Boxing Results: Bloated Berlanga Blows Out Gonzalez-Ortiz In First-Round

Looking like a fleshly, out of shape cruiserweight, Edgar Berlanga (23-1, 18 KOs) knocked out the hapless Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz (20-1-1, 16 KOs) in the first round in their co-feature fight on Saturday night at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida.

(Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom)

The 35-year-old Gonzalez-Ortiz recently came off a ten-year layoff, and man, he looked it. His physique looked like he’d been hanging around Tyson Fury, as he had the same late Elvis paunch. Where on Earth did Berlanga’s management fight this guy?

First Round Finish

Berlanga dropped Gonzalez-Ortiz with a left hook to the head. Moments later, Edgar connected with a right hand that flattened the still badly hurt Gonzalez-Ortiz. Finally, Berlanga finished off his opponent with a left hand that sent him falling into the ropes, and sliding to the canvas like a giant slug. The referee Chris Young then halted the fight. The time of the stoppage was at 2:31 of the first.

This was supposed to be a super middleweight fight, but Berlanga, 28, came in at light heavyweight at 169.6 lbs at the weigh-in, which he blamed on being sick with the flu. However, Berlanga has been huge for months since losing to Canelo Alvarez last September.

Unless he’s had the flu since that fight, you’d have to say that Berlanga hasn’t been in [putting in the work, and as completely outgrown the 168-lb division. Tonight, Berlanga looked near or at 200+ lbs. He was huge inside the ring, and you could see that he had a lot of extra fat on his normally trim frame.

Post-Fight Bluster

“I was supposed to do that tonight. This was some I can go onto a bigger fight. He had nothing to lose, Beat me and he has everything to gain. I started seeing his eyes were getting swollen and stuff. My team brought this guy to me and I took it,” said Edgar Berlanga to DAZN Boxing moments after knocking out Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz in the first round tonight in Orlando, Florida.

Now, I’m a free agent. I caught the flu a week before the fight. I was really sick. I’m 168 and I’m looking to take over the division and be king.. Jaime Munguia, Charlo, Caleb Plant and Canelo.

“The experience was amazing. I went from middle school to college,” said Berlanga about his fight with Canelo.

He did exactly what he should be doing, going through those guys. He had devastating power in those hands. He just steam rolled through Gonzalez. I like Caleb Plant.  I would love to,” said Eddie Hearn.

“F*** Plant,” said Berlanga, responding to what Hearn had said. “I want to shut his mouth. It’s my time to retire him.”