Alvarez wants to stop knockout artist Berlanga in his latest title defense

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Mexican superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is looking to turn the tables on knockout artist Edgar Berlanga on Saturday, saying he will be looking for a knockout of his own when he defends his three super middleweight world titles in Las Vegas.

“It's easy to say you're going to knock me out, but it's a lot harder to actually do it,” said Alvarez, who puts his World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization belts on the line against the top-rated WBA challenger in the 168-pound division.

Alvarez was stripped of his International Boxing Federation belt in July when he chose to face Berlanga rather than IBF mandatory challenger William Scull.

“Saturday night will definitely be very difficult for him. I have prepared myself for the knockout. I love the feeling of a knockout. I will do my best to make it happen.”

The 34-year-old Alvarez brings a record of 61-2-2 with 39 knockouts into what promises to be an explosive confrontation at T-Mobile Arena, where he continues his tradition of fighting on Mexican Independence Day weekend.

“It will be a firefight,” promised Berlanga, an American born in Puerto Rico. “I will make everyone a believer.”

Berlanga made his breakthrough in the professional scene and won his first 16 fights by knockout

Five unanimous decision victories followed before he defeated Padraig McCrory by a brutal sixth-round technical knockout in February, increasing his record to 22-0 with 17 knockouts.

The 27-year-old says he can do it again against the highly experienced champion.

“I'm a knockout artist,” he said. “Every fighter wants the knockout. We know he's a legend and we can't just aim for the goal.”

“We have to do it right. We're going for a sixth-round knockout. But we're ready to go all 12 rounds if we have to.”

Alvarez has produced some spectacular knockouts in a career that has seen him win titles in four divisions.

But his last win at this distance was an 11th-round technical knockout of Caleb Plant in 2021.

Since losing to Dmitry Bivol in May 2022 in an ill-fated move up to light heavyweight, Alvarez has earned four unanimous decision victories, the most recent in May against fellow countryman Jaime Munguia – his fourth defense of his undisputed world title.

Alvarez was dominant, if not outclassed, against Munguia, withstanding an early storm before taking control in the middle rounds and knocking him down at one point, handing him his first loss.

While questions about his future arise before each fight, Alvarez said he doesn't feel like he's slowing down.

“I just want to show everyone that I'm still the best,” he said. “I still love this sport. When I stop loving it, you'll know.”

In the supporting act, World Boxing Association middleweight champion Erislandy Lara will defend his title against fellow American Danny Garcia, a former welterweight and light welterweight champion. It is an exciting fight that many would have liked to see sooner.

The 41-year-old Cuban-born left-hander Lara returned in March after a nearly two-year hiatus, knocking out Australia's Michael Zerafa in spectacular fashion to defend his belt and improve his record to 30-3-3 with 18 wins inside the distance.

Garcia, 36, will fight for the first time since his majority decision victory over Jose Benavidez in a super welterweight bout in July 2022.

With this victory, Garcia's record increased to 37-3 with 21 knockouts.