Edgar Berlanga says his fight with Jason Quigley is a fresh start for him having reunited with former trainer Marc Farrait.
Berlanga goes into the bout with the Irishman a strong favourite on Saturday inside Madison Square Garden’s Theater having worked with Juan De Leon for his last contest, against Alexis Angulo, which Berlanga won over 10 rounds.
Berlanga’s name is often being mentioned in the Canelo sweepstakes, while the Mexican decides his next step, and an impressive performance against Quigley will keep Berlanga’s name in the frame.
“It’s amazing, man,” the 20-0 Berlanga said, of working with Farrait again. “I’ve never been so happy, man. I’m back with the guy that made me, you know? It’s different when you have a guy that knows you in and out. He knows me; he knows what to do to take the best out of me; he’s the guy that invented that monster instinct inside me; he brought it out of me. I’m looking different; I’m feeling different; I’m in the gym. I’m stopping sparring partners. It’s different, man. My mindset is different; my IQ is different. I’m excited.”
Quigley has lost just two of 22 bouts and claims to be more than a supporting actor in the show. The Irishman is promising an upset, but Berlanga believes he will be back to his destructive best and now regrets ever parting ways with Farrait.
“Hell yeah, it was a mistake [to split with him],” the New Yorker of Puerto Rican parents, said. “I feel like if I’d stayed with him, I would be in a way different position right now. It was reasons outside of boxing [that led to us splitting]. There was never no beef between me and him; we just had to part ways. When we parted ways, we ended up both deciding that we needed to get back. I see my last fights [without him] and don’t see me – it was weird. There’s also chemistry. Me leaving him, and going from trainer to trainer – it really hit me that as a fighter, you’ve got to have chemistry with your coach.
“That’s so important, man. You have to have a guy that knows you – that knows how to bring the best out of you. If you have a guy that knows how to get the best out of you – that knows what triggers you to get that killer instinct out of you, then that’s the guy you’ve got to stay with.”
Plenty say the possible Canelo fight is way too soon to be discussed for Berlanga, and he admits he doesn’t have a high mileage. He’s fresh and ambitious, and wants to make a statement in New York this weekend.
“My career’s just getting started,” Berlanga concluded. “It’s a brand-new start for me. I’m with a new promoter [Matchroom]; I’m back with my old trainer; I’m still fresh. I haven’t taken any punishment in the sport of boxing. You see my face. I’m still me. If I was with Mark, I would’ve been 20-0 with 20 knockouts right now.”
