While holding his training camp in Colorado, unbeaten WBA No. 1-ranked contender Edgar Berlanga spent time with the University of Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders, gaining inspiration from the Pro and College Football Hall of Famer ahead of his showdown against pound-for-pound great Canelo Álvarez in a Mexican Independence Day weekend blockbuster on Saturday, September 14 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and live on DAZN (excluding Mexico and Latin America).
In a video that can be watched online here, Berlanga and Sanders spent time together ahead of Colorado’s opening night victory against North Dakota State last Thursday, with Sanders offering encouragement for Berlanga ahead of the biggest fight of his career.
“God gave you everything you need to win, now it’s on you,” said Sanders. “Can’t be no doubt in your mind. The work should be so intense, that it’s just second nature…It’s like a melody by the time the fight comes. Some people don’t believe, but they don’t know about the journey…I don’t subscribe to pressure, I apply it. You were born to be there.”
Berlanga also shared behind the scenes and sideline videos on his personal Instagram from his visit to Boulder on Thursday as he attended Colorado’s season opener as a guest of Sanders’. In his conversation with Sanders, Berlanga compares his underdog status against a legend in Canelo to how he began his career without the fanfare that now accompanies him.
“You sound just like my coach, because when he grabbed me to turn pro, nobody wanted to sign me,” said Berlanga. “He came and picked me up and turned me into a beast.”
Canelo vs. Berlanga will headline a stacked four-fight event that also features WBA middleweight world champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara taking on the two-division world champion and Puerto Rican star Danny “Swift” García in a 12-round showdown. Plus, former super middleweight world champion Caleb Plant will take on undefeated contender Trevor McCumby for the interim WBA super middleweight title, while the former 140-pound world champion Rolando “Rolly” Romero steps into the ring against the hard-hitting Manuel Jaimes in a 10-round bout opening the card at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
Watch Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga live September 14 on DAZN (excluding Mexico & Latin America). Click here for details.