One knockdown each turned a planned comeback into a test of recovery, composure and finishing power. Edgar Berlanga was dropped by Montreal’s Steven Butler late in Round 2, then regained control, floored Butler in Round 6 and forced a referee stoppage in the seventh. The result gave Berlanga a successful Zuffa Boxing debut in New York, but the dramatic route to victory explains why searches quickly shifted from the result itself to questions about what the performance means.
What People Are Searching For
The central question is simple: did Berlanga merely beat a hand-picked opponent, or did he show a meaningful change after consecutive losses to Canelo Alvarez and Hamzah Sheeraz? The answer is mixed but concrete. He survived a clean right hand that put him down, settled behind a stiff jab, hurt Butler repeatedly and produced the stoppage that several pre-fight predictions expected.
Canadian readers also have a direct reason to follow the result. Butler entered from Montreal on a four-fight knockout streak and had argued that Berlanga’s team made a mistake by accepting the matchup. His early success made that warning look credible, yet the later rounds showed Berlanga gradually taking away Butler’s space and ability to answer.
What Is Confirmed
CBS Sports’ round-by-round account confirms that Butler dropped Berlanga with a right cross in the final seconds of Round 2. Berlanga recovered in the third, increasingly controlled the exchanges with his jab, sent Butler to a knee in Round 6 and forced the referee to intervene during a barrage in Round 7 while Butler remained standing.
- Berlanga won by seventh-round technical knockout.
- He improved to 24-2 with 19 knockouts, according to Bad Left Hook’s live report.
- Butler fell to 38-6 with 32 knockouts.
- The bout took place at the Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden and headlined Zuffa Boxing 09.
- On the same card, Richardson Hitchins defeated Ricardo Salas by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring it 100-90.
- Technical knockout
- A fight ending when the referee decides a boxer cannot safely continue, even without a full count.
- Super middleweight
- The division in which Berlanga and Butler competed, with a maximum weight of 168 pounds.
What Is Unconfirmed
No official purse has been disclosed for either fighter. A report discussing Berlanga’s possible earnings explicitly says the guaranteed amounts were not made public, so any precise payday circulating online should be treated as an estimate rather than a verified figure.
Berlanga’s next opponent is also unknown. None of the supplied reports confirms a title eliminator, championship fight or date for his second Zuffa Boxing appearance. The victory improves his position, but it does not by itself establish that he has secured another world-title opportunity.
The Bigger Picture
This was a rebuilding fight with real danger attached. Berlanga entered after a 2024 decision loss to Alvarez and a fifth-round stoppage loss to Sheeraz in July 2025. Butler, meanwhile, arrived with proven power and a run of four stoppage victories, making the Canadian more threatening than the betting odds alone suggested.
The most useful takeaway is how Berlanga responded after being hurt. Rather than chase a reckless exchange, he returned to the jab, increased pressure over several rounds and waited for clearer openings. That sequence supports his pre-fight claim that he wanted to rely less on raw power and show greater ring control, although one performance cannot settle questions about how that approach holds up against the division’s leading fighters.
For Butler, the defeat ends his four-fight winning streak and delays his attempt to turn a resurgence at 168 pounds into another title-level opportunity. His knockdown of Berlanga demonstrated that his power travelled against a higher-profile opponent, but the punishment he absorbed from Rounds 3 through 7 showed the cost of losing control of distance.
Latest Status
Berlanga is the confirmed winner by Round 7 TKO, and the official result is no longer in dispute. The next meaningful update would be an announced opponent or date for Berlanga’s second Zuffa Boxing appearance. Until then, the verified story is narrower: Berlanga survived a serious scare, stopped a Canadian puncher and completed the first step of his attempted career reset.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Edgar Berlanga vs. Steven Butler?
Edgar Berlanga defeated Steven Butler by technical knockout in Round 7. The referee stopped the contest after Berlanga landed big left hooks and another clean barrage while Butler remained standing.
Did Steven Butler knock down Edgar Berlanga?
Yes. Butler dropped Berlanga with a right cross near the end of Round 2. Berlanga recovered and went on to score his own knockdown in Round 6.
What is Edgar Berlanga’s record after the Butler fight?
Bad Left Hook listed Berlanga at 24 wins and two losses, with 19 victories by knockout. Butler’s record moved to 38-6 with 32 knockouts.
Where did Berlanga vs. Butler take place?
The fight headlined Zuffa Boxing 09 at the Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. It was Berlanga’s first appearance for Zuffa Boxing.
How much did Berlanga earn against Butler?
The guaranteed purse was not officially disclosed in the supplied reports. Published estimates and claims about a multi-fight contract are not the same as a confirmed payment for this specific bout.