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Edgar Berlanga Jr.'s journey to becoming a professional boxer began in the challenging streets of Bushwick.
Always full of energy as a child, his path wasn't easy, but with the of his father and a local boxing coach, he found his calling in the ring. This is the story of how Berlanga Jr. rose to prominence, overcoming family hardships along the way.
Despite the tough surroundings, there was a fighter inside him from a young age. His father, Edgar Berlanga Sr., recognized this and wanted to channel his son's energy into something positive. Before going to prison, he reached out to a friend, Benny Roman, a local boxing trainer, to teach his son the discipline of boxing.
Roman's role was not just to train Berlanga Jr., but also to keep him grounded during his father's absence.
Edgar Berlanga Sr.'s Time in Prison: What We Know
Berlanga Sr. missed crucial years of his son's life, serving seven and a half years in prison after allegedly shooting two people.
When the incident occurred, Berlanga Jr. was just two days old. After his release, Berlanga Sr. tried to steer his son toward boxing, but his time as a free man was short-lived. When Berlanga Jr. was 10, his father found himself behind bars again, which led him to ask Roman for help once more.
"My dad asked him, 'Please, I'm going away. Please keep Edgar in the gym,'" Berlanga Jr. explained in an interview with Boxing News.
Roman kept his promise, picking Berlanga up every day for boxing practice. However, the consistency wavered as the years ed.
Berlanga struggled to stay enthused for boxing as a teen
By the time Berlanga Sr. returned from prison four years later, his son had drifted away from boxing. While Berlanga Jr. still sparred occasionally, he was more focused on pursuing a basketball career. His father, however, had different plans.
When Berlanga Jr. expressed his desire to play basketball, Berlanga Sr. was quick to persuade him otherwise, encouraging him to return to boxing.
"You're gonna be a fighter instead. You're good at it. I'm here, I'm back home. This is how it's gonna be," he told his son.
Berlanga Jr. recalls his father comparing him to the legends of basketball.
"You're the LeBron James, you're the Michael Jordan, you're the Kobe Bryant of boxing."
With his father back in his life and firmly in his corner, Berlanga Jr. fully committed to boxing. His hard work paid off as he quickly made a name for himself in the super middleweight division. His father, now an integral part of his boxing team, plays a critical role in ensuring his son stays focused and safe in the ring. Berlanga Sr.'s guidance has helped his son take the boxing world by storm.