Edgar Berlanga Jr. went straight to Lou DiBella after the veteran promoter ripped his career on a podcast, questioned his build and said that fighters like him don’t matter long term.
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Edgar Berlanga Jr. unloaded on Lou DiBella after the veteran promoter publicly questioned the legitimacy of his rise, arguing that his early 16-fight knockout streak was built on opposition he considered the equivalent of “ham sandwiches.”
“You always try for me and Richardson Hitchins, that old man with the glasses Lou Dibella. What the hell were you doing in boxing, b****? You don’t do s***! You were on my d***, trying to sign me, and I didn’t want to sign with you, you f**** bum. If you see me in person on X,” said Edgar Berlanga.
Berlanga’s reaction is understandable from a pride point of view. No one wants to be called a product, but DiBella attacked Berlanga along with the entire promotional model that allows a fighter to fail upward into multi-million dollar paydays.
The “ham sandwich” metaphor of Lou DiBella is a brutal but effective exposition of how the boxing machine can manufacture a star out of thin air.
If you look at the trajectory from those first 16 first-round knockouts to where Edgar Berlanga Jr. as it stands, it’s hard to argue against the notion that his early career was a masterclass in matchmaking by Top Rank rather than a reflection of elite talent.
Top Rank knew exactly what they were doing between 2016 and 2020. By feeding Berlanga 16 opponents who were essentially stationary targets, they built a viral sensation. The 1st round KO gimmick became a trademark, but once the level rose to durable, second-tier fighters, the limitations became apparent.
Against Marcelo Coceres, Demond Nicholson and Steve Rolls, the power did not disappear, but the ability for Berlanga to deliver it did. He struggled with basic ring generalship and timing when the “ham sandwiches” started biting back.
When Berlanga moved on to Eddie Hearn, the pattern continued. He was kept relatively safe until the Canelo payday arrived. That fight proved DiBella’s point. Berlanga was overmatched, but because of the manufactured hype, he was in a position to demand a massive purse.
Last updated on 2026/05/01 at 19:05
