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Things have been hectic for WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis, but is it that bad? The Baltimore native is coming off the worst performance of his career against WBA super featherweight champion Lamont Roach Jr. The controversial fight saw Davis’ name get dragged through the mud after the no-knockdown (due to ‘Tank’ taking a knee) call during the fight, which ended in a majority draw. 

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Since this bout, many have questioned Davis’ legitimacy as one of the elites in the sport. Amid the drama though, Puerto Rico’s Edgar Berlanga seems to have come into the picture to rub salt in Davis’ wounds. If you were wondering, what exactly happened—buckle up because we have got a doozy for you—one that involves Davis, Berlanga, Jake Paul, and even KSI

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Berlanga, who is coming off a brutal 3rd round knockout win over fellow countryman Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz, appeared in a video from DAZN Boxing recently. He was ranking fighters in a tier list based on his perception of their boxing skills. While there were many names in Berlanga’s list, three stood apart not just because of who they were but because of how ‘The Chosen One’ ranked them. 

Let’s begin with Jake Paul! The YouTuber-turned-boxer is largely criticized for fighting out of prime opponents and is yet to face a current top-10-ranked boxer. Despite that, he is one of the most popular names in the sport, having last fought the legendary Mike Tyson. Guess where Berlanga ranked Paul—S-tier—the best fighter, per Berlanga. 

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As for Gervonta Davis, the Baltimore native, known for his punching power and considered by many as the face of boxing, was placed in D-tier among the worst in the rankings. Coming to KSI, Jake Paul’s fellow influencer boxer and a long-time rival, Berlanga placed him in D-tier as well. While Berlanga is clearly mocking the fighters with his tier list, one has to wonder whether he is secretly wishing for a shot at Paul.

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Now, the question is—is Edgar Berlanga any good?  He seems to think the Canelo Alvarez fight changed him.

Edgar Berlanga thinks he is on a different level after the Canelo Alvarez fight

Edgar Berlanga may have suffered his first career loss against Canelo Alvarez, but he believes the experience elevated him to a whole new level. Despite being dropped and outclassed, Berlanga saw the fight as a turning point. “My confidence is on another level now. I feel like I went from middle school to college, from one day to the next. It was a game-changer for me,” Berlanga told The Ring.

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He embraced the moment, even exchanging taunts with Canelo. “It was the first time in my career that I was having fun in the ring. We were talking s**t and taunting each other. It was like two brothers fighting each other.”  With a win bagged against Gonzalez-Ortiz, the Brooklyn native is poised for fights against the likes of Caleb Plant, Jermall Charlo, and Jaime Munguia

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That said, Edgar Berlanga doesn’t seem to have much respect for Gervonta Davis, or the other boxers he ranked in the tier list. With his antics, Berlanga seems to be aiming for a villain-like personality, but the question is, does he have the skills to back it up?

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Written by

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Sudeep Sinha

4,781 Articles

Sudeep Sinha is a Golf Writer at EssentiallySports, covering the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and the storylines around the sport's biggest events and names. He previously spent over two years writing in the Boxing department, where his fight-night coverage was featured on Sports Illustrated, Daily Mail, and Yahoo Sports, including his reporting on Ryan Garcia's career arc. On the golf beat, Sudeep covers tour news, player form, and the season-long storylines that shape the men's and women's game, from majors to the ongoing shifts in how professional golf is structured. That same appetite for detail that made his boxing coverage stand out now shows up in how he breaks down a swing change or a schedule shakeup for hardcore and casual fans alike. Outside work, he splits his time between reading, cycling, and following combat sports.

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Syed Rahil Ahmed

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