Edgar Berlanga says Zuffa Boxing deal exceeds Canelo payday

Edgar Berlanga has stated that his agreement with Zuffa Boxing provides higher earnings than his recent bout against Canelo Alvarez. The Brooklyn-based super middleweight, who holds a professional record of 24-2 with 19 knockouts, confirmed the claim when asked by Ring Champs.

While the specific financial details of the contracts are not public, Berlanga reportedly earned millions for his September 2024 fight against Alvarez. Some reports suggest his Zuffa deal may exceed $10 million, though neither amount has been officially verified. This claim is notable because facing Alvarez is typically considered one of the most significant paydays in the sport.

Berlanga's transition to Zuffa followed a period of high-profile activity, including a headlining role on a card supported by Turki Alalshikh against Hamzah Sheeraz. His debut for the new promotion took place on July 26 at Madison Square Garden, where he secured a seventh-round stoppage against Steven Butler. During that contest, Berlanga recovered from being knocked down in the second round to finish the fight.

Butler entered the ring with five career defeats, having previously lost to fighters such as Zhanibek Alimkhanuly, Ryota Murata, Patrice Volny, and Jose de Jesus Macias. By matching Berlanga against Butler, Zuffa provided a path for the fighter to return to the winner's column without facing immediate elite-level opposition. Other available contenders in the division included Osleys Iglesias, Jacob Bank, Lester Martinez, and Kevin Lele Sadjo.

This approach of pairing high-value signings with manageable opponents appears to be a strategy used by Zuffa. Similar matchmaking patterns have been observed with other fighters like Conor Benn and Richardson Hitchins. The method allows established names to build promotional value before facing more dangerous contenders.

Following his loss to Alvarez, Berlanga secured a stoppage victory against Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz before declaring his free agency. His current trajectory under Zuffa suggests a focus on establishing him as a major attraction in the New York market.