(Editor’s note: This story originally published at Boxing Junkie, part of the USA TODAY Network.)
Another fight for Edgar Berlanga, another less-than-inspiring performance. And a disturbing moment.
The unbeaten super middleweight contender did enough to defeat 39-year-old two-time title challenger Roamer Alexis Angulo by a unanimous decision in a 10-round bout Saturday night at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden.
However, it was far from a dominating performance. Much worse, in the seventh round, he appeared to bite Angulo on the neck. The referee evidently didn’t see it, but the world did. And, obviously, it was a horrible look.
Berlanga joked about the incident after the fight, but the damage was done. He could (should?) be suspended for his actions.
“It was because he was throwing elbows,” he said of Angulo. “I was about to do a Mike Tyson on him. He kept throwing elbows. I didn’t want to get cut. I was ready to bite him (like) Mike Tyson.”
Berlanga (20-0, 16 KOs) started his career with 16 consecutive first-round knockouts. However, those days apparently are long gone.
Angulo (27-3, 23 KOs) was the fourth consecutive opponent to go the distance with the Brooklyn product, who worked with new trainer Juan De Leon for this fight.
Berlanga boxed reasonably well, landing his jab consistently and connecting on enough power shots to win rounds. However, he never gave the aggressive Angulo a reason – a truly big punch, combinations, anything – to stop attacking.
The Colombian wasn’t able to land enough clean shots to win the fight but he was in it until the end.
That’s more than can be said of the pro-Berlanga crowd, who seemed to get restless because of the lack of action. Berlanga won on the cards – 99-91, 99-91 and 98-92 – but probably didn’t win too many more fans.
“We said if we landed a clean shot, if he goes, he goes,” Berlanga said. “But if we gotta box 10 rounds … I wanted to do that. I wanted to show the critics, all the people who said I’m not worthy … to compete with the veterans sooner or later.
“So I feel tonight I proved my point.”
Did he?
And, of course, Round 7 didn’t help his cause. He and Angulo were locked in a clinch when excellent camera work showed Berlanga opening his mouth and making contact with Angulo’s neck.
Angulo actually jumped away and pawed at his neck, much as Evander Holyfield did when Tyson bit him on the ear in 1997. And Angulo told his trainer after the round what had happened, according to a ringside interviewer.
Berlanga got his victory, but it obviously wasn’t his best night.
