enough (Miami).
5. Berlanga Sr. was tragically incarcerated
Edgar Berlanga Sr. tried to do his best to keep his son on the right path, especially after everything that happened to him. If you didn’t know, Berlanga Sr. ended up in pri–n when he allegedly sh-t two people when his son was only 2 days old. Seven and a half years behind ba-s meant missing out on crucial moments in his son’s early life.
When he got out, he wanted to make up for lost time. And he had a plan: boxing. But before he could really guide his son, he found himself back in pri–n when Berlanga Jr. was just 10. By the time his father was released four years later, Berlanga Jr. had lost his passion for boxing. Instead, he had his sights set on basketball. He still sparred here and there, but his heart wasn’t in it like before.
His father, though? He wasn’t having it. “You’re gonna be a fighter instead. You’re good at it. I’m here, I’m back home. This is how it’s gonna be,” he told his son, according to the reports of Boxing News. And just like that, Berlanga Jr. was back in the ring. It wasn’t easy. It never is. But that’s how champions are made.
What do you think of Edgar Berlanga’s journey? Let us know your thoughts below.
The post Here Are 5 Things You Never Knew About Edgar Berlanga appeared first on EssentiallySports.