He knocked down the previously unbeaten Berlanga in the third round and punished him throughout in Las Vegas.
The champion rocked his opponent with a big right in the waning seconds of the ninth round and Berlanga's cornerman could be heard asking his fighter as he sat on his stool before the 10th "Are you awake?"
Berlanga remained remained defiant, taunting Alvarez as they came out for the 12th round.
But the 27-year-old Puerto Rican-American, who launched his pro career with 16 straight firstround knockouts, could not find the stoppage he had brashly predicted.
"I did good," said Alvarez, who was awarded the win by a score of 118-109 by two judges and 117-110 from the third.
"Now what are they going to say - I fight younger fighters? Before they say I fought older fighters.
Denne historien er fra September 16, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
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Denne historien er fra September 16, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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