Oscar De La Hoya Criticizes Canelo Vs. Berlanga’s “Mexico Vs. Puerto Rico” Branding

Promoter Oscar De La Hoya has criticized the September 14th Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga as the Mexico vs. Puerto Rico.

(Credit: Esther Lin: Premier Boxing Champions)

Berlanga’s citizenship is questioned

De La Hoya points out that Berlanga is from New York, which makes him American, not Puerto Rican.

He says that in order to be Puerto Rican, you have to be born there, and Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) was born in the US. In Berlanga’s fight with Canelo, he is pushing the Mexican-Puerto Rican angle, even though he should. Mexico vs. US

It is not clear whether Berlanga’s use of the Mexico vs. The Puerto Rican trying to sell his fight with Canelo will pay off in terms of more PPV buys. The fans don’t care about that, and Berlanga doesn’t sound like he’s from Puerto Rico.

Marketing Gimmick or Cultural Pride?

In the eyes of the fans, he’s a New Yorker, so it’s a waste of time for him to keep pushing the Mexico vs. Puerto Rican, hopefully it will generate more PPV buys or ticket sales. It won’t.

“I think it’s true [the beef], but what I feel is not real is that they are building this fight as Mexico vs. Puerto Rico. I don’t know if that’s true because the last time I checked, Berlanga was from New York,” said promoter Oscar De La Hoya speaking to Fighthype, commenting on Edgar Berlanga who tried to present himself as Puerto Rican even though he was born in New York. which makes him an American.

Other fighters use similar tactics—ignoring their US citizenship and focusing on the citizenship of their parents or grandparents—to help sell their fights. Others are simply proud of their distant genetic heritage and do not care to call themselves American.

Focus on Fighting, Not Legacy

“The last time I checked, I think I’m more Puerto Rican than Berlanga,” said De La Hoya. “I lived there for six years. So, I know what people like. I know who they will support. They support [Felix] Trinidad because he was king there, he lives there, he was born there.”

Ideally, the marketing of Canelo vs. Berlanga should be looked at in a real fight, not where the two guys came from. Fans are not motivated to buy the event on PPV just because of the rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico. De La Hoya is right. Berlanga is not Puerto Rican. You have to go from there to be identified as a true Puerto Rican.

“I think it will be a good fight, but don’t build yourself up like Mexico vs. Puerto Rico,” said De La Hoya about the match between Canelo and Berlanga.