Canelo Álvarez is favored to defeat Edgar Berlanga in his title defense for the WBA, WBO, and WBC super middleweight belts according to ESPN Bet.
LAS VEGAS – Since the official announcement of the matchup between Mexican fighter Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) and Puerto Rican-American Edgar Berlanga (22-0-0, 17 KOs), the renowned Aztec boxer has remained a strong favorite in betting houses for his title defense at the T-Mobile Arena in this city.
ESPN Bet reports that Canelo opened as the fighter to beat this Friday with odds of -2000 (you need to bet $2000 to win $100), while Berlanga stands as the underdog at +900 (winning $900 if you bet $100 on him).
Compared to his previous fight against Jaime Munguía, the betting odds have shifted significantly. On the day of the Canelo-Munguía fight (May 4, 2024), ESPN Bet listed Canelo as the favorite at -550, while Munguía was at +385.
Ranked fifth in the pound-for-pound rankings and seen as a face of the sport, this fight marks Canelo’s 11th bout around Mexican Independence Day and the fourth time in his career that he faces a Puerto Rican fighter, adding to the storied rivalry of Mexico vs. Puerto Rico in boxing.
Álvarez has claimed victory in four consecutive fights since his loss to Dmitry Bivol two years ago. He stated during fight week that he intends to show no mercy to Berlanga and aims for a knockout. However, Canelo has not won by knockout since his fight against Caleb Plant in November 2021.
Odds for a Canelo victory by KO, TKO, or disqualification are at -300, while winning by decision stands at +275.
Should Berlanga pull off a surprise with a KO, TKO, or disqualification, those odds are at +2500 (bet $100 to win $2500). If the fifth-ranked ESPN fighter at 168 pounds wins by decision, the odds decrease to +1800. An outcome resulting in a draw is set at +2500.
Canelo approaches this fight without the title of undisputed champion, a distinction he lost after the International Boxing Federation (IBF) stripped him for delaying a bout against their number one contender, Cuban William Scull.