That pattern has already played out. Berlanga moved into a title shot against Canelo Alvarez in September 2024 without facing a top-tier contender at super middleweight, with his best wins coming against Patraig McCrory and Jason Quigley. Estimates placed his purse for the Canelo fight in the eight-figure range, giving him a career-high payday despite the huge step up in class.
A fight against then-WBA regular champion David Morrell was an available route during that period, but it didn’t offer the same financial upside. Berlanga instead took the Canelo opportunity, and the result secured him both exposure and earnings at a level few contenders reach.
His next appearance followed a similar scale. Berlanga reportedly earned around $5 million for his fight against Hamzah Sheeraz last July in Queens, where he was stopped in the fifth round on Turki Alalshikh’s card. Even in defeat, the financial return remained high, reinforcing the same direction.
Now, attention has shifted toward Chris Eubank Jr., another opponent with name value and pay-per-view potential. While not the most dangerous option among the younger contenders at 168, Eubank offers a familiar equation: visibility, marketability, and a strong purse.
Berlanga has also expanded his focus outside the ring, speaking openly about his ambitions in music and describing himself as “not just a superstar in boxing” but “a superstar in life.” That outlook runs alongside his boxing plans rather than behind them, and it helps explain the choices being made.
The numbers and the quotes point the same way. Berlanga is following the biggest available opportunities, and his push toward Eubank Jr. suggests that approach isn’t changing.
