Edgar Berlanga returned to winning ways, climbing off the canvas to stop Steven Butler in the seventh round of a thrilling Zuffa Boxing super-middleweight contest at Madison Square Garden.
A year on from his knockout defeat to Britain’s Hamzah Sheeraz, Berlanga was staring another loss in the face when he was dropped by Butler in the closing seconds of round two.
The knockdown lit the touchpaper, with Berlanga battering Butler around the ring with a succession of heavy shots and forcing his opponent to survive the onslaught by any means necessary.
Butler even launched an MMA-style takedown in an attempt to combat Berlanga, but had his most productive spell when he landed two big shots of his own as the bell sounded to end round three.
The back-and-forth action continued, with Berlanga landing the cleaner and heavier shots before finishing round six with a barrage of right hands that eventually knocked Butler to the canvas.
Butler landed a big right hand at the start of the seventh to offer some resistance, only for matters to be taken out of his hands when Berlanga’s devastating combination left the referee with no choice but to stop the fight.
Berlanga’s 24th career victory extended his unbeaten record at Madison Square Garden to 6-0 as he set his sights on the biggest names in the super-middleweight division, including a potential shot at avenging his defeat to Sheeraz.
“It shows I’m a true champion, and I’m not sacred of fighting anyone,” Berlanga said post-fight. “I fought a dangerous fighter, a big knockout puncher to prove myself and show people I am back.
“We want Hamzah Sheeraz, Jaime Munguia, Chris Eubank, Jermell Charlo, Caleb Plant, we want to fight to best prove we belong with the best.”
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The ending to Vladyslav Sirenko’s heavyweight clash with Otto Wallin at Zuffa Boxing 9 in New York
Hitchens outclasses Salas
In the co-main event, former super-lightweight world champion Richardson Hitchins made an emphatic start to life at welterweight, outclassing Ricardo ‘Magic Man’ Salas in a unanimous decision victory.
Hitchins used his speed, accuracy and reach advantage to dominate throughout, repeatedly snapping Salas back with his jab and rarely allowing the Mexican into the fight.
The one-sided nature of the contest was reflected by three 100-90 scorecards.
Having impressed in his new weight class, Hitchins immediately turned his attention to the division’s biggest names, declaring his ambition to face and beat the very best at 147lbs.
“I want the best guys in boxing,” Hitchins said. “Give me Gervonta Davis, Devon Haney, Ryan Garcia.
“They say I’m not like that, come show me I’m not like that. 21-0, no draws, no stains on my record. Come get it if you want it.”
