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Edgar Berlanga looks to 'perform like a superstar' against Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz
Edgar Berlanga has been to the mountaintop and he's determined to get back to it.
Berlanga returns to the ring this weekend for his first fight since going the distance against superstar Canelo Alvarez in September. And while the 27-year-old was on the losing end of that unified super middleweight world title bout, he has now seen first-hand what it takes to be at the top of the boxing world.
He looks to use that knowledge against fellow Puerto Rican fighter Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz on Saturday as part of the Austin "Ammo" Williams vs. Patrice Volny card in Orlando, available live worldwide on DAZN.
“I’m back after a big mega-fight with Canelo," Berlanga said at the pre-fight press conference. "We’re looking to go out there and shine like a star this Saturday and go out there and perform, look good.
"I’m fighting against another Puerto Rican, so I know he’s coming with his best. I know he’s going to give it his all."
After headlining in his last fight, Berlanga sees Saturday's undercard bout as a stepping stone towards bigger events in the future. However, while exuding confidence that he will achieve the desired result, he stressed that he's not taking his opponent for granted.
“I'm locked in right now," he said. "This is a small show for me. I just have to go out there and shine like a star, go out there and handle business. Perform like a superstar and get those big fights.
"I’m not overlooking this man; he's coming to win. He’s Puerto Rican, and he has that Puerto Rican blood in him. So, I know he’s coming to fight. I know he’s not going to run around the ring trying to survive. He’s gonna go out there and try to prove a point.
"So, I just wanted everybody to know that it’s going to be a bloodbath."
With the WBO NABO super middleweight title on the line, Berlanga aims to use his experience against one of the biggest names in the sport to propel himself past Gonzalez-Ortiz.
“Obviously, I went 12 rounds, toe-to-toe with Canelo," Berlanga said. "No running, no grabbing, no holding, no nothing. I stood right in his face and we went at it for 12 rounds.
"So I’m looking for the same outcome or something different on Saturday because we’re winning, and we’re living good.”
