Edgar Berlanga Doubts Christian Mbilli’s Chances Against Canelo Álvarez
Brooklyn’s Edgar Berlanga backs Canelo Álvarez to dominate Christian Mbilli and possibly score a knockout in their upcoming fight.
Berlanga Unfazed by Mbilli’s Challenge After an impressive seventh-round knockout victory over Stephen Butler, Edgar Berlanga finds himself with some downtime and ready to weigh in on the upcoming showdown between Saul “Canelo” Álvarez and Christian Mbilli, scheduled for October 31. Training and fighting out of Brooklyn, Berlanga doesn’t hesitate to share his blunt opinion: he believes Canelo will win, and might even finish the fight early with a knockout.
"I truly believe Canelo can stop him," Berlanga told The Ring. "Mbilli isn’t anything special. He just comes forward, has good conditioning, and throws a lot of punches."
Harsh Critique of Mbilli’s Skill Level Berlanga didn’t find any notable strengths in Mbilli’s game — no mention of speed, footwork, or defense. Instead, he referenced Mbilli’s fight against Sergey Derevyanchenko, a seasoned boxer who suffered a serious hand injury during their bout but still managed to beat Mbilli despite the setback.
"Watching Mbilli fight Derevyanchenko, who was basically one-handed, shows a lack of tactical awareness," Berlanga explained. "Why not take advantage when your opponent is injured? Instead of staying away from his strong hand and waiting for a counterpunch, Mbilli nearly lost that fight."
The Stakes for Canelo Canelo Álvarez, widely regarded as one of the best fighters of his generation, recently suffered a historic loss to Bud Crawford but remains the favorite in most of his upcoming bouts. The fight against undefeated Mbilli is seen by many as a winnable challenge, and Berlanga’s comments reinforce that perception.
A victory here could strengthen Canelo’s legacy and be another step toward boxing’s Hall of Fame. On the other hand, Mbilli will need to sharpen his tactical skills and ring awareness if he hopes to pull off an upset against Álvarez.