Edgar Berlanga misses weight for first fight since Canelo Alvarez loss: 'Damn, man — I can't do it'

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 13: Undefeated super middleweight boxer Edgar Berlanga looks out from the stage during a ceremonial weigh-in in Toshiba Plaza at T-Mobile Arena on September 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Berlanga is scheduled to challenge WBC/WBA/WBO super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez for the titles at the arena September 14. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images) — Edgar Berlanga's comeback has hit another snag. (Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

Edgar Berlanga is 1.6 pounds over the championship limit for his comeback fight.

Berlanga tipped the scales at 169.6 pounds in his first attempt at Friday's weigh-in ahead of his WBO NABO super middleweight title bout with Jonathon Gonzalez-Ortiz. Gonzalez-Ortiz successfully made the 168-pound maximum, weighing in at 167.4 pounds.

"People don't know, right, but I had the flu," Berlanga said to FightHype about missing weight. "I was struggling with my health, and I knew that at a certain point, I was like, 'Damn, man — I can't do it.'"

Berlanga vs. Gonzalez-Ortiz will still go ahead on Saturday night at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida, but Berlanga will be ineligible to win the title. Should he emerge victorious, the belt will become vacant.

Berlanga vs. Gonzalez-Ortiz is the co-feature of a DAZN-streamed fight card headlined by the Austin "Ammo" Williams (17-1, 12 KOs) vs. Patrice Volny (19-1, 13 KOs) middleweight contest. Elsewhere on the show, 2024 Olympic bronze medalist Omari Jones makes his professional debut at welterweight against Alessio Mastronunzio (14-5, 4 KOs), and Jamaine Ortiz (18-2-1, 9 KOs) faces Yomar Alamo (22-3-1, 13 KOs) in a super lightweight bout.

Berlanga (22-1, 17 KOs) was last in action this past September when he challenged Saul "Canelo" Alvarez for the WBA, WBC and WBO super middleweight titles. Berlanga extended Alvarez the 12-round distance at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas but ultimately lost a lopsided decision on the scorecards.

Saturday's bout represents Berlanga's final fight as part of his contract with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing on Saturday. He will then enter free agency in the summer, likely targeting big fights with Caleb Plant, Jermall Charlo and Jaime Munguia.

Berlanga has expressed his disappointment at being on the undercard of a relatively smaller show coming off a fight with the sport's biggest star, Alvarez. He blames Hearn's Matchroom for what he has described as a "disrespectful" move.

Gonzalez-Ortiz (20-0-1, 16 KOs) had two fights in 2024, a pair of knockouts over Jose Saint-Hilaire Gil and Edward Ulloa Diaz, which ended a 10-year hiatus from the sport. Gonzalez-Ortiz, 35, represented Puerto Rico at the 2008 Olympics.

He fought to a draw with former super welterweight world champion Serhiy Dzinziruk in 2012 and has a win over Derek Ennis — the brother of IBF welterweight champion Jaron "Boots" Ennis. Ten years on and two weight divisions up, it is no surprise that he is such a big underdog (+950 per BetMGM) against Berlanga.

Topics

Edgar Berlanga, dismissive and overweight post-Canelo, should be wary of what happened to Jaime Munguia

For as many questions as Edgar Berlanga put to rest in his fight against Canelo Alvarez, he's done nothing but raise questions in the six months since.
Yahoo Sports - 40m
UFC Vegas 104: 3 fighters miss weight, including 1 egregious miss by debuting prospect

The scale shenanigans mean a whopping 23% of Saturday's 13-fight card at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas may be contested with weight-related caveats.
Yahoo Sports - 6h
FBI warns about counterfeit versions of weight loss drugs

The FBI warns counterfeit versions of weight loss drugs drugs can cause significant health issues.
ABC News - 7h
Fact-Checking Dr. Oz’s Health Advice on Supplements, Weight Loss and More

We evaluated his claims about probiotics, weight loss, heart health and more.
The New York Times - 4h
'Nunez not to blame - but you felt his miss carried more weight'

Darwin Nunez is not to blame for Liverpool's defeat by PSG but his miss seems to carry more weight, writes Phil McNulty.
BBC News - 3d
Uefa to discuss penalty rules after Alvarez 'miss'

Uefa says it will enter discussions with football's lawmakers over rules around penalties after Julian Alvarez's spot kick was controversially disallowed in Atletico Madrid's Champions League exit.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Here’s why Ozempic maker’s new weight-loss drug isn’t good enough for investors

New trial data showed CagriSema led to “superior” weight loss, but at a rate much less than original expectations of 25%.
MarketWatch - 4d
'So unfortunate' - why Alvarez's penalty was ruled out

MOTD pundits analyse Julian Alvarez's "unfortunate" double-touch penalty that was disallowed for Atletico Madrid in their dramatic penalty shootout loss to rivals Real in the Champions League.
BBC News - 2d
WATCH: Kansas Jayhawks blast five straight home runs, tying NCAA Division I record

It's the fourth time this has happened in Division I history, and the first since 2006
CBS Sports - 2d

Edgar Berlanga misses weight for first fight since Canelo Alvarez loss: 'Damn, man — I can't do it'

Topics

Related

Edgar Berlanga, dismissive and overweight post-Canelo, should be wary of what happened to Jaime Munguia

UFC Vegas 104: 3 fighters miss weight, including 1 egregious miss by debuting prospect

FBI warns about counterfeit versions of weight loss drugs

Fact-Checking Dr. Oz’s Health Advice on Supplements, Weight Loss and More

'Nunez not to blame - but you felt his miss carried more weight'

Uefa to discuss penalty rules after Alvarez 'miss'

Here’s why Ozempic maker’s new weight-loss drug isn’t good enough for investors

'So unfortunate' - why Alvarez's penalty was ruled out

WATCH: Kansas Jayhawks blast five straight home runs, tying NCAA Division I record

More from Yahoo Sports

Is Texas A&M still considered a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament?

Big East Tournament - Wisconsin vs. Michigan State Predictions: Odds, Expert Picks, Betting Trends, and Stats

Commanders lose top pass rusher to Cowboys

Akshay Bhatia and Min Woo Lee co-lead The Players as Justin Thomas ties course record

The Players Championship third round tee times, how to watch: Akshay Bhatia, Min Woo Lee share lead at TPC Sawgrass

More in Sports

Is Texas A&M still considered a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament?

Big East Tournament - Wisconsin vs. Michigan State Predictions: Odds, Expert Picks, Betting Trends, and Stats

Commanders lose top pass rusher to Cowboys

Akshay Bhatia and Min Woo Lee co-lead The Players as Justin Thomas ties course record

Team-by-team preview: Can Orlando Pride repeat as champions?