Edgar Berlanga isn’t here for the small fights anymore. And honestly, can you blame him? Just last year, he went the full 12 rounds with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, one of the biggest names in boxing. Sure, he didn’t win, but that fight put him on the map in a way no other fight had before. And ever since, it seems like he’s been soaking up the glory of that moment. Now, here’s the thing. Berlanga has been frustrated with his promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, for putting him on the undercard of a small event. He wants the big fights, the big names, and the big paydays. However, in Hearn’s defense, this is Berlanga’s last fight with Matchroom, and the 27-year-old has chosen not to renew his deal with the British promotional giant. It seems Hearn isn’t interested in spending a chunk on the Brooklyn-born fighter, knowing very well that he would be stepping away after his next fight. Well, who would?
As a result, Edgar Berlanga is now set to face Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz in just a few hours at Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida, but he’s already stirred controversy by missing the stipulated weight of 168 lbs. That’s not a great look. Does it mean he’s not taking this fight seriously? Maybe. After all, Gonzalez-Ortiz is 35 and still hasn’t faced a major name. Despite Gonzalez’s flawless resume, ‘The Chosen One’ might not see him as a real threat. Regardless, missing the weight in boxing is an ignominious prospect. Hence, Edgar Berlanga has been receiving steady bashing from all corners of the sport. Now, fellow Brooklyn native Richardson Hitchins has decided to weigh in (pun intended) on the matter. So, what did he say?
Got Bigger Fish to Fry, huh!
Yesterday, the IBF light-welterweight champion stood for an interview with FightHype, where the duo covered all the latest boxing updates. Naturally, the conversation turned to Edgar Berlanga missing his weight. “What do you think about him missing weight?” the reporter asked. “Man, I just found out,” the 27-year-old replied. However, despite being from the same burrow, Hitchens chose not to defend Edgar Berlanga’s recent snafu. “You know what? He enjoys that Canelo money. What the fu– is going on? He’s enjoying that fu–ing Canelo money. He needs to fu–ing stop eating plantanos and sh-t like that,” Hitchens quipped.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 14: Saul Canelo Alvarez (R) punches Edgar Berlanga (L) during the WBC, WBA, WBO World Super Middleweight Championship fight at T-Mobile Arena on September 14, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)
Hitchins, moreover, got real about the 22-1 boxer’s opponent. “You know the guy he’s fighting… I don’t think probably this was a guy that probably he was in camp for like months, like a Canelo fight or a big fight,” he posited. So what does it mean? This isn’t some high-stakes, months-long, blood-sweat-and-tears training camp like when he fought Canelo in September. According to the IBF champion, it’s more like, ‘Alright, let’s get in shape, handle business, and move on’ kind of fight for Edgar Berlanga.
In the end, Richardson Hitchins kept it blunt. “So I mean he paid up that little cheese and go handle business tomorrow. And he got bigger fish to fry after he gets done tomorrow.” In other words, yes, he missed weight, and yes, he had to pay up a part of his purse to ensure the fight went forward. But he’s gonna take care of business, get the win, and move on to bigger fights, according to the Brooklyn native. The weight issue? Just a minor hiccup. However, Edgar Berlanga has his explanation for missing the weigh-in. But honestly, something about it just doesn’t add up.
The flu that cost Edgar Berlanga a part of his win money
So, here’s the deal—Edgar Berlanga missed weight. He came in 1.6 lbs over the super middleweight limit of 168 lbs, which meant his team had to scramble at the last minute to renegotiate the deal so the fight could continue as scheduled. Meanwhile, Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz? No issues. He weighed in at 167.4 lbs, right on target for their WBO NABO super middleweight title fight. The fight is still happening, but here’s the catch—if Berlanga wins, he won’t get to keep the belt. Instead, it’ll just become vacant.
Now, the big question: Why did Berlanga miss weight? Turns out he had some health issues leading up to the fight. Speaking with FightHype.com after the weigh-in, Berlanga said, “People don’t know, right, but I had the flu.” He explained that his body just wasn’t responding well while cutting weight, and at a certain point, he had to call it. “I was struggling with my health, and I knew that at a certain point, I was like, ‘Damn, man—I can’t do it.” He even pointed out that if he wanted, he could’ve pulled out of the fight altogether, but he didn’t. Instead, he pushed through and made sure the fight was still on.
Regardless of how this fight goes, this will be Edgar Berlanga’s last one under Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing. After this? He’s a free agent, meaning he can go after some serious names—think Caleb Plant, Jermall Charlo, or Jaime Munguia- provided he gets the win tonight.
That said, do you agree with Richardson Hitchins? Can Edgar Berlanga prove he has the upper hand over Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz?
The post “He Needs to F****ing Stop”- Richardson Hitchins Sounds Off on Edgar Berlanga After Missing Weight for First Fight of 2025 appeared first on EssentiallySports.
