Under the bright lights of T-Mobile Arena on Mexican Independence Day weekend, boxing’s reigning monarch Saul “Canelo” Álvarez delivered yet another clinical masterclass, dismantling the previously undefeated Edgar Berlanga over 12 punishing rounds to retain his WBA, WBC, and WBO super middleweight crowns.

From the opening bell, Canelo asserted command, dissecting Berlanga with surgical precision. A crisp left hook in the third round sent the New Yorker to the canvas—marking the bout’s lone knockdown and a turning point that confirmed what many expected: Berlanga had stepped into a level he wasn’t quite ready for.

Alvarez, now 62-2-2, controlled the rhythm, range, and narrative of the fight. His jab was a piston, his counters sharp, and his defence impenetrable. Berlanga, to his credit, showed grit. He got up quickly from the knockdown and never backed down, but the gulf in class was evident. While the Puerto Rican-American slugger talked a bold game in the lead-up, he found more success trading words than landing punches.

Judges saw the bout 118-109 (twice) and 117-110, all in favour of Álvarez, whose measured, mature approach overwhelmed the younger fighter. The victory marks Canelo’s fifth straight title defence to go the distance and reaffirms his status as the undisputed force at 168 pounds—even without the IBF belt, which was stripped after he declined to face mandatory challenger William Scull.

Though Berlanga (22-1) survived all 12 rounds and showed flashes of courage, he struggled to match Álvarez’s timing and ring IQ. A missed wild swing that sent him off balance and a warning for a headbutt only added to the evidence that he was outclassed.

With Berlanga dispatched, speculation now turns to what’s next for the Mexican superstar. Will it be a high-stakes rematch with Dmitry Bivol, the only man to beat Álvarez in the past decade? A domestic clash with David Benavidez? Or the potential blockbuster crossover with pound-for-pound standout Terence Crawford?

For now, one thing is clear: Canelo Álvarez remains the king at super middleweight—celebrating yet another Mexican Independence Day weekend with a dominant win and leaving fans and foes alike asking the same question—who, if anyone, can stop him?