Edgar Berlanga says he wants to win the “IBF sibi” title in 2025, and he is targeting super middleweight champion William Scull this year.
Canelo Pipe Dream
Berlanga (22-1, 17 KOs) has set his plans to quickly take the IBF title from Scull and use the belt to get a rematch with United super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez.
Berlanga is superior $10 million per payment day because that fight was fun, especially since he didn’t have to take any dangerous fights to get the title. He should be happy with that money because he won’t get a second chance to fight Canelo, regardless of whether he holds the IBF belt.
If Berlanga wins that belt, he’ll be stuck defending it immediately against a top contender like Osleys Iglesias, and he’ll lose it right off the bat.
It’s doubtful the Mexican star would be interested in fighting Berlanga again anytime soon, if at all. He would receive criticism for fighting the Brooklyn, New York native for a weak, undeserving second.
Roadblock for Reclaiming Water Water Water Water
Even if Berlanga were to fight for the IBF title, the 10 lb rehydration rule would deprive him of a chance to win the belt. Having rehydrated in the 190s, he was unable to get his weight down to 178 for the second weigh-in on fight day. It is reported that Berlanga was put back in the water 193 for his fight with Canelo. At that size, he should compete at light heavyweight.
Last September, Berlanga, 27, lost a 12-round unanimous decision to Canelo at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Points
118-109
118-109
117-110
“I want that IBF title SO BAD !!!! World champion 2025 !! I’m going to sleep 🇵🇷🇵🇷,” said Edgar Berlanga on X about wanting to challenge IBF super middleweight champion William Scull for the belt.
Leapfrogging Again?
Boxing fans on social media are not in favor of Berlanga winning the world title against IBF champion Scull. It would send the wrong message to fans that Berlanga can bypass top contenders to regain world title shots without earning them.
What Berlanga has to fight these competitors to get the title this time rather than being handed a silver platter:
Caleb Plant
Osleys Iglesias
Diego Pacheco
Christian Mbili
Bektemir Melikuziev
Jaime Munguia
Berlanga is ranked #4 WBA, #4 WBO and #6 WBC. Given that he is not listed in the 15 by the International Boxing Federation, he is better off fighting for one of the three belts. However, in order for Berlanga to have a chance to win the WBA, WBC, and WBO belts, he will have to fight Plant, Iglesias, Mbilli, or Pacheco.
In other words, fighters who can beat him easily. But if Berlanga goes after the weakened Scull’s IBF belt, he will hold the keys to a lucrative rematch with Canelo. It would be a trick on Berlanga’s part, but it’s doubtful he’ll get a second fight with Canelo. The backlash from the fans would have been devastating for the Mexican star, which he did not want to face.
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