Edgar Berlanga once again proved his resilience and skill by rallying from a knockdown to stop Steven Butler in the seventh round of a high‑octane Zuffa Boxing super‑middleweight bout held at Madison Square Garden. The fight marked a pivotal moment in Berlanga’s career, coming exactly one year after his devastating knockout loss to Britain’s Hamzah Sheeraz. In that previous encounter, Berlanga had been caught cold and sent to the canvas, a setback that many thought might linger. Yet, stepping into the ring against Butler, he faced yet another peril when the British‑American contender landed a clean blow that sent Berlanga to the canvas with only seconds remaining in the second round.
The knockdown acted as a catalyst, igniting a fierce exchange that would define the remainder of the contest. From the moment Berlanga rose, he unleashed a torrent of powerful punches, hammering Butler from all angles.
The Mexican‑American fighter responded with a flurry of heavy shots, forcing Butler to retreat, cover up, and survive by any means necessary. At one point, Butler even resorted to an unconventional MMA‑style takedown, attempting to disrupt Berlanga’s rhythm and gain a positional advantage. While the maneuver was unexpected in a boxing setting, it highlighted Butler’s desperation to neutralize the onslaught. Despite the grappling attempt, Butler managed to find a brief window of success at the close of the third round.
As the bell rang, he landed two sizable punches that briefly shifted momentum, reminding the audience that he possessed knockout power of his own. However, the bout’s narrative remained firmly in Berlanga’s favor. The back‑and‑forth action continued into the fourth and fifth rounds, with Berlanga consistently delivering cleaner, heavier blows. His jab set the distance, while his straight rights and looping hooks found their mark with increasing frequency.
Round six saw Berlanga’s aggression reach a crescendo. He unleashed a relentless barrage of right hands, each punch echoing through the arena. The accumulation of damage culminated in Butler’s second knockdown, this time in the sixth round, as he crumpled to the canvas under the weight of Berlanga’s assault.
Butler managed to rise before the count, displaying the heart of a seasoned competitor, but the tide had undeniably turned. The seventh round began with Butler attempting to rally, landing a crisp right hand that momentarily revived his hopes. Yet, Berlanga answered with a devastating combination— a rapid succession of lefts, rights, and a powerful uppercut—that left Butler defenseless.
The referee, observing the clear dominance and the danger to Butler’s safety, had no choice but to intervene, halting the contest and awarding Berlanga a technical knockout victory. With this win, Berlanga notched his 24th professional triumph and extended his perfect record at Madison Square Garden to six victories without a loss.
The victory also reinforced his status as a rising contender in the super‑middleweight division, positioning him for potential marquee match‑ups against elite fighters such as Hamzah Sheeraz, Jaime Munguia, Chris Eubank, Jermell Charlo, and Caleb Plant. In the post‑fight interview, Berlanga declared, "It shows I'm a true champion, and I'm not scared of fighting anyone.
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." The event also featured a co‑main event that highlighted the depth of talent on the undercard. Former super‑lightweight world champion Richardson Hitchins made a decisive statement in his welterweight debut, outclassing Ricardo "Magic Man" Salas with a unanimous decision. Hitchins leveraged his superior speed, reach, and precision, repeatedly snapping Salas back with a sharp jab and preventing the Mexican fighter from establishing any rhythm.
The judges’ scorecards reflected the one‑sided nature of the bout, each reading 100‑90 in favor of Hitchins. Buoyed by his dominant performance, Hitchins immediately set his sights on the division’s elite, issuing a bold challenge to the top names at 147 pounds.
"I want the best guys in boxing," he proclaimed. "Give me Gervonta Davis, Devin 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." Overall, the Zuffa Boxing showcase delivered an evening of high‑energy action, dramatic comebacks, and clear statements of intent from two ambitious fighters. Berlanga’s ability to recover from a knockdown and finish the fight emphatically underscored his resilience and power, while Hitchins’ seamless transition to welterweight signaled his readiness to chase world‑title opportunities. Fans can look forward to a busy 2026 boxing calendar, with more big fights, streaming options, and podcasts like Toe2Toe offering in‑depth analysis of the sport’s evolving landscape.