Edgar Berlanga vs Jason Quigley UK fight time, TV channel, live stream and undercard
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Remember when Edgar Berlanga was the most exciting prospect in boxing? That feels like an awful long time ago, doesn’t it.
Berlanga returns to the ring for the first time in over a year, having been banned for six months for attempting to bite his previous opponent.
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His actions were widely condemned but he has paid the $10,000 fine and served his six-month suspension dished out by the New York State Athletic Commission.
Having parted ways with former promoters Top Rank earlier this year, the American signed a multi-fight deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing. Berlanga makes his promotional debut at The Theater at Madison Square Garden tonight, the same venue he last fought at 12 months ago.
He will fight Jason Quigley, who unsuccessfully challenged Demetrius Andrade for the WBO middleweight title and holds wins over Glen Tapia and Shane Mosley Jr.
An orthodox, stocky box-puncher, his power has somewhat waned as of late.
But despite the challenge in front of him, he insists the goal remains the same regardless.
“It’s a big night on Saturday,” said Berlanga. “It’s been a year lay-off, we’re home with a new promoter, and I am ready to perform.
“I don’t put too much pressure on myself, other people are trying to say Jason is an easy fight, but I know it’s a difficult fight, we’ve prepared well for that, he’s not going to stand in the middle of the ring, we’ve been prepping well for him, I have a lot of respect for him and his team, but we’re going to handle business.
“I want to thank all my fans for buying tickets, another sold-out show, it’s a blessing. I feel great, I’m ready to go. For me there are bigger fish out there, the GGGs, the Charlo’s, these are the guys I want to get in the ring with, I feel I am ready and seasoned to get in with them, but I must beat the s*** out of Jason Quigley this weekend, that’s what it is.”
Berlanga vs Quigley
- Date: Saturday 24 June
- Venue: The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York
- Fight time: Ring walks for the main event are expected around 4am (UK time)
- TV/live stream: DAZN, where subscriptions start from £9.99 a month
- Undercard highlights: Nothing much to write home about to be honest, apart from Khalil Coe taking on Buneet Bisla in a battle of unbeaten prospects at light-heavyweight
- i predicts: Berlanga to win by unanimous decision
Full card:
- Adam Kownacki vs Joe Cusumano
- Reshat Mati vs Dakota Linger
- Yankiel Rivera vs Christian Robles
- Khalil Coe vs Buneet Bisla
- Harley Mederos vs Pedro Vicente Scharbaai
- Pablo Valdez vs Demian Daniel Fernandez
One for the hardcores
Meanwhile over in Japan, Joshua Franco will face Kazuto Ioka in a rematch at super-flyweight.
The last time these two fought, it ended in a draw, with many calling it a robbery, which is perhaps a little unfair in hindsight, especially considering the competitive nature of the bout.
However this time it wasn’t without controversy either as Franco was stripped of the WBA title after failing to make weight in the early hours of Friday morning. The fight will still go ahead, but Ioka is the only one eligible to win the championship as he weighed in comfortably under the 115-pound limit.
“There was some issues the past few days that even up to a few hours ago made us believe the fight was off,” Franco’s trainer, Robert Garcia, wrote on Twitter. “Josh has always been a professional and has never had a problem like this before.”
Ioka, for his part, kept it professional despite the shocking miss.
“I’ve come this far… I’m in the best condition right now,” said Ioka, who fights out of Tokyo. “I have no hard feelings, no resentment towards my opponent.”
Any other business
Devin Haney and Deontay Wilder are reportedly close to signing respective deals with Saudi Arabia-based Skill Challenge Promotions.
Speaking of heavyweights, Dillian Whyte says he is now willing to accept an offer to fight Anthony Joshua on 12 August.
In other news, the International Olympic Committee has voted to revoke the International Boxing Association of its status as the world governing body for the sport effective immediately, as many had expected.
