Who’s Edgar
Super-middleweight contender and champion Edgar Berlanga is known for his impressive professional boxing record of 21-0, undefeated. With 16 consecutive first-round knockouts, Berlanga beat Mike Tyson’s impressive record of 13 first-round knockouts within his first 14 matches. This boxer is no doubt a beast in the ring, making a name for himself with hard work, passion, and determination. Those same qualities that have made Edgar Berlanga a successful competitor in the ring are also the same qualities that have inspired him to give back to his community where he donates his time, money, and efforts to support important foundations in his local area.
Growing up in the Lower East Side of Brooklyn, Berlanga began boxing when he was seven years old. As an aspiring Puerto Rican boxer, Berlanga looked up to some of the greatest champions in the sport, Miguel Cotto and Félix “Tito” Trinidad. In our interview, Berlanga explained how his dad put him in the gym and really pushed him to pursue boxing. By the time he was 19 years old, he started his professional boxing career.
One of the greatest champions to inspire Berlanga was Floyd Mayweather. He said, “Watching Mayweather, I loved the cockiness and how he always backed it up. He showed his dedication to the sport of boxing and was always a hard worker. That’s what always caught my eye.”
While dominating in the sport for six years, Berlanga is most grateful that boxing has given him the opportunity and outlet to provide for his family. He said, “I got a one-year-old, and that’s the most important thing for me right now. I love boxing. This sport gives me the opportunity to help my family, and that’s what keeps me going.”
He’s had the opportunity to work closely with the Cristian Rivera Foundation, a non-profit based in New York City dedicated to funding research and trials which aims to find a cure for a rare pediatric brain tumor, Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma or DIPG. This foundation was founded by John “Gungie” Rivera who was inspired by the life of his son Cristian after he was lost to this horrific disease in 2009.
One of the Cristian Rivera Foundation’s DIPG/DMG warriors is Jesselyn Silva, who was on her way to becoming an Olympic champion prior to her diagnosis, and Edgar Berlanga has been an exceptional support and encouragement to her during the biggest fight of her life.
In June, before Berlanga defeated Roamer Alexis Angulo by unanimous decision at Madison Square Garden Theater, Champion Boxer and Warrior Jesselyn Silva was invited to a press conference for Top Rank, where she was awarded an honorary championship belt by the WBO. Berlanga had the honor of presenting Jesselyn the belt.
He then invited Jesselyn to his walkout at Madison Square for his fight. Edgar got to connect with Jesselyn at the press conference and encouraged his fellow boxers to fight for her that weekend. Watch the video of him presenting her with the honorary championship belt.
