Make FightsATW Your Preferred Combat Sports Source
Enjoy our boxing and wrestling coverage? Add Fights Around The World as a Preferred Source on Google so our latest stories can show up more often in your Top Stories.
Add FightsATW on GoogleIt was the homecoming he expected, but it proved more challenging than Edgar Berlanga (24-2, 19 KOs) anticipated, as he scored a seventh-round knockout over Steven Butler (38-6-1, 32 KOs) at the Theater, Madison Square Garden on Paramount+.
After the fight, Berlanga mentioned names like Jaime Munguia, Jermall Charlo, Chris Eubank, Caleb Plant, and Hamzah Sheeraz as potential opponents for him in his next fight.
In the opening round, both fighters didn’t overcommit on their punches. Both used their left jabs exclusively to gauge the range. Butler landed a right hook to Berlanga’s body, which bothered him, but outside of that, it wasn’t an exciting round.
Berlanga was having a comfortable second round, landing his right hand and left hook. Everything was going his way until the last ten seconds, when a straight right hand that was partially blocked landed on Berlanga’s head, sending him to the canvas. Berlanga beat the count and made it to the end of the round.
In the third round, Berlanga landed a huge right hand that badly hurt Butler. Butler held on for dear life and made it to the end of the round, barely surviving. Berlanga hit him with everything throughout the round, but it just wasn’t enough to put Butler down.
The fourth round was quieter as both fighters were recovering from the previous round. Berlanga was trying to get his wind back, and Butler was trying to shake off the hurt. Berlanga missed widely throughout the round, and Butler landed solid short shots to get Berlanga’s attention.
Berlanga landed big bombs in the fifth round with his left hook, buckling Butler. It seemed Butler was ready to go, but he then returned fire with a straight right hand that made Berlanga reset. It was a savage back-and-forth round. In the sixth round, Berlanga landed a huge right hand and followed it with a left hook. Butler was badly hurt, and Berlanga landed another right hand, sending Butler down for a knockdown. Butler beat the count and made it to the end of the round.
Berlanga landed a huge double left hook and followed it with a right hand in the seventh round, sending Butler and the referee down after the fight had already been waved off.
Edgar Berlanga vs Steven Butler Undercard Fight Results
Richardson Hitchins (21-0, 8 KOs) scored a dominant unanimous decision over Ricardo Salas (24-3-2, 18 KOs). Hitchins dictated the pace throughout the fight behind his left jab, as Salas could not find a way to go inside. Hitchins had Salas ready for the stoppage but couldn’t finish, as he later admitted he had hurt his right hand. All three judges scored the fight 100-90 for Hitchins, who is now aiming to fight the division’s best.
Jalil Hackett (13-1, 9 KOs) had to dig deep, but he pulled off a unanimous decision over Sergiy Derevyanchenko (16-7, 11 KOs) to open the main card for Zuffa Boxing 09. After getting two cuts over both eyes in the third round, Derevyanchenko went into war mode, trading blow for blow with Hackett. After a good back-and-forth scrap, the judges saw the fight dominated by Hackett, scoring it 98-92, 97-93, and 96-94.
Discover more from Fights Around The World
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
