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Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez remains the unified super-middleweight world champion after earning a unanimous decision over Edgar Berlanga on Saturday.<\/b><\/p>\n
The Mexican knocked down Berlanga in the third round in front of more than 20,000 fans at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n
The four-weight world champion then remained dominant throughout to inflict the first defeat of Berlanga’s career and mark Mexican Independence Day celebrations with his fifth straight victory.<\/p>\n
The fight was scored 118-109 by two judges and 117-110 by the third in favour of Alvarez, who retains his WBA, WBC and WBO titles.<\/p>\n
The 34-year-old’s record improved to 62-2-2 while 27-year-old Berlanga, born in New York and of Puerto Rican heritage, is now 22-1.<\/p>\n
“I did good,” said Alvarez. “Before they say I fought older fighters. Now what are they going to say? I fight younger fighters? They always talk.<\/p>\n
“I’m the best fighter in the world. It means a lot. It’s an honour for me to represent my country on this day. I feel proud about it.”<\/p>\n
Alvarez was stripped of his IBF belt in July after opting to take on Berlanga rather than the IBF’s mandatory challenger William Scull.<\/p>\n
Alvarez put Berlanga under pressure early and the younger fighter tried to respond after being caught by a right to the head in the third round, but a devastating left hook sent him down.<\/p>\n
Vastly experienced champion Alvarez continued to go after Berlanga with fierce body blows, before rocking him with a big right in the waning seconds of the ninth.<\/p>\n
Berlanga remained defiant, taunting Alvarez as they came out for the 12th round, but he could not find the stoppage he had predicted.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n