Zuffa Boxing will make its New York debut on July 26 at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, with Edgar Berlanga and Richardson Hitchins sharing top billing on the card.
Berlanga (23-2, 18 KOs) returns in a 10-round fight against Canadian veteran Steven Butler (38-5-1, 32 KOs). The Brooklyn super middleweight has not fought since his one-sided defeat to Hamzah Sheeraz in New York last July, making this a key reset fight in front of a familiar crowd.
Butler enters with four straight wins and says the stage will not bother him. “I’ve fought in Japan, so New York doesn’t intimidate me,” Butler said. “I’m working hard, and I plan to seize my opportunity in New York. You’ll see. This is my moment.”
Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs), also from Brooklyn, will make his welterweight debut against Ricardo Salas (24-2-2, 18 KOs) in a 12-round bout. The former IBF 140lbs champion moves up after wins over Liam Paro and George Kambosos.
