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Edgar Berlanga defended his WBO NABO super middleweight title at Madison Square Garden, as he took a wide points win against Roamer Alexis Angulo on Saturday. Berlanga (20-0, 16 KOs) had built a reputation as a knockout artist, with his first 16 wins coming in the first round, but had been forced to go the distance in his last three outings. Angulo (27-3, 23 KOs) had challenged twice for world honours previously, failing on the cards against Gilberto Ramirez in 2018, and he was also halted by David Benavidez in August 2020. The Colombian weighed in over the limit, so the title was on the line for the champion only. Both began this one trying to get short, sharp punches off, and Angulo plodded forward in search of the power shots, but Berlanga remained calm and worked off a high guard, clipping his foe with a right hand in the first round and establishing his jab. The home favourite worked well to head and body in round two, and it was pretty much in the pocket stuff as the pair exchanged blows in the third. The visitor landed a crisp uppercut that got Berlanga’s attention in the fourth, with his nose bloodied. Angulo did catch the 25-year-old with a left hand in the seventh, and ’The Chosen One’ did appear to go to bite his opponent during a clinch. Berlanga largely boxed and moved in the later rounds, and although Angulo did have his moments, he couldn’t pin his man down to make a significant dent, and the fight went to the cards. Two scores of 99-91, and a third at 98-92 ensured the belt stayed with Berlanga.
