How Edgar Berlanga’s ‘Comeback Fight’ Clause Created A Mismatch On The Undercard

Edgar Berlanga only has himself to blame for him being stuck on an undercard against Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz this Saturday, March 15th at the Caribe Royale Orlando in Orlando, Florida.

The “Comeback” Clause

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn says Berlanga (22-1, 17 KOs) wanted a “comeback fight” that “wasn’t a headline event” in case he lost to Canelo Alvarez last September, which he did lose in a one-sided contest.

It would have made things much easier for Hearn and DAZN if Berlanga had been willing to take a tough opponent in his next fight. If he had told Hearn that he wanted the best contender he could find, getting Caleb Plant would have been perfect for DAZN. Other options that likely would have worked well for Berlanga to headline against:

– Osleys Iglesias– David Morrell– Christian Mbilli– Diego Pacheco

The problem with those guys is Berlanga would probably lose to all of them quite badly, but at least he wouldn’t have a gripe about not being in the main event like now. Headliners ideally should be 50-50 type matchups. Taking a gimme-level opponent isn’t headliner material. It’s poison for the networks.

He’s reportedly unhappy being off the headline spot, but that could have been taken care of if Berlanga had been willing to ight one of the above killers.

Plant-Berlanga would attract subscribers and be ideal for the streaming network. But for Edgar to want a non-headliner-level fighter, what did he expect DAZN and Hearn to do?

“When he fought Canelo Alvarez, he wanted a comeback fight, and the comeback fight wasn’t like a headline event,” said promoter Eddie Hearn to the media about what Edgar Berlanga asked for on his contract before his fight with Canelo Alvarez last year on September 14th, wanting an easy match if he were to lose to the Mexican star. “‘If I get beat, I want a chance for a quick win and then go into a big fight.’”

Easy Fight Trap

You can’t expect them to put a mismatch in the main event. Berlanga’s resume is littered with easy opponents, none of whom were headliner material. Canelo is the only good one. The other 21 guys are scrubs. You have to give Hearn a lot of credit for being able to line up a title shot for Berlanga against Canelo, given that his resume is inflated with tomato cans from top to bottom.

Hearn says he tried to put together a deal with DAZN and Berlanga for him to headline in Puerto Rico. The opponent was rumored to be 39-year-old journeyman Gabe Rosado (26-17-1, 15 KOs). Hearn says he ran out of time trying to get a deal done. So, he opted for the original contract provision for Berlanga to be on the undercard.

Hearn says this is Berlanga’s final fight of his contract with Matchroom, and he wants him to extend his contract so he can match him against Plant or Jermall Charlo next. It’s unclear if he will.

Berlanga vs. Gonzalez-Ortiz will be the co-feature on the Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams vs. Patrice Volny card this Saturday, March 15th.