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Mike Coppinger, ESPN Boxing Insider
Canelo Alvarez, boxing’s top star, is in the process of finalizing a deal for a super middleweight championship defense vs. Edgar Berlanga on Sept. 14 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.
Mexico’s Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) is the undisputed champion at 168 pounds but it’s possible the IBF title won’t be on the line as his mandatory defense is overdue, sources said. Canelo-Berlanga will go head-to-head with UFC 306 — the first sporting event to be held at The Sphere, a revolutionary venue that opened in Las Vegas last September.
Mexican Independence Day Weekend has long been one of two holidays reserved for boxing’s top star (along with Cinco De Mayo Weekend), a tradition that was held by Floyd Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya before him.
PBC will lead the event on Prime Video PPV with Matchroom Boxing involved as Berlanga’s promoter, sources said. The PPV will also be available on DAZN, Matchroom’s streaming partner.