When the action started, it was Berlanga who seemed to settle the fastest, working well behind an educated jab. Then, in round two, we saw the high-wire act being walked by both men as, after a round that had been dominated by Berlanga, Butler dropped him in the closing seconds of the round with a solid left hand. That knockdown set up a wild third round, as Berlanga loaded up and came storming back, as he battered Butler around the ring with a succession of heavy, clubbing shots. Butler did his best to avoid the stoppage, holding, dipping through the ropes, and even launching into an MMA-style takedown, before clipping Berlanga with a pair of huge shots of his own just before the bell sounded to end the round.

 

The back-and-forth action continued through rounds four and five, with Berlanga landing the better, heavier shots, and in the sixth, Berlanga finished strong with a barrage of big right hands that eventually forced Butler to the canvas for a knockdown.

 

Such was the punishment Butler took at the end of the round, the referee warned him in the corner between rounds that he would give him 60 seconds to show that he’s still in the fight, and Butler landed a big right hand in the opening minute to show that he still had power in his hands. But, moments later, Berlanga loaded up and connected with a multi-punch salvo that repeatedly rocked Butler’s head backwards. The referee decided he’d seen enough, and dived in to call an end to the fight.

 

It extended Berlanga’s unbeaten record at Madison Square Garden to 6-0, and improved his overall record to 24 wins, two defeats. But, more importantly, it saw Berlanga move on from his knockout loss to Hamzah Sheeraz in his previous fight. And with a stoppage win added to his resumé, Berlanga said he’s setting his sights on the super middleweight division’s big names once again, including a possible rematch with Sheeraz.