Edgar Berlanga misses weight for first fight since Canelo Alvarez loss: 'Damn, man — I can't do it'
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.
-
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 - 3h -
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 - 9h -
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 - 9h -
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 - 6h -
'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 2006CBS Sports - 2d -
Mets lose starting catcher Alvarez for 6-8 weeks
Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez will undergo surgery on a broken left hamate bone and miss six to eight weeks.ESPN - 5d -
Novo Nordisk shares fall 6.3% after latest trial results for its next-generation weight loss drug
Shares of Novo Nordisk fell sharply on Monday, after the firm published results from the latest clinical trial of its CagriSema weight-loss drug.CNBC - 4d -
Roche takes big step in weight-loss field with $5.3 billion deal. Novo Nordisk shares fall.
Swiss drugmaker Roche on Wednesday announced a major deal in the weight-loss category, agreeing to pay up to $5.3 billion to Zealand Pharma in a licensing and development deal.MarketWatch - 2d -
Legacy of weight-loss pioneer remembered
Margaret Miles-Bramwell's colleagues remember her life and legacy ahead of her funeral on Monday.BBC News - 5d -
Mets' Francisco Alvarez to miss 6-8 weeks with fracture in left hand
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza announced on Sunday morning that catcher Francisco Alvarez has a fractured hamate bone in his left hand and will be out for six-to-eight weeks following surgery.Yahoo Sports - 5d -
Uefa to discuss penalty rules with lawmakers 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.BBC News - 1d -
I moved to the sauna capital of the US. Could I take the heat?
A thriving sauna culture is growing in frosty Minnesota as people warm to the health benefits and sense of community. How much do you spend on health and wellness a month? First there was the ...The Guardian - 11h -
England miss out on U20 title after defeat by Wales
England miss out on the Under-20 Six Nations title - and a first Grand Slam since 2021- as they are beaten by Wales at Cardiff Arms Park.BBC News - 5h -
'Size bias is ingrained in our culture': Women on life after weight-loss jabs
Women who have quickly lost weight say strangers are now more likely to smile at them or strike up a conversation.BBC News - 6d -
UFC Fight Night 254 video: Marvin Vettori, Roman Dolidze make weight in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS – The main event for the UFC's last of three straight weeks in "Sin City" is official after the headliners made weight Friday. Ahead of UFC Fight Night 254 (ESPN+), which takes place ...Yahoo Sports - 10h -
I do aqua aerobics with women in their 80s – it’s the most fun I’ve had exercising | Kate Leaver
A joy from start to finish, doing jump-kicks underwater to classic pop hits has taught me never to think of exercise as punishment. Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email At my first ...The Guardian - 1d -
Doheny misses weight & given an hour to lose ounce
TJ Doheny weighed in an ounce heavier than the featherweight limit for Saturday's world-title challenge against Nick Ball in LiverpoolYahoo Sports - 13h -
‘I’m deeply disturbed’: My portfolio lost 20%. With Trump’s trade war, do I sell my stocks and buy gold?
“With the current state of domestic and global affairs, I’m at a loss as to how to keep my economic stability in check.”MarketWatch - 1d -
Healthy Returns: Wegovy is linked to an increased risk of hair loss, study suggests
Novo Nordisk's weight loss drug Wegovy is linked to an increased risk of hair loss, a study suggests. Meanwhile, Dexcom received a warning letter from FDA.CNBC - 3d -
Rashford to earn England recall in Tuchel’s first squad
Marcus Rashford is set to be included in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad, which will be announced this morning.Rashford has not featured for the national team since March 2024 but is set to be ...Yahoo Sports - 18h -
Lakers, Luka Dončić fail first test without LeBron James in ugly loss to Nets, leaving JJ Redick frustrated
Dončić registered his second triple-double since joining the Lakers, but struggled mightily from the fieldCBS Sports - 3d -
Well outside the NCAA Tournament bubble, Rutgers' loss to USC assures historic squander of talent
The Scarlet Knights are set to become the first team with two top-five recruits to miss the NCAA TournamentCBS Sports - 1d -
Brian James, founding guitarist of punk's The Damned, dead at 70
Brian James penned "New Rose," the first U.K. punk single, and helped kick off both hardcore and goth subcultures.Los Angeles Times - Mar. 7 -
At 22, Ben Shelton is youngest American man since 2004 to reach quarterfinals at Indian Wells
Ben Shelton has become the youngest American man since Andy Roddick in 2004 to reach the quarterfinals at the BNP Paribas OpenABC News - 2d -
Weight Loss Drug Will Be Offered for $499 a Month for Some Patients
Some commercially insured patients stand to save $150 per month on Wegovy, a popular obesity medication. Patients on Medicare and Medicaid are not eligible.The New York Times - Mar. 5 -
Duke women capture first ACC title since 2013
No. 11 Duke rallied from a 14-point deficit to beat No. 7 N.C. State 76-62 on Sunday for their first ACC title since 2013.ESPN - 5d -
Thomas Tuchel: I must earn the right to sing England’s national anthem
Thomas Tuchel has revealed that he will not sing the national anthem before his first matches as England head coach, claiming he must first earn the right to do so.Yahoo Sports - 4h -
British man killed by president's convoy in Kenya hit-and-run
The car did not stop after hitting Edgar Charles Frederick, 79, on a road in the capital, Nairobi.BBC News - 10h -
Tributes to British man killed in Kenya president's motorcade crash
Edgar Riches, 79, was thought to have been struck by a car in a presidential motorcade in NairobiBBC News - 8h -
‘I demand to have some booze!’: how do actors fake being drunk or on drugs?
From The White Lotus to Industry, hedonism is everywhere on TV at the moment. Actors, and the ‘wellbeing facilitators’ tasked with keeping them safe, reveal the trick to acting under the influence. ...The Guardian - 3d -
On the Run, a Hit Man Gives One Last Confession
Edgar Matobato says he killed again and again for former President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines. Now he’s trying to stay alive to testify.The New York Times - 3d -
Why I quit my homestead dream just as farmer tradwives became mainstream
Our homesteading journey began with self-sufficiency and a dream, but it evolved through loss and social media fame. How much do you spend on health and wellness a month? Our homesteading ...The Guardian - 13h -
USC men's basketball fights to the end but falls to Purdue in Big Ten Tournament
With the loss, the Trojans' season is now over.Yahoo Sports - 13h -
'It's a no-brainer': Indiana basketball players defend their NCAA Tournament resume
'I think we've been playing some pretty damn good basketball': Indiana defends NCAA Tournament resume after Big Ten Tournament exit:Yahoo Sports - 1d -
I keep fantasising about living in total solitude in a forest
Maybe your isolation vision reflects a need to escape from the weight of responsibility that life inevitably brings. The question I am a woman in my early 30s and about two years ago, I moved ...The Guardian - 5d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Updated Big Ten men's basketball tournament bracket, schedule after quarterfinal games
With the 2025 Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal nearing completion, here is an updated look at the tournament bracket and television scheduleYahoo Sports - 10m -
Michigan basketball pounces on Purdue for first Big Ten semifinal appearance since 2021
Michigan basketball score: The Wolverines surged in the second half to beat Purdue and return to the Big Ten semifinals first time since 2021.Yahoo Sports - 11m -
State champion Albertus Magnus rolls past Middletown to reach girls basketball Final Four
Defending state Class AA champ Albertus Magnus reaches AAA Final Four with dominant win over Middletown in girls basketball regional finalYahoo Sports - 15m -
Banda scores twice and Orlando routs Chicago 6-0 in NWSL opener
The reigning champion Orlando Pride opened the National Women's Soccer League season on Friday night with a 6-0 home field rout over the Chicago Stars. Barbra Banda scored a pair of goals for the ...Yahoo Sports - 15m -
NWSL club BOS Nation FC says it will announce new name in coming weeks, following significant fan backlash
The new Boston franchise unveiled its name and branding in October, but pivoted after receiving criticism for the name and its publicity campaign.Yahoo Sports - 19m
More in Sports
-
Bruno hits back at Ratcliffe's 'overpaid' comments
Bruno Fernandes has hit back at Sir Jim Ratcliffe's suggestion that some Manchester United players are overpaid by telling the British billionaire "the club agrees to do the contracts."ESPN - 10m -
Updated Big Ten men's basketball tournament bracket, schedule after quarterfinal games
With the 2025 Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal nearing completion, here is an updated look at the tournament bracket and television scheduleYahoo Sports - 10m -
Michigan basketball pounces on Purdue for first Big Ten semifinal appearance since 2021
Michigan basketball score: The Wolverines surged in the second half to beat Purdue and return to the Big Ten semifinals first time since 2021.Yahoo Sports - 11m -
North Carolina game-tying free throw vs. Duke waved off in final seconds after premature lane violation
North Carolina was heartbreakingly close to securing an NCAA Tournament berthCBS Sports - 14m -
State champion Albertus Magnus rolls past Middletown to reach girls basketball Final Four
Defending state Class AA champ Albertus Magnus reaches AAA Final Four with dominant win over Middletown in girls basketball regional finalYahoo Sports - 15m