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Mike CoppingerESPN
Edgar Berlanga and Top Rank have mutually agreed to part ways after months of talks that failed to resolve key issues, Team Berlanga and the promotional company told ESPN. Both sides have signed the separation agreement.
Berlanga (20-0, 16 KOs) is now a promotional free agent. The 25-year-old native of Brooklyn, New York, started his career with 16 first-round knockouts in his first 16 fights. Berlanga stepped up in class for his last four fights and scored decision wins in each.
Berlanga made his Top Rank debut in April 2019 on the undercard of Terence Crawford-Amir Khan. His last 11 fights came under the Top Rank banner.
His last two victories — vs. Steve Rolls in March and Roamer Angulo in June — headlined Top Rank Boxing on ESPN cards in New York. The Rolls fight sold out The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden. The Angulo fight resulted in a six-month suspension for Berlanga after he bit his opponent.
“I’m officially a promotional free agent,” Berlanga said in a statement to ESPN. “I want to thank Top Rank, Bob Arum and ESPN for the last few years. I’m excited for the future and will be waiting for my manager to tell me what the next move is. I’ve sold out the Theater at The Garden. I’ve set a goal for myself to sell out the big room at MSG and throw the biggest party at The Garden that Puerto Rican fans have ever seen. I can’t wait for the future.”
Berlanga’s manager, Keith Connolly, advises fighters who are signed with PBC and Matchroom Boxing; both Al Haymon and Eddie Hearn are expected to show interest in Berlanga.
Berlanga isn’t rated at 168 pounds by ESPN and has failed to provide the explosive power-punching display fans are accustomed to in his past three bouts, but he’s a proven ticket seller in a sport short on them.
“We wish him the best of luck in the future,” Top Rank spokesperson Evan Korn said.
Berlanga’s suspension ended last month. He was eyeing a return in March with Top Rank, but now that he’s a free agent, it’s unclear when he’ll be back in the ring.