According to Tim Bradley, he feels pleased that Hamzah Sheeraz comprehensively defeated Edgar Berlanga in their recent bout, concluding in the fifth round. Bradley believes that the technical knockout loss experienced by Berlanga (23-2, 18 KOs) effectively terminates the artificial “hype” surrounding the fighter, whom he describes as a fabricated persona from Brooklyn, New York.
Edgar, cultivated by Top Rank, was exposed as having limited abilities by Hamzah Sheeraz (22-0-1, 18 KOs) at the match held in Louis Armstrong Stadium, Queens, NY.
“I don’t believe Canelo will be interested in facing you. If he’s avoiding Benavidez, he’ll also avoid Sheeraz,” Tim Bradley commented on his online platform, forecasting that Canelo Alvarez will steer clear of Hamzah Sheeraz, given the manner in which Sheeraz overcame Edgar Berlanga recently.
Canelo’s willingness to fight Sheeraz would depend on a substantial payment from Turki Alalshikh. Naturally, Canelo must first secure a victory in his upcoming fight against Terence Crawford on September 13th before any discussions can realistically occur regarding him defending his WBC title against his mandatory challenger, Sheeraz, in February 2026.
The Conclusion of Berlanga’s Hype Narrative
“This outcome is a bonus. I’m incredibly relieved it’s over,” Bradley stated, referring to Berlanga being exposed by Hamzah. “Berlanga, the orchestrated excitement is finished. You were causing embarrassment to yourself and those close to you. Hamzah entered and overwhelmed you effortlessly. Everyone departed. You’re left with nothing.”
When Will Berlanga Return? A Career Rebuild
Edgar will likely return shortly, possibly facing a less-challenging opponent to begin the process of rebuilding his standing. He has previously demonstrated that he doesn’t need to overcome strong adversaries to secure lucrative, multi-million dollar earnings. He generates significant interest through his provocative statements and self-centered demeanor. After achieving one or two victories against weaker opponents, Berlanga will likely be included on one of Turki Alalshikh’s Riyadh Season fight cards, earning millions to compete against someone of superior skill.
“He [Sheeraz] maintained his position. That was sufficient. Berlanga was unable to force him backward. Canelo advanced, and so did Sheeraz. He used his punches efficiently. His defense was solid. Berlanga struggled to create any offensive opportunities due to Sheeraz’s strong defense.”
Berlanga didn’t retreat until after Sheeraz knocked him down in the fourth round. Prior to that, he primarily remained stationary, attempting to land jabs and occasional strikes. It was evident that he was wary of Sheeraz’s hand speed from a distance, prompting him to attempt fighting on the inside during the fourth round.
That proved to be the wrong choice. Sheeraz unleashed a four-punch combination that resulted in Edgar’s knockdown. From that moment forward, Berlanga was too severely injured to adequately defend himself and was knocked down again in the final seconds of the round. Hamzah completed the job in the fifth, knocking Berlanga down with a right hand to secure the knockout victory.
