When Edgar Berlanga steps right into a room, there’s a quiet depth about him—not loud or performative, however grounded within the self-discipline of a fighter who is aware of precisely when to preserve vitality and when to let it fly. It’s the identical intuition that fueled his explosive rise by way of the ranks, racking up 16 consecutive first-round knockouts and saying his presence as certainly one of boxing’s most harmful younger contenders. Right now, that vitality is channeled with function—into how he trains, recovers, and prepares his physique and thoughts for the lengthy highway forward.
At age 26, Edgar Berlanga (23-1, 18 KOs) has moved past the early chapter of his profession that noticed him dispatch opponents with viral ease. That flash introduced consideration and earned him the nickname “The Chosen One,” however his focus has at all times been on the lengthy recreation. The sharpness he’s cultivating now comes from a mix of old-school grit and new-school science—a each day coaching cadence that consists of explosive circuits, midnight boxing classes, hyperbaric chamber naps, and lengthy runs impressed by observing boxing greats like Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
Berlanga isn’t chasing gimmicks or overtraining for the sake of optics. He’s refining—adjusting, scaling again when obligatory, and leaning into the form of self-discipline that builds champions over years, not months. He’s discovered consolation in discomfort, obsessive about the main points, and motivated by extra than simply wins. Longevity, legacy, and his function as a father are entrance and middle now.
With a super-middleweight showdown in opposition to Hamzah Sheeraz set for July 12 in New York Metropolis, Muscle & Health caught up with Berlanga in the midst of coaching camp to interrupt down what it takes to remain sharp, keep prepared, and proceed evolving as certainly one of boxing’s most electrical skills. From his late-night fitness center classes to restoration protocols and psychological preparation, right here’s how he’s constructing for what’s subsequent—and doing it with intention.
How Edgar Berlanga Builds His Day Round Combat Evening
There’s one thing virtually nocturnal about the best way Edgar Berlanga trains. Whereas most fighters construction their days round early fitness center classes and regimented relaxation, Berlanga prefers to function beneath the identical circumstances he fights in—late at evening, when the world quiets down and focus sharpens. “I often love to do my boxing at evening. I’m bizarre like that,” he says. “Typically, I’ll even hit the fitness center at 3 within the morning. I love to do my boxing at evening as a result of that’s the time that I often battle.”
His each day rhythm is deliberately constructed round effectivity and restoration. He’s now not all for grinding for the sake of appearances. Berlanga begins his day round 10 a.m., typically with a inexperienced juice and a giant breakfast—until he’s coaching fasted. Power and conditioning comes first, clocking in at a targeted two and a half hours.
What follows is a dedication to restoration that reads extra like elite athlete protocol than conventional boxing bootcamp: ice baths, bodily remedy, and a two-hour stretch in a hyperbaric chamber. “It helps pace up my restoration time,” he says. “So if I’m resting for 2 hours, it looks like seven hours once I get up.”
What stands out in dialog isn’t simply the self-discipline—it’s the intentionality. Whether or not he’s squeezing in PT or squeezing in meals (5 – 6 a day, by the best way), Berlanga constructions his complete day round ensuring boxing stays the centerpiece. “On the finish of the day, I’m a boxer,” he says plainly. “I can’t be working for miles and miles as a result of I’m not a marathon runner. My conditioning comes from the boxing ring.”
Coaching Smarter, Not Simply Tougher
As Berlanga’s profession has matured, so has his method to bodily improvement. The times of limitless sparring and pushing previous exhaustion are behind him. “It’s all about not overtraining,” he says. “As a substitute of sparring 3 times every week, I’m solely sparring twice now. In camps, I’m not bringing in the very best guys as a result of I need to save my physique for the battle.”
That form of self-awareness wasn’t at all times current—but it surely’s what’s protecting him sharper now. Below the steerage of power and conditioning coach Angel “Memo” Heredia, Berlanga has doubled down on explosive energy and useful power. “It’s been wonderful. I simply really feel unbelievable,” Berlanga says. “I like doing circuit coaching—explosive stuff like drugs ball throws. That’s what helps me really feel probably the most comfy. Fighters which can be explosive like me, they like that top depth work. It’s like with basketball gamers once they go to dunk—it’s about that pop.”
He treats working as a non-negotiable—an old-school behavior handed down from legends. “Floyd could possibly be hanging out at a celebration, and when he’s leaving, he’s placing on trainers and working 5 to 6 miles house,” he says. Berlanga carries that very same mindset, working wherever he’s—whether or not he’s house or touring, gloves or not. “That’s my go-to proper there. I at all times have my trainers.”
How Edgar Berlanga Retains His Instruments Sharp With out Burning Out
Sparring, for Berlanga, is now about high quality over bravado. It’s a shift that prioritizes longevity over fitness center wars. “Individuals overlook that we’ve 12 to 13 weeks of camp,” he says. “That’s taking numerous put on and tear on the physique and the mind. I prefer to spar twice every week and with guys who’re B or C-level fighters so I can work on my stuff.”
For somebody who thrives on explosive motion and reactive timing, ability work has to remain crisp with out being damaging. Berlanga incorporates response coaching—flickering strobe glasses and tennis ball drills—that retains his imaginative and prescient and thoughts sharp beneath stress. “In boxing, every thing is quick and you’ll by no means chill out in a battle,” he says.
He’s additionally obsessive about effectivity, typically placing in as much as 4 hours of boxing work late at evening—when his physique and thoughts are most in sync. “If I get to the fitness center by 11, I’m there for as much as 4 hours working,” he says. “I attempt to make it possible for I’m boxing greater than anything.” His mindset is easy: protect the physique, sharpen the blade.
The Pursuit of Legacy
If the bodily aspect of Berlanga’s evolution is meticulous, his psychological progress may be much more intentional. He’s discovered to embrace the isolation and depth that include elite efficiency. “It’s a distinct stage of locking in,” he says. “Solely an individual that lives my life would perceive. However I like that a part of it. Once I’m locked in, I really feel like I get probably the most out of myself.”
He’s constructed a life that fosters that focus—quiet, residing away from distractions, surrounded by farmland, the place he will be at peace between wars. That readability has helped him reframe relaxation as a weapon. “Actually simply entering into your mattress and never doing shit for an entire day — that’s been the important thing,” he says. “Even you probably have everybody convey the meals to you. That’s restoration.”
From ice baths and IVs to magnesium-rich Epsom salt soaks, Berlanga has constructed a restoration ecosystem round with the ability to go full throttle—when it issues. However the motivation behind all of it is rooted in one thing extra grounded. “My son,” he says. “Simply him and figuring out I’ve any individual that’s relying on me. I don’t simply need to give him something—I need to construct generational wealth.”
When requested what boxing has in the end taught him, Berlanga doesn’t hesitate: “Self-discipline,” he says. “Motivation is sort of a rollercoaster. Self-discipline is what will get you off the bed if you’re not motivated. It’s on the high of the success board.”
Observe Edgar Berlanga on Instagram @edgarberlanga
