On July 12th, Edgar Berlanga will take on Hamzah Sheeraz as the headliner on the Ring III event brought to us, and exclusively streamed by DAZN. The fight will take place at super middleweight with the venue set at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, NY.
Berlanga (23-1, 18KOs) started his career in emphatic fashion with his first 16 fights ending in first round knockout. Berlanga’s only blemish on his record came at the hands of Mexican living legend Canelo Alvarez. Many people questioned Berlanga’s skills, it is hard to see how well rounded and good a fighter is when they score 16 first round knockouts. What happens is it creates doubt as in if he faces someone that he can’t knockout, will he be able to last 12 rounds? Will he get frustrated and make mistakes? Or will he be able to adapt plus you also get a fighter with a 16-0 undefeated record but very little experience. Berlanga loves to trash talk and Canelo definitely made him pay for it which Berlanga cited that a combination of an arm injury and his own lack of experience led this lopsided loss that Canelo handed him. Berlanga has not changed and continues to trash talk against Sheeraz, “You already know what time it is. I’m knocking this [expletive] out,” said Berlanga, a Puerto Rican who was born and lives in Florida but claims this city with a large Boricua population as his home, too. “We’re in New York. This is my backyard.” Berlanga has power there no question about that, sometimes a loss humbles a fighter makes them adjust and then end up on top again better.
Hamzah Sheeraz (21-0-1, 17KOs) is a former WBC middleweight challenger who missed his chance to achieve championship glory when he drew with Carlos Adames. Sheeraz has a 2 inch height advantage and a 4 inch reach advantage over Berlanga. Both fighters have a lot of knockouts on their resume, statistically this fight will NOT be going the distance. Sheeraz will be out for blood since failing to claim the belt from Adames when their fight ended in a draw.
Also on the fight card Shakur Stevenson ( 23-0, 11KOs) will be going up against the tough, rugged, prospect killer, William Zepeda (33-0. 27KOs0 in a WBC lightweight title bout. Shakur Stevenson is a top prospect, where he may lack power he gains in skill. Stevenson is a slick southpaw who likes to hit and get hit, methodically picking his opponents apart. Zepeda is a veteran undefeated fighter who annihilated another prospect who was on the up and up named Josue Vargas. Zepeda has the experience, power and skill this will be Stevenson toughest test of his career thus far.
Make sure to tune in or head down to the stadium come fight night because these two explosive fight will be bringing nothing short of dynamite to Queens!
