Matchroom head honcho Eddie Hearn and Edgar Berlanga are in a ‘will they or won’t they’ situation. With Berlanga’s decisive first-round knockout win over Puerto Rico’s Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz last night, the 27-year-old has positioned himself to secure a fight against ‘Interim’ WBA super middleweight champion Caleb Plant. The pair have been throwing verbal daggers at each other for a while now, but Berlanga’s callout after this latest win seems to hint at a blockbuster matchup in the future. However, the question remains: Will this fight happen under the Matchroom Boxing banner?
Hearn and Berlanga looked friendly in the ring following the Gonzalez-Ortiz fight. In fact, it was Hearn who nudged Berlanga to focus on Plant next. However, ‘The Chosen One’ and Hearn might not be on the best of terms. You see, before Saturday night’s fight, Berlanga accused Hearn of intentionally not securing a fight for him against IBF super middleweight champion William Scull. A win here could have positioned him to fight Canelo Alvarez in the future once again.
However, Hearn revealed that Berlanga had demanded $1.5 million for the fight, while Scull wanted $3 million for the bout. “The reason this fight happened is because it was written in his contract in the Canelo fight,” Hearn told Tha Boxing Voice, explaining why Berlanga was fighting on an undercard this time around. “Absolutely, I’m not going to put a load more money into a show when it’s the last fight of a deal.”
LEEDS, ENGLAND – JANUARY 28: Promotor Eddie Hearn speaks during the Kiko Martinez v Josh Warrington Press Conference at The Banking Hall on January 28, 2022 in Leeds, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
Despite this, Berlanga collectively made $12 million headlining against Jason Quigley, Padraig McCrory, and Canelo Alvarez, thanks to Hearn. Amid this feud, it seemed like Berlanga and Hearn would go their separate paths after Berlanga’s latest win, which was their last contractual obligation. However, Hearn hopes the 27-year-old would continue to do business with him and his company—while putting their animosity behind them.
“I feel like it’s a great fight,” Hearn said when Fight Hype pressed him about a Berlanga vs. Plant matchup. “Whatever happens between me and Edgar Berlanga, it’s a good fight for his career. So, I think that’s the fight they should pursue next hopefully with us and we’ll speak to PBC, maybe His Excellency(Turki Alalshikh) as well, and go from there.”
When asked for a prediction for the potential fight, Hearn, like a good promoter, sided with Berlanga to win the bout. “I like [Caleb Plant],” Hearn began. “I think he’s a great guy, but you got to get hold of him and you got to try and beat him up. It’s easier said than done, but it’s a great fight. It’s a great clash of styles. I believe Edgar can beat him.”
However, Berlanga might get the Plant fight stolen from right under him.
Diego Pacheco wants to get to Caleb Plant before Edgar Berlanga
Diego Pacheco is eager to face super middleweight champion Caleb Plant before Edgar Berlanga can secure the fight. The undefeated 24-year-old contender sees Plant as the perfect opponent to help elevate his career and position himself for a title shot. “If I were to get in there with Caleb Plant, I feel he’s the best fighter in the division aside from Canelo—skill-wise and experience-wise,” Pacheco told Steve Cureno III of KO Artist Sports last month.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 06: Diego Pacheco of The United States during a Media Workout at Rathbone Boxing Club on March 06, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
“I would love to fight him one day to earn my shot, gain respect in the division, and move toward becoming world champion soon.” Pacheco, the WBO’s No. 1-ranked contender, may land on Canelo Alvarez’s May 3 Saudi Arabia card given his partnership with Hearn’s Macthroom Boxing. A win over Plant would solidify his standing and bring him closer to a clash with Alvarez. “I would have my foot all the way in the door,” Pacheco said. “Those are the fights that intrigue me and the ones I want moving forward.”
Having said that, Eddie Hearn clearly wants his partnership with Edgar Berlanga to continue, but whether that happens is up in the air. As for Hearn’s prediction, only an actual fight would determine whether Berlanga has what it takes. Who do you think will win the bout?
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