Mexican champ Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez isn’t messing around: this Saturday, he’s stepping into the ring determined to knock out Puerto Rican fighter Edgar Berlanga. At his latest press conference, the WBA, WBC, and WBO super middleweight belt holder made it clear that his goal is to finish the fight before it goes the distance.

“I’m getting in that ring tomorrow to knock him out,” Canelo said confidently. He’s got an impressive record—61 wins, 39 of them by knockout, 2 losses, and 2 draws. He’s aiming to add another big win to that list at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, where a packed house of 20,000 fans, mostly cheering for him, is expected.

On the other side, Berlanga is also making bold claims, saying he’ll drop the Mexican in the sixth round. But Canelo isn’t too worried, saying this fight will be a different kind of challenge for the younger fighter.

“We know Berlanga’s gonna come out swinging, but it’s gonna be tough for him to land a clean hit. From the first rounds, I’m gonna punish him—I want him to feel the pain,” Álvarez said, confident in his training and game plan. Canelo hasn’t won by knockout since his fight against Caleb Plant in November 2021, but he’s determined to change that this Saturday.

As for Berlanga, he’s keeping up the fighting talk. During the weigh-in, he sent a clear message to his opponent: “Let’s go Puerto Rico, there’s gonna be a war tomorrow.” He believes his smarts in the ring will be the key to taking down the veteran champ.

“For me, this fight isn’t about strength, it’s about intelligence,” Berlanga explained. “Canelo’s faced a lot of great fighters, but this fight will be different. I’m here to take his spot in this sport.”

The hype is building as both fighters get ready for what’s shaping up to be an explosive showdown on September 14th—a night where the classic Mexico vs. Puerto Rico rivalry will once again light up the boxing world.

Canelo, grateful for the support of his fans, didn’t miss the chance to fire back at his challenger. “It’s easy to say you’re gonna knock me out, but Berlanga has no idea what’s coming for him tomorrow. He’s gonna need twenty versions of himself to give me any trouble,” the Mexican champ said, making it clear he’s stepping into that ring with no intention of showing mercy.