Edgar Berlanga Suspended, Fined By NYSAC For Mid-Fight Bite Attempt

UPDATE (June 17, 2022 12:04 PM ET): The NYSAC told FIGHT SPORTS Friday morning that Edgar Berlanga will be suspended for six months and fined $10,000. The $10,000 is the maximum fine for a first time offense. The commission does not release fight purse numbers, only the camp.

Edgar Berlanga is facing consequences for his actions in last Saturday’s fight. 

Berlanga is being suspended and fined by the New York State Athletic Commission for attempting to bite challenger Alexis Angulo in the seventh round of their scheduled 10-round bout. The NYSAC told FIGHT SPORTS that the investigation is still ongoing, and details will be released tomorrow. 

ESPN and Boxing Scene, however, reported that the suspension will be for six months, and the fine is $10,000. Berlanga’s purse for the fight is unclear. 

Berlanga, 25, won by unanimous decision after going the distance. Berlanga and Angulo seemed to have a close fight, but things got bizarre after the Puerto Rican boxer tried to bite the left side of Angulo’s shoulder then neck.  

Berlanga was not penalized by the referee, instead Angulo was warned to not hit Berlanga while clinching for a break. Berlanga said he went for the Mike Tyson move because Angulo was using his elbows during the fight. 

“I want to apologize for my actions and what I said yesterday about the Mike Tyson bite,” Berlanga tweeted Sunday, referencing the joke he made earlier about Tyson’s infamous bite of Evander Holyfield’s ear. 

“I was in the moment and got a little ahead of myself. It doesn’t take away from the embarrassment that I have caused upon myself, my team, [Top Rank] and many others. I reacted poorly and take full responsibility. Moving forward, I am going to be more mindful and encouraging in my behavior.” 

Angulo was surprised that the referee didn’t do anything about the attempt. 

“There were many intentions, bad intentions [from what he was trying to do],” Angulo said to George Ebro.  

“What I believe, well, it doesn’t count for much, but they didn’t even call attention to what happened. I told the referee that he was biting me and the referee told me that I was holding him, when it was the opposite. Suddenly I was the one to blame.” 

Berlanga (20-0, 16 KOs) rose to popularity after being his career with 16 first-round knockouts in 16 fights.  

In his last four fights, his competition escalated. He won those by unanimous decision. 

“Top Rank will abide by the New York State Athletic Commission’s ruling,” Top Rank spokesperson Evan Korn told ESPN.