Super middleweight contender and star Edgar Berlanga appears to have a former world champion calling him out.
Former two-division world champion Billy Joe Saunders, who has not fought since his eighth-round stoppage loss to Canelo Alvarez in May of 2021, in which he lost his WBO super middleweight title took to Twitter today to state the following.
Billy Joe Saunders calling out Edgar Berlanga today… pic.twitter.com/dqrBT8Qjd5
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) July 18, 2023
Billy Joe Saunders held the WBO middleweight title from 2015 to 2018 before obtaining the WBO super-middleweight title from 2019 to 2021, as he had two lengthy title reigns. On top of this, he was also a 2008 Olympian, but after his loss to Canelo Alvarez, it was reported by Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing that Saunders had multiple fractures to his eye socket that would require surgery. Since the Canelo fight, Saunders has been rather quiet, which was a change from his persona prior to the Canelo Alvarez fight.
It appears that Saunders is now looking at a comeback and sees Berlanga as a notable name, and a worthy foe.
"@EdgarBerlanga [little expletive] get ready I want you as my warm up," tweeted Saunders.
Berlanga, who is less distinguished than Saunders in terms of world championship accomplishments, has become a notable draw in the New York City market and recently headlined his first event for his new promoter, Matchroom Boxing. Prior to this event, Berlanga had been suspended by the New York State Atheltic Commission after an incident in which it appeared he attempted to bite Roamer Alexis Angulo on the shoulder. He was fined $10,000 and suffered a six-month suspension which led to Berlanga only fighting once in 2022. This was also Berlanga's last fight with Top Rank Inc.
Berlanga has yet to announce when he will return to the ring, but many would assume as well as hope that he would fight in the fourth quarter of 2023 at some point.
