Reporting note: this article draws on Sky Sports; LodiScore provides the summary and editorial framing.
Berlanga Survives Early Scare to Finish Butler in Round 7
Edgar Berlanga secured the 24th victory of his career on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, surviving a heavy second-round knockdown to stop Steven Butler in the seventh round of a chaotic super-middleweight main event under the Zuffa Boxing banner.
The victory maintained Berlanga’s unblemished 6-0 record inside the New York arena and marked an emphatic rebound one year after his stoppage loss to Britain's Hamzah Sheeraz. The contest shifted violently in the closing seconds of the second round when Butler found the target cleanly, sending Berlanga down and threatening to end the bout early.
Mid-Round Firefights and the Turning Point
The knockdown triggered an immediate tactical shift. Berlanga abandoned patient distance management, pressing forward to hammer Butler with thudding hooks to the body and temple. The third round devolved into an attritional brawl; Butler resorted to an MMA-style takedown to slow the onslaught before firing back with two hard punches right on the bell.
Berlanga’s sustained leverage and heavier hands steadily broke down Butler’s guard over the middle rounds. The decisive sequence arrived late in round six, where Berlanga trapped Butler with a relentless barrage of right hands, collapsing him to the canvas just before the round expired.
Butler emerged for the seventh round looking to counter, landing an isolated right hand, but Berlanga closed the distance immediately. A punishing combination snapped Butler’s head back and forced the referee to step between the fighters, waving the contest off.
Richardson Hitchins Shuts Out Ricardo Salas at Welterweight
In the co-main event, former super-lightweight world champion Richardson Hitchins made a flawless transition to the 147-pound division, outclassing Mexico’s Ricardo Salas over ten rounds.
Hitchins established his long jab immediately, using superior reach and lateral steps to keep Salas perpetually out of range. The Mexican fighter struggled to close the distance, absorbing straight right hands and stiff leads across ten one-sided rounds. All three judges scored the bout 100-90 for Hitchins, advancing his undefeated professional record to 21-0.
Next Fixtures and Divisional Implications
Following the stoppage, Berlanga immediately set his sights on revenge against Hamzah Sheeraz, while also citing potential matchups against Jaime Munguia, Chris Eubank, Jermell Charlo, and Caleb Plant. Hitchins used his post-fight interview to target marquee welterweight matchups, calling for clashes with Gervonta Davis, Devin Haney, and Ryan Garcia.
Zuffa Boxing’s summer calendar continues with Zuffa Boxing 10 on August 8, headlined by Callum Walsh against Tyler Denny.
The grey canvas beneath the neutral corner was stained the color of rusted iron.