Edgar Berlanga says he’s going to “Do him dirty” and “Embarrass” Hamzah Sheeraz on July 12th in their headliner in Queens, New York. The former super middleweight world title challenger Berlanga (23-1, 18 KOs) abused the 6’4″ British fighter, Sheeraz (21-0-1, 17 KOs), today in their kickoff press conference in New York City.

Edgar pretended to shoot Sheeraz with a pistol first, sticking his hand right close to his face. He switched to machine gunning him when they were far apart, enjoying messing with him. Sheeraz had a stoic look the whole time, trying not to show emotion while being humiliated by Berlanga.

Will Berlanga Embarrass Him?

Berlanga-Hamzah will meet in the 12-round main event on July 12th at the 14,053-seat  Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York.

“To get the Canelo fight and the Munguia fight, I’ve got to knock this dude out. I’ve got to embarrass him. I have to do him dirty,” said Edgar Berlanga to Fight Hub TV, talking about Hamzah Sheeraz. “He’s going to come to fight, but it’s a different level. I’m going to show him that on July 12th. I shot my gun at Eddie [Hearn]. F*** Eddie, and f*** Sheeraz and f*** you, too.”

When Turki Alalshikh was talking today during the press conference, he spoke of big things for the winner of the Berlanga vs. Sheeraz fight. He mentioned Canelo Alvarez’s name, which means that Edgar could get his rematch with Canelo if he’s victorious against Sheeraz. Even if Berlanga has to fight someone else next, like Jaime Munguia, he could still face Alvarez in 2026.

“I’m introducing myself to Turki. After this fight when I knock this dude out, I’m going to create a way better relationship with [Turki] him where we’re going to be doing a lot bigger things,” said Berlanga. “Don’t get it wrong. I talk my s*** but I back it up.You got guys that talk their s*** but when they get in the ring, they s*** their pants. They’re just going it for the cameras. When they go to fight, they’re not who they are.”

Berlanga needs an impressive knockout of Sheeraz to motivate Turki to use him for other important fights. Turki obviously likes Sheeraz, but Edgar can win him over with a highlight-reel knockout on July 12th. His popularity in the U.S. will increase with a KO of Sheeraz, and he would be the most popular fighter at 168, next to Canelo.

Berlanga’s “Dirty” Strategy?

“This fight means a lot. If I beat this guy, it’s over. It’s game time,” said Berlanga. “I’m fighting in New York in the main event. 14,000 people. Either a knockout, or beating the s*** out of him and beating him bad. Doing him dirty and doing it bad. I want his kids to feel it. I want his mom to feel it. I want [his trainer] Andy Lee to feel that s*** again.”

A knockout is what Berlanga needs to impress the crowd and the fans watching on PPV. Beating Sheeraz badly isn’t enough. He needs a knockout in this fight. It’ll be interesting to see if Berlanga can sell out the 14,053-seat Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York, for this fight. He’s not likely to get much help from Shakur Stevenson, who is from nearby Newark, New Jersey.

“This man wants to go in there and knock me out. You heard him. He wants to do a lot of things to me. My son is going to be there. Whose kids are going to cry first? I want his kids to cry first. Not mine,” said Berlanga.

Hamzah said he will jab Berlanga a few times, and then knock him clean out with a right hand on July 12th. He looked dead serious when he was talking, too. Sheeraz will try for a KO, but if he doesn’t make it happen early, he will get KO’d himself.