Edgar Berlanga Destroys Ulises Sierra In The First Round
Edgar Berlanga (16-0, 16 KOs) is one of the rising prospects in the sport. The 23-year-old from Brooklyn kept his first-round knockout streak alive as he took apart and stopped Ulises Sierra (15-2-2, 9 KOs) at the 2:40 mark of the opening round.
Berlanga is gaining quite a reputation as an explosive puncher. With 1:45 to go in the opening stanza, he hurt Sierra with a series of overhand rights and put him down on one knee at the 1:40 mark.
Smelling blood, the Brooklyn-ite poured on the punches. He put down his wounded opponent for a second time with a series of hard shots with 70 seconds to go in the round. From there, you knew the end was near. Further punishment from Berlanga put Sierra down and out with 20 seconds to go. Referee Russell Mora would wave a halt to the contest.
What made this KO a bit more impressive than his others is that Sierra had previously sparred with the likes of former 168 and 175-pound world champion Andre Ward and current WBA ‘Regular’ World Super Middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez. Furthermore, this win was without his trainer Andre Rozier, who tested positive for COVID-19.
With one-punch power reminiscent of storied middleweight punchers and former 160-pound world titleholders Julian Jackson and Gerald McClellan, Berlanga has the explosiveness plus the personality that can quickly make him a fan favorite.
Now it is time to step up the level of competition. It is one thing to showcase the ability to put someone on the deck. However, it is another thing to show that you have world champion and star potential. Hopefully, we will start to see what kind of fighter he truly is starting in 2021.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
