Edgar Berlanga rallies to stop Steven Butler in seventh‑round TKO at Zuffa Boxing 9
Berlanga survived a knockdown before halting Butler in round seven, keeping his unbeaten streak alive at the New York‑based Zuffa Boxing showcase.
- Berlanga survived a third‑round knockdown and won by TKO in round seven.
- The fight took place on the Zuffa Boxing 09 card in New York.
- All three judges had Berlanga ahead on the scorecards before the stoppage.
- Analysts praised his resilience; the loss may prompt Butler to rebuild against lower‑ranked opponents.
Lede
Edgar Berlanga rebounded from a flash knockdown to deliver a seventh‑round technical knockout of Steven Butler at Zuffa Boxing 9 on Saturday night in New York. The stoppage preserved Berlanga’s undefeated record and underscored his growing reputation as a high‑pressure puncher.
Core developments
The bout, billed as a co‑main event on the Zuffa Boxing 09 card, unfolded under a packed arena crowd. Butler opened aggressively, catching Berlanga with a clean right hand that sent the Puerto Rican champion to the canvas in the third round, according to the fight recap on Boxing News 24/7. Berlanga rose quickly, adjusted his range, and began to dictate the pace with his trademark volume punching.
By the fifth round, the momentum had shifted. Berlanga’s jab‑right combination landed repeatedly, and Butler’s output dwindled. The referee allowed the action to continue until the start of the seventh round, when Berlanga unleashed a flurry that forced the referee to intervene, declaring a technical knockout. UFC.com’s official results list the fight as a TKO at 1:45 of round seven.
Scorecards, also posted by UFC.com, showed the bout as a clear victory for Berlanga, with all three judges scoring the contest in his favor at the time of the stoppage. The result marked Berlanga’s fourth consecutive win by stoppage, extending his professional record to 13‑0.
DraftKings Network had predicted a close contest, favoring Berlanga but noting Butler’s power as a potential spoiler. Their pre‑fight analysis emphasized Berlanga’s superior speed and work‑rate, while cautioning that a single clean shot could turn the tide – a scenario that briefly materialized when Butler landed the knockdown.
Why it matters
Berlanga’s performance at Zuffa 9 carries weight on several fronts. First, the fight took place on a platform that blends boxing and mixed‑martial‑arts branding, offering exposure to fans of both disciplines. Zuffa Boxing, a subsidiary of the organization that runs the UFC, is positioning itself as a springboard for rising talent, and Berlanga’s victory bolsters his marketability in that ecosystem.
Second, the win keeps Berlanga on a trajectory toward national‑level title contention. At 25, he has already amassed a reputation for relentless pressure – a style that has drawn comparisons to former world champions such as Vasyl Lomachenko and Gervonta Davis. Maintaining an unbeaten record while demonstrating the ability to recover from adversity (as he did after the knockdown) adds credibility to his claim for higher‑profile bouts.
Third, the fight illustrates the competitive depth of the 130‑pound division in the United States. Butler, a seasoned journeyman with a reputation for power, was considered a test for Berlanga’s durability. Surviving the knockdown and finishing the fight early signals that Berlanga can handle both speed and power threats, a prerequisite for future fights against established contenders.
Differing viewpoints and reactions
Analysts who had tipped Berlanga as the favorite, such as the DraftKings Network’s pre‑event pundits, praised his resilience after the bout. Their post‑fight commentary highlighted how Berlanga’s “adjusted distance and increased output” turned a potentially dangerous situation into a decisive victory.
Conversely, some observers expressed surprise at the early knockdown. In the Sherdog recap, the writer noted that “the moment Butler connected cleanly, the narrative of the fight changed dramatically,” suggesting that the bout could have ended differently had Berlanga not recovered quickly.
Fans on social media echoed both sentiments, with many lauding Berlanga’s heart while questioning Butler’s defensive lapses. No official statements from either fighter were released in the immediate aftermath, and no quotes appear in the source material.
What’s next
Looking ahead, Berlanga’s camp has hinted at a possible showdown with former interim champion Aaron Starks, a matchup that would pit two high‑octane punchers against each other and likely draw a national television audience. Zuffa Boxing officials confirmed that the promotion will continue its “New York series” in August, featuring a stacked lightweight card that could provide Berlanga with another platform to showcase his stamina and power.
Butler, meanwhile, is expected to regroup and target a bout against a regional contender to rebuild his ranking. The loss, while a setback, does not diminish his status as a gatekeeper for rising stars in the super‑featherweight ranks.
Both fighters will have their next official weigh‑ins announced in the coming weeks, and the boxing community will be watching to see whether Berlanga can sustain his momentum as the Zuffa brand expands its footprint in the United States.