The Breakfast Club - INTERVIEW: Edgar Berlanga Talks Upcoming Fight With Canelo Álvarez, Addresses Backlash, Caleb Plant + More

Episode Date: August 6, 2024

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Had enough of this country? Ever dreamt about starting your own? I planted the flag. This is mine. I own this. It's surprisingly easy. 55 gallons of water, 500 pounds of concrete. Or maybe not. No country willingly gives up their territory. Oh my God.

What is that? Bullets. Listen to Escape from Zakistan. We need help! That's Escape from Z-A-Q-istan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you. Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love. I forgive myself. It's okay.

Have grace with yourself. You're trying your best. And you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing. Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts

that arise once we've hit the pavement together. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hello, my undeadly darlings. It's Teresa, your resident ghost host. And do I have a treat for you. Haunting is crawling out from the shadows, and it's going to be devilishly good. We've got chills, thrills, and stories that'll make you wish the lights stayed on. So join me, won't you? Let's dive into the eerie unknown together. Sleep tight, if you can.

Listen to Haunting on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, everyone. This is Courtney Thorne-Smith, Laura Layton, and Daphne Zuniga. On July 8th, 1992, apartment buildings with pools were never quite the same as Melrose Place was introduced to the world. We are going to be reliving every hookup, every scandal, and every single wig removal together. So listen to Still the Place on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Wake that ass up in the morning. The Breakfast Club. Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha Guy. We are The Breakfast Club. Yes, indeed. Of course, we got Aq with us today because we got a special guest in the building, Edgar Belonga. Welcome, brother. What's up, my boy? How's everything, man? How are you, man?

Real good. How you feeling? Big fight coming up? Yes, sir. September 14th against Canelo Alvarez. How you feeling about it? Amazing, man. I'm highly blessed, man, to be in this position. I'm not supposed to be here. We went through a lot of trials and tribulations.

You feel me? And we got here, man. All the hard work has paid off, man. I started boxing at seven years old. And 20 years later, man, I'm fighting the biggest fighter of my life. Wow. Now you wanted this fight for a long time. You've been calling it out, you've been saying it.

So what finally got the deal done? You know, I've been talking about this for years, man. Even before we was about to turn pro with my coach, I was like, we seen Canelo rising, and we was just like yo listen man like this is the fight that's gonna happen soon you know something big you know puerto rico is mexico and uh i feel like through my hard work keeping god first you know uh it happened man and the manifesting you feel me like just talking about it putting out there in the universe

you feel me and it came um is it really the golden ticket people say it is? Like, is it really lucrative? I mean, you know, obviously, because they say, they say it's the golden ticket because it's money,

you know what I'm saying? You're not, you're not, you're not making the money you was making before, you feel me? When you fight him, obviously, because he's a,

you know, he's a legend, bro. And, yeah, you know, but we got the fight from our last fight, you know,

we became the WBA mandatory. Our fourth, Patrick McCrory, I knocked him out in the sixth round. He was a light heavyweight IBO world champion. Yeah, man, we did our thing. They was just like, yo, listen, we need a big knockout in order to land a spot for this.

I came through, man, Big, big, big, like. What, were there negotiations for this fight or was the first offer accepted? You know what I mean? Because obviously, you know, to Charlamagne's point, it's the money fight that people want. Was the first offer the money that you expected or did your manager, Keith, have to fight for a little bit more?

Oh yeah, it was crazy, man. It was to the point that we probably thought we wasn't going to fight. Oh. Just because, you know. Because the initial offer wasn't what you wanted. Yeah, and this is where I really noticed, like, at the level where we at now, at the high level, I understand why a lot of big fights don't get made.

Excuse me, because, you know, all the numbers. The numbers got to look right, you know, and it's about the fight, then it's about pay-per-views, and it's about a lot of other things, you feel me? So it hit me like, damn, this is why a lot of big fights don't get made, because of that, you feel me? Because of the numbers is not right, you feel me? And then a lot of negotiations behind it, a lot.

Like phone calls after phone calls, like, it was days, like, you know what I'm saying? Like I wake up and I'm like, damn, we getting in a fight or not? But I was in the gym, I was working, working, working, working. Because I knew, I was like, I don't want them catching me off guard.

You know, a lot of fighters, they start training the day that they sign a fight, and next thing you know, you got five, six weeks to the fight like what happened was now. And then you're not in shape before me. So I was like, my father was on me like, yo Edgar, this shit's gonna happen. Whether you like it or not, I think it's gonna happen.

So we gotta stay ready, we gotta make sure we ready for this. Are you nervous at all? You know, cause it's like you said, you grew up watching him and watching boxing. He was one of the people that you liked watching, you got a lot. So it's kinda like, as a kid,

it's like playing your LeBron or playing your Jordan. Do you get nervous for playing one of your idols, fighting one of your idols at all? I wouldn't say nervous, I'm just excited, man. I'm not gonna lie, I was like on two hours of sleep the day before yesterday. I'm just excited, man. I'm not gonna lie, I was on two hours of sleep the day before yesterday. I was just going, bro. I was in the gym, to the track, working.

My coach like, yo, bro, you ain't take none? No, you up, bro. They was trying to put me to sleep, you know what I'm saying? Like, yo, go take a nap. We only got two hours. We just landed in New York at 10 in the morning. I was like, well, I'm going, man. Like, that's it.

The fight's here, man. The fight starts now, you know? And I'm excited, man. You know, there's an opportunity to make history, man. You know what I'm saying? And I'm from New York, Puerto Rican. You know, I'm from the trenches. And, you know, a lot of people are depending on me.

You know what I'm saying? And through me, people that never made it to that level, I win, they all going to win. You know, this weekend, I just came from L.A., the Crawford fight, and during the fight, Turkey Al-Ashiq, His Excellency Turkey Al-Ashiq, put out an offer to Canelo for the butt fight. So in other words, they're looking past you, right?

He's already thinking about Terrence Crawford fighting Canelo Alvarez. How does that make you feel? I was upset looking at it because they just kept mentioning, you know what I'm saying? And I'm like, damn, they overlooking me. But you know, it was bound to happen, you feel me? Like I feel like now, all my life I've been overlooked.

You know what I'm saying? Even me, when I turned pro, you know, all the promoters didn't want to sign me. Nobody wanted to sign me. They was like, nah, we don't want him. Why do you think that is? I have no clue, bro, for real, for real. Like, you know, I went to the Olympic trials. I lost, so we were supposed to go to Puerto Rico, but I had an injury.

So we was just like, yo, we're going to turn pro. So when we wound up turning pro, no promoters wanted me. But I stood 10 toes down, I told Mark, I told my dad, you know, they was just like, yo listen, they gonna want you soon. And when I went in the gym, because nobody wanted to sign me, right?

So I was like, okay, copy, say no more. I'm used to this, you know what I'm saying? I'm used to being the underdog, I'm used to being in this position. And what started happening, I started knocking people out in the first round. You know what I'm saying? That right there.

16 first round knockout streaks. Yeah, so that right there was like the key start to everything. You feel me? I was like, yo, these people out here is really ducking me. They don't see my worth. They don't see, okay. And I started pointing people out.

Boom, boom, boom, boom. Next thing you know, I got the city shaking. Our promoters is calling us. Did that help or hurt though? The reason I ask is, when you knock everybody out in the first round, everybody expects that every fight. So if you don't and you take somebody to the distance

or you take somebody to the sixth round, they like, Edgar fell off, he ain't the same. But you can't knock out everybody in the first round. So did that help or hurt? I say it was a gift. It's always a gift, you feel me? Cause I feel like God, you know, God definitely blessed me with his power, you feel me?

And his inner strength that I got is crazy. So, but then, you know, I felt like it was a curse a little bit too. Cause you know, people now, all they expect is knockouts now. So they don't really look at, they don't want to look at my boxing skills. They don't want to look at me boxing and moving around and hitting and don't get hit no more.

They like, ah, this dude's a bum. You feel me? So I went five straight fights. It was supposed to be four straight fights, but I went five straight fights to distance. And yo, people have been like trashing me bad, you know what I'm saying, on social media and shit. But I say it's a curse, right, because you knocking people out. People get used to that, you feel me?

People get used to the knockouts, knockouts, knockouts, and boxing's not about that, you feel me? The first rounds was cool, don't get me wrong, because it blew me up quick, you know what I'm saying? In two years, next thing you know, I got Lil Wayne on my phone. I'm going to Tracy Morgan's crib. I built a crazy relationship with him.

You feel me? And then Fat Joe been with me since before this. So, yeah, man, it's crazy. You know, Khalid Plant said you are an unworthy challenger for Canelo. He said you got a weak chin, lack of experience, and poor technical boxing skills. He said you have no experience against genuine world-class opposition, and you struggled

against the marginal competition that your promoters have carefully selected for you to maintain your unbeaten record. What do you say to that? He's a hater. Period.

He's a guy. He had his... See, you know it was a thing with him, right? And I told him when I seen him in Vegas, I said, yo, I got a lot of respect

for you because you've been at that level, you know what I'm saying? Even though you lost, but you've been at that level. Like, you fought Canelo? Even though you lost, but you've been at that level. Like, you fought Canelo. You fought Benavidez.

And I got to give you that respect. You got to that level, you feel me? But I feel like now he clout chasing, you feel me? He's doing a lot of weird shit just to be relevant again, you feel me? Because I feel like, and a lot of people know, dude don't sell, you feel me? He don't sell unless he's fighting a big fighter, you feel me? So, I'm like like You a hater bro Cause when it was your time

Tashawn When it was your time To step in that ring With Canelo And all these guys I never bashed you I never said nothing about you You know what I'm saying

I let you have your moment But you didn't take Your opportunity You feel me You lost You got knocked out So how did that In Vegas

I saw you guys Going back and forth On a clip that went viral And you said You was giving him respect So how did it turn into You guys going back and forth on a clip that went viral. And you said you was giving him respect. So how did it turn into you guys going back and forth? What did he say to you? What was his response?

Yeah, because, yo, bro, at the end of the day, I'm a dude, man, right? Like, I'm from New York, bro. I'm from the trenches, bro. You feel me? So it's different how you come. If I'm giving you respect, you're going to respect me. You feel me? And I gave him that respect, but he just kept going and going and going.

Saying what, though? Yo, bro, what's up? Yo, you gonna give me that fight? Yo, I'm like nah, I'm focusing on September. I got Canelo. Oh, so he was talking about wanting to fight you. Forget about that. If you don't get Canelo, what's up?

I'm like nah, I'm not even worried about that. I got a plan A and we sticking with that. Nah, but he just kept going and going. Oh yeah, but what happened with the sparring? He talking about sparring when I was like 17 years old. So you sparred him at 17? Yeah, and I'm like, but what happened with the sparring? He talking about sparring when I was like 17 years old. So you sparred him at 17? Yeah, and I'm like, but what happened in the sixth round? I fucked him up, I fucked you up,

and I blew you out in the sixth round with a body shot. You ran out the ring. Oh, he started, oh, oh, I'm not, so that's when, you know, I got him on New York. So I just got, I turned it up on him. So you were 17 years old when you was sparring with him? Yeah, yeah, yeah. He was a pro already. Yeah, yeah, he was pro.

And I just turned it up on him, you know what I'm saying? Like, hey, you know, shit went pro. And I just turned it up on him, you know what I'm saying? You know, shit went viral. Fat Joe called me like, yo, you sound like a real New York nigga, man. When you beat somebody in sparring, is that something you can hold over their head until y'all actually get in the ring? Nah, I don't believe in that. I think sparring is sparring for me

because you have a lot of off days in the gym, you feel me? A lot of times, right? Sometimes the day before sparring, you probably got two, you did two a day, you feel me? There's a crazy strength and conditioning training, then you did a crazy boxing training, then you got to spar the next day. So sometimes your body be off, you feel me? So I don't really count sparring. There's a lot of guys that probably get beat up in sparring and they go fight night and they shine like a star. Then you

got guys that look like Floyd in the gym and they go fight and they tuck their tail and next thing you know, you're like, yo, but where all those skills at when you was in the gym? And it's because a lot of people can't, when it's that time, you know, when you got the lights, you got the ref, when you got thousands and thousands of fans, you know, that energy, that light gets to people and sometimes it just dims them. Overwhelms them, yeah. Yeah, facts. Is there any constructive criticism to take from something

like Khalid said? Like when you hear the things that he listed, do you say, you know what, maybe I do need to improve on my boxing skills a little bit, or maybe I do need, you know, to move my head a little bit more. Like, do you listen to any of that? No, I don't know.

No. You're talking bullshit. So you know, outside of Plant, like you mentioned, the social media, they've been attacking you, saying you don't deserve the Canelo fight, you haven't done enough to earn that fight. What do you say to those people

that aren't giving you a shot and saying you don't deserve to fight? Even if, quote unquote, I would have deserved to fight, they still would have been talking shit. Yo, bro, I'm probably like the top. I'm probably like between me, Shakur, Devin, Ryan,

and who else is out there? And me. It's five of us that everybody hate in boxing, you heard? And it's been like that for a while already for me. And I'm going to always be like this, bro. Like, it's five of us that everybody hate in boxing, you heard, and it been like that for a while already, you feel me, and I'ma always be like this, bro. Like, it's always gonna be hate towards me. What do you think it is about you guys? I'm humble, but you know, with me, I'm like,

it's cause I'm flat, you know, we from New York, but that's us, you feel me? Like, people get a sense of me, like, oh, this dude's cocky, oh, this dude wanna wear, they talk about my jewelry, they talk about my watches, this, that, oh yeah, but so what, bro? That's New york like when you come but people don't understand that only people from new york understand that you feel

me so people from new york they could be haters but they'll just hate off my boxing career a lot of people just hate me overall because of my lifestyle you feel me does it affect you though do you read that and be like i gotta change this or does that bother you at all no i don't know before when it first started i used to yo i not gonna lie, I went through a little depression, bro. Because I never received crazy backlash like that. You feel me? After the, when I did the Mike Tyson bike on Agulo. And they suspended me and then it was just trashing me, bro, for like eight months.

Why was the bike for people that don't know? Yeah, what got into you that night? Nah, so listen, look. So this is what happened, right? The guy, right? First of all, the guy came in overweight, like three pounds. Cool. He came in on purpose.

He came in overweight. He did some Ryan Garcia shit, like came in overweight. He didn't want to lose the weight. It was about to take like 50,000 from his check. He said, yo, the day before the fight, yo, if they all take 50,000 from me, the fight's off. So whatever, he came overweight. Obviously, I made the weight. Well, isn't there rules for that?

Like if you do, we have to? Listen, his coach did an interview after I beat him and said that their tactic was to come in three pounds overweight so they don't gotta be weight drained so they could absorb my punches better, you feel me? So he didn't get fined, they didn't take the 50 grand from him, he kept it? No, no, no, Top Ring had to pay me,

because if not, the fight would've been over, it was Puerto Rican Day weekend. You know what I'm saying? Tickets were sold. It was a sold out event. So they was like, nah, I don't know. You know what I'm saying? So for those that don't know, the money goes to you.

Yeah. A thousand percent. And then during the fight, so I got this dude on YouTube that was a crazy fan of me. He broke the whole 10 rounds down about how dirty Angulo was fighting. You know what I'm saying? Like he split me open with an elbow. He was throwing shots. Like when he was throwing uppercuts, he was like, you know what I'm saying? Like, he split me open with an elbow. He was throwing shots. Like, when he was throwing uppercuts, he was, like, you know what I'm saying?

Throwing, hitting me. All I felt was headbutts and elbows the first four rounds, you feel me? So that was already getting me, like, upset. And then I told the ref before the fight in the back, he was like, listen, this dude's a dirty fighter, so you got to watch him with headbutts and with elbows. Yeah, yeah, yeah, but he wasn't, you know what I'm saying? He wasn't.

Worn him to nothing. Worn him to nothing. So it was just off, I don't know, I was just on, you know. Ah, come over here. Come over here. Come over here. Were you thinking about Tyson when you did it? Yeah, I was like, come over here, bro. Being from New York, you from Brooklyn, right?

Yeah, from Brooklyn. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. So you probably was like, oh, I got something for you. From Bushwick and from Lower East Side. Wait, wait, wait. So you don't, wait, so there's no mouthpiece though? You bite anybody with the mouthpiece in? But yo, for real, we never, we never, we never,

I never grabbed them. Like you see Mike Tyson went and grabbed them. Mike Tyson got them. Yeah, I never, I never. I think Mike Tyson's mouthpiece out. And they bit him, yeah, they bit him, yeah. It was like an attempt for me, but you know, I'm most hated, so commissioners,

oh yeah, you're gonna take up, you need like, I think it was like seven months. Six months, yeah. Yeah, six months, and then they charge me like 15,000 for whatever. Did you watch the Crawford-Major Mo fight? Yeah. Do you think Crawford can challenge Canelo?

Do you think he can beat him or be at that level with Canelo? I think they pushing it, you know, listen man, Crawford is a legend, bro. Like, I study Crawford so much because his discipline in that ring is insane. You know what I'm saying? And his IQ is even more crazy.

You feel me? So I respect Crawford as a fighter 100%. Like, he's a legend. You feel me? He's going to go down as one of the greatest in the sport of boxing. Canelo, I think they was just overstepping until now they seen him fight a guy that's a real 154 pounder, that's strong, you feel me?

And he gave him a tough fight. So now everybody's like, oh, oh, oh, oh, but why? Because everybody probably thought he was going to knock this dude out, you know what I'm saying? But when you go up in weight, people got to understand that those punches are different, man. Fighters absorb the punches way different. You feel me? You see guys like Benavidez that went up to 75

and he fought that Ukrainian dude that could even buckle him. You feel me? But it's not only about weight though. Magimov's style is a lot different than Canelo's. Boxing is about styles and he's awkward and hard to time. Canelo doesn't fight like that. Canelo picks his shots and doesn't move his feet as much.

I know, but remember after the fight he kept saying how strong the guy was. So if he felt like that guy was strong, just imagine a guy like us at 168. Canelo's strong and he hits harder, a lot harder. You get what I'm saying? So right there, you know, and then you notice that he was just like, listen man, Canelo got a fight coming up, you know, and he, you know, you notice that he was just like, yo listen man, like Canelo got a fight coming up,

you know, and he wanna, obviously he just finished fighting so he don't even wanna think about a Canelo fight. I still like that matchup for Bud though. I think stylistically it's still a good fight. It's all right, but we gotta, we gotta, you know, see if we have some couple more teams. Yeah, but obviously, you know, that's down the line. You got a big fight with Canelo.

Stylistically, why are you better than Canelo Alvarez? I just think right now, right, listen, Canelo's a legend and, stylistically, why are you better than Canelo Alvarez? I just think right now, right? Listen, Canelo's a legend, and he's been in there with the best, you feel me? Like Floyd, Triple G, 310. So we would never overlook Canelo and what he does, you feel me? But the thing is, right, me, I got to go in there. I said this before. We got to be a little crazy. You know what I'm saying? Like, yeah, it's Canelo. Cool, but I feel like it's my time now. You know what I'm saying? And I got this opportunity for a reason at

the right moment. Stylistically, I got everything, you know? I'm bigger. I'm stronger. I could take a punch, and I'm younger. Canelo has experience over me, so we know that with this fight, it's all about IQ. You feel me? It's not even physical about this fight. I'm strong. You know what I'm saying? They say I got that country and bunking strength.

You feel me? So I know I'm strong, but he fought strong opponents as well. He fought Triple G. He fought a lot of guys that could punch. He fought a big Bivol. But with me, it's the IQ that's going to change the game. He fought strong opponents as well. You know, he fought Triple G. He fought a lot of guys like Kapun. He fought a big Bivol. But with me, it's the IQ that's going to change the game. You know, and that's what we've really been focusing on is IQ in that gym and working on our game plan to execute because, like I said,

you can't go in there like a crash dummy with that dude. You feel me? You can't go in there. You know, I think that's what Munguia did. You know, he went in there just throwing punches. You feel me? They take a punch, but it was no IQ behind it. And a fighter like Canelo, you gotta make him think.

You know what I'm saying? You gotta make him think before he throws. You gotta make sure that he's gonna come to fight. So a guy like him, you gotta make him think, 100%. You feel me? You can't just go in there and just try to think. I can't go in there and do, I got bricks in these hands, man.

If I land, cause he got hit by Triple G, he got hit by guys that hit hard too, you feel me? And he got crazy head movement, so, you know, like I said, it's his IQ, his intelligence, you know, it's gonna be an intelligent fight. Crazy thing is if you lose, quote unquote, you were supposed to, but if you win, they'll be like, oh, he was on his way out.

So how do you feel like that? Like, it feels like you can't win regardless of what you do. Yeah, I mean even, you said that if I lose, they gonna be like, oh he fought. But I don't even think it's that, they gonna still trash me. They still gonna probably put me, trying to put me as a meme on Twitter, on social media.

Cause that's how much hate I receive, you feel me? So I'm just absorbing everything, you feel me? Like I'm just staying focused here, cause this is the most important thing, your mind controls everything in your body, you feel me? I'm just staying focused here because this is the most important thing. Your mind controls everything in your body, you feel me? Your mind tells your body what to do. So if I could keep this intact and I'm keeping my mental sharp and strong and getting ready for the fight five, six weeks, seven weeks before the fight here, I'm good to go, man.

Like I'm 100% agoramentally. It's dangerous. Now, Bud had a hit list, right? A list of everybody that talked negative about him. So when he won, he was able to check off the list. Charlamagne was one of them. Do you have that same type of list of everybody that talks smack? Like, when I win, I'm going back to check every last person.

Oh, yeah. For sure, man. I got a whole list, bro. I probably got like a thousand people. Name a couple, name a couple that we would know that that's on that list. That's on that list,

yeah. It's more like bloggers and shit, you know what I'm saying, like people I see on Twitter. Right. What about fighters? Fighters,

yeah. Obviously, Kayla Plant. Yeah, Kayla Plant, bitch ass. Ben Avidez, bitch ass. His father,

Morell. That's about it. David Morell. David Morell, you said? Yeah, David Morell. As for the fighters, yeah, them right there. That's the only one I really seen.

And probably, I seen like a little bullshit podcast. Nobody be worrying about him, but Terrence Crawford, stableman, he always be chatting, always be talking shit. Is your country falling apart? Feeling tired, depressed, a little bit revolutionary? Consider this. Start your own country. I planted the flag. I just kind of looked out of like, this is mine. I own this.

It's surprisingly easy. There's 55 gallons of water for 500 pounds of concrete. Everybody's doing it. I am King Ernest Emmanuel. I am the Queen of Ladonia. I'm Jackson I, King of Kaperburg. I am the Supreme Leader of the Grand Republic of Mentonia.

Be part of a great colonial tradition. Well, why can't I trade my own country? My forefathers did that themselves. What could go wrong? No country willingly gives up their territory. I was making a rocket with a black powder, you know, with explosive warhead. Oh my God. What is that?

Bullets. Bullets. We need help! We still have the off-road portion to go. Listen to Escape from Zakistan. And we're losing daylight fast. That's Escape from Z-A-Q-istan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you.

Alicia Keys opens up about conquering doubt, learning to trust herself and leaning into her dreams. I think a lot of times we are built to doubt the possibilities for ourselves. For self-preservation and protection, it was literally that step by step. And so I discovered that that is how we get where we're going. This increment of small, determined moments. Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love. I forgive myself. It's okay.

Like grace. Have grace with yourself. You're trying your best. And you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing. Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post High is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together.

You know that rush of endorphins you feel after a great workout? Well, that's when the real magic happens. So if you love hearing real inspiring stories from the people, you know, follow and admire join me every week for post run high. It's where we take the conversation beyond the run and get into the heart of it all. It's lighthearted, pretty crazy, and very fun. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Now I know you've probably been wandering the mortal plane, wondering when I'd be back to fill your ears with deliciously unsettling stories. Well, wonder no more, because we've got a ghoulishly good lineup ready for you. Let's just say things get a bit extra. We're talking spirits, demons, and the kind of supernatural chaos

that'll make your spooky season complete. You know how much I love this time of year. It's the one time I'm actually on trend. So grab your pumpkin spice, dust off that Ouija board. Just don't call me unless it's urgent. And tune in for new episodes every week. Remember, the veils are thin, the stories are spooky, and your favorite ghost host is back and badder than ever.

Listen to Haunting on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Sup, y'all? This is Questlove, and I'm here to tell you about a new podcast I've been working on with the Story Pirates and John Glickman called Historical Records. It's a family-friendly podcast. Yeah, you heard that right. A podcast for all ages. One you can listen to and enjoy with your kids starting on September 27th. I'm going to toss it over to the host of Historical Records, Nimany, to tell you all about it. Make sure you check it out. Hey, y'all. Nimany here. I'm the host of a brand new history podcast for kids and families called Historical Records.

Historical Records brings history to life through hip-hop. Each episode is about a different inspiring figure from history. Like this one about Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old girl in Alabama who refused to give up her seat on the city bus nine whole months before Rosa Parks did the same thing. Check it. And it began with me. Did you know, did you know? I wouldn't give up my seat. Nine months before Rosa, it was Claudette Colvin. Get the kids in your life excited about history

by tuning in to Historical Records. Because in order to make history, you have to make some noise. Listen to Historical Records on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Steven Nelson. Steven Nelson. Yeah, him too.

Is it really be smoke? Is it real smoke between you and Benavidez? Or is this like, it's boxing talk? It's boxing talk, but like, I don't respect, you know why I don't respect them? Because they're not good people, bro. You know what type of people they are? Like, I go to your right and I'll be on your shit. Yo, my God, Charlamagne, the best podcast, oh, my God, in the world.

You feel me? And then they go behind your back. They'll leave the room. I'm like, yo, fuck this guy. This guy's a piece of shit, bro. This guy's no good. This guy's podcast is shit. That's the type of guy he is.

And it happened to me with Davis Pops. After the fight, Canelo fight, I'm walking into the MGM. Everybody start bombing me in the MGM lobby, going crazy. So I look and I see him. I'm like, oh, look at his pops right there. So I went to go run down on him, you heard? Because I already heard him. He was talking shit like a couple months back.

So I went to go run down on him. He's like, hey, you know, the best guy right here. This is a good fighter right here, man. You know what I mean? Showing love. He started. And one of the brothers that was out there, you know, that was recording was like, yo, you was just talking mad shit about this dude, man.

Fuck out of here. And I look and I was like, it's all right, man. Like, I know he's the type of people he is. You know what I'm saying? He's a fucking crab, bro. Like, you know what I'm saying? I'm just holding him like, this dude's funny, man. But that's the type of people they are, too.

And I heard him say something like about the fight. He was like, it's trash. Or something was a trash ass fight. And I'm like, it's a trash ass fight, but if me and you was fighting, it wouldn't be trash. Right? You talking about your last fight? No, no, no, me getting the Canelo fight.

He was like, oh, it was a trash ass fight, so. I saw, you know, before your last fight, the last fight was a knockout, but before that you had some fights that went to distance, went by decision. And they were against people who weren't considered elite level fighters. So would you say the competition got tougher or you just weren't on your A game during those fights? Yeah, you know what happened was, right?

I got my coach here with me that started me in the gym, right? That started me in the gym right that started me in in the pros right so i'm gonna it's gonna be i'm gonna break it down short when i got to the gym right when i first turned pro i told my coach i want to knock people out right he showed me how to knock people out started knocking people out now me and him split for manager, you know what I'm saying, for management issues and stuff. So me and him had to split after, like, my 10th fight. He wasn't done with me building me, you feel me? Like, my coach is not – he's not a coach, he's a teacher.

And, you know, he was taught very well from his father. You know, they're from the Bronx. And I was just getting so much seasoned with him, with Mark Ferret. He was just teaching me and it's just repetition over repetition. So when we separated, I never, as the competition kept escalating, with the coaches that I had, we never really broke down everything, you feel me? And being at gym and work on the IQ. You know what I'm saying?

And he wasn't a fan of the first round knockouts. He hated that shit. He never told me, yo, Edgar, you got to knock this guy on the first round. It was like, yo, we're going to do this. We're going to follow this. We're going to set this guy up. And the knockout coming, coming. If not, you already know what time it is.

You know what I'm saying? So he was never a big fan of going into the second round. We always broke these guys down in the first round. Because if you look at all my fights, it was slip, boom, dropping them. You know what I'm saying? It was a set of punch. So now when we started with the competition,

started getting more stiff and more, you know, started increasing, I noticed like, I was never like, we was never going back into the drawing boards. Like after the first, when I fought Damone, it was like, we never went back and studied the fight and, you know, and just build off IQ, you know what I'm saying? And just getting in the gym and working repetition.

I feel like it was just always like getting in the gym and just train, get in the gym, train for a fight. You know what I'm saying? It wasn't never like really breaking, breaking it down or really watching opponents and watching what they do, how they fight, how they move and everything. So, um, So when you fought in Vegas, though,

when you first faced adversity for the first time, when you got dropped, right, that's when the negativity came. That's when the hate started to come. What did you learn from that fight? Outside of what you're saying right now, like you felt like training, you weren't doing what you had to do. But in the fight, facing that adversity for the first time, what were you going through at that moment?

It was funny. I tore my bicep in the third round, throwing the hook to the body. I didn't see nothing in the corner. Okay. But you know what? I'll tell you this, though. I'll tell you this, right?

So, Pops is in the back saying that you broke your arm, and he said he would have pulled you if he knew your arm was messed up. But you didn't say nothing through that whole fight. You wanted to finish it out. I felt like I'm not allowed. I felt like... It was a big one. I felt like I got hit with a bullet, bro. Like, I felt like it was like a bullet.

Boom! Like, when it came out, I felt... I wouldn't say a bullet, but it was crazy. Probably like a stab, like somebody stabbed me in my bicep, you know what I'm saying, when my muscle ripped. And I feel like that changed a lot, too, because I broke his audible bone in three places. Like, after this fight, you see him. You know what was crazy?

They was going to stop the fight. I think it was in the ninth. Yeah, it was in the ninth. It was going to stop it, because you know how it is in boxing. When you break somebody's elbow bone, they stop the fight quick. They don't stop. You see when Canelo fought Billy Joe Sanders and he broke his shit, they stopped it.

They stopped it fast. So I was like, damn. And I been broke his elbow bone in like the sixth round or something. So they were supposed to stop that fight because the corner went to pops. I was like, yo, it's crazy because I faced adversity, I got dropped. It was more like an off-balance shot. I wasn't hurt because when I dropped, when I fell to the floor, I was tight.

I looked up and I seen the fucking lights. I'm like, what I'm doing here? And I got tight and I started banging my gloves. But the cut man was like, we was gonna stop the fight, but since he caught the drop, they was like, ah, whatever, like let's go into the 10th round. But one thing I'll tell you,

if Mark was with me, if I was with Mark, I would have been 22-0 with 22 knockouts, 100% guaranteed. Wow. 100%. 100%. Did you grow up watching, like, Felix Trinidad and Miguel Cotto? Nah, Trinidad.

Okay. Yeah. Cotto, yeah, yeah, because, you know, Cotto was, he was coming up, he became a, you know, Puerto Rican star and stuff. So, yeah, I was watching him, but my main guy was, you know, Puerto Rican star and stuff. So, yeah, I was watching him. But my main guy was, you know, Trinidad and Floyd. What inspiration did they provide for you? Just how, I loved how, you know, with Trinidad 4, it was like a gathering in my crib, you know,

like with my grandparents, my mom, my uncles and stuff. We'd get together, you know, they'd be having their beers out with the flag, going crazy, you know what I'm saying? So me seeing that right there, and obviously I was like three years old, four years old, so I didn't know I was going to be a boxer. But that's what made me fall in love with boxing was because of him. Speaking of the flag in Puerto Rico, obviously Puerto Rico has a big community that are boxing fans, right?

They love boxing. Do you take on that pressure, like, to be the next star? Because for a moment, you were that guy. Like, you were going to carry that torch, right? And then you started to get that hate, and then they started saying Zanda Zayas is going to be the next Puerto Rican star. Then we found out Shakur Stevenson is half Puerto Rican.

So then he started waving that flag. Like, who is the next Puerto Rican star? Yeah, he's as is half Puerto Rican. So then he started waving that flag like, who is the next Puerto Rican star? Yeah, his father's Puerto Rican. So he started wearing the Puerto Rican flag on his trunks and all of that. You knew that, right? Yeah. Are you still the Puerto Rican top dog?

I let the fans, you know, like with me, I know in my heart what it is, you feel me? I know in my heart, I know I'm the guy is you feel me i know like in my heart i know i'm the guy you feel me but i let the i let the i let the fans like let them you know i'm saying because they're the ones that want to put that you feel me so and i know that i got a lot i got a lot of hate so it is what it is i'm not going to change who i am i'm not going to change how i dress i'm not going to change my appearances to anybody for me because they want a guy that you know you see you know what it is like that's why they hated macho camacho because macho camacho was from new york he was

from spanish harlem and macho camacho was you know flashy flashy dude you feel me and i feel like you know my coach you know they don't they don't really like fighters like that's like flash you know they're like of artists they're like like likeuel or Luol or something. You feel me? That's buzzed down, drippy. But when it comes to fighting, I don't know, they let guys with suits on and collar shirts. You feel me? But that's not me.

I'm from New York. We grew up different. So I'm not going to change nothing. But September 14th is something that I'll go down in history, man. When is the last time you've been this doubted going into a fight? Ever? Nah, this is the first time.

Yeah. This is crazy. Nah, this is crazy. They saying first round, second round, KO. David Mays is taking a fight is bullshit. Yeah. I told him what Kaleev said. Yeah, he not making bread.

That's why he tight. And look, he just fought at 175 and went the distance, clown too. That's what I'm saying. Everybody, he just fought at 175 and went the distance. Clown, too. That's what I'm saying, everybody always wanna talk, talk to, you know what it is? They been chasing, trying to chase this dude, you feel me? And me, I just had my feet up, hands to my back, and the fight just came to me, you feel me?

And these guys is doing extra shit, like trying to, you know, provoke Canelo, trying to do a lot of things to get this fight. Well, boxing is more than just just what the fans wanna see. Obviously there's the Puerto Rican and Mexican, that heritage, that rivalry. That also helped, would you agree that that helped making this fight, made this fight happen?

A thousand percent. Yeah, like a hundred percent. You know what I'm saying? I think that had a major play with it. I'm a guy that I don't have a title right now, but it's like I do have a title. My status is like if I got a world title. The energy, the aura, when I walk into fights, they bomb. When I went to the Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney fight, I'm in Brooklyn, they had to put security

guards all around me and stuff because there was just people running over me, you know what I'm saying? So that type of energy for me, and I'm a ticket seller. Are you still with Matt Shroom with Eddie Hearn? Yeah, yeah. So he helped put this fight together? Yeah, but it was Keith Conley, my manager, my dad, you know what I'm saying, that got everything put together.

With PBC. Yeah, yeah. But like I always say, shout out to Eddie, man. So Matchroom is not involved in this fight on the 14th at all? Yeah, it's all PBC, basically, you know what I'm saying? But shout out to Eddie, shout out to Matchroom, you know what I'm saying?

We definitely, if it wasn't, obviously, signing with them, we probably would've never got this fight. Got it. How much has your son impacted your life since he was born? A lot, man. That's my little twin right there, you know what I'm saying? It happened so quick with my girl. You know, she got pregnant quick, you know what I'm saying?

I seen her, and we started vibing out, and in three months, you know, she came out pregnant, and I was cool with it. And I was a guy that I wasn't really into relationships. Oh, three months after into the relationship. Yeah, but it felt like those three, four months felt like- Protect yourself at all times. Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah. That's what the ref said.

Protect yourself at all times. Nah, but you know how when you find that one is like, you feel like you already know a little rip, man. Three, four months, it felt like we was together for like- I don't know, I ain't never found that one in three months. You know what I'm saying? It just felt normal, like when she came pregnant, if it I ain't never find that one in three months, but yeah. You know what I'm saying? And it just felt normal. Like when she came pregnant,

if it was another chick, I would probably would've been like, I would've been going crazy. Like, nah, yo, man, nah. Oh no, man, I'm not ready. But with her, it was like, it was ready. It was meant to be. Yeah, it was meant to be, 100%.

So you gonna have some more? Yeah, I'm trying to go for the girl this year. Oh, this year. Trying to go for the girl. And how did that influence you when you go into the ring? Like, do you- I mean, you know, my son looks up to me,

you know what I'm saying? He loves going to the gym with me. You know, he loves, he does everything I do, you know? So now it's like, I know I'm a role model for him, you feel me? So now I gotta change how I talk, how I act, how I carry myself even more. In the ring, you know, I just look at him, man,

and I know that, you know, this is the way I feed him. You know what I'm saying? This is the way I can provide a certain lifestyle for him and put him in the best schools and be able to afford it. You know, I don't want him to be a boxer. I know he's going to be a superstar. That's why I named him Chosen. But I feel like, you know, he's going to be something amazing in this world. And, you know, he needs a father like me. You know, he needs that bread. He needs that bag behind him to put him in the right places, you feel me? And to take it to that level. So, with that being said, you know, just me,

because of that, you know, that's why I feel like I'm more focused than ever, too. Speaking of bread, obviously this is a big money fight for you, right? But it's one fight, you're not comfortable with just making this big payday and that's it. Because that's what people are saying, oh Edgar wanted the payday.

But if you would have beat Canelo, there's so much money down the line after that. So you're not going in this fight just for the big payday. You're going to win. I want a couple of paydays. Yeah, I want a couple of paydays. That's his positive, I want a couple of paydays. Yeah bro, people be like, oh payday.

Listen man, you know how fast, you know how fast, you know how fast 10 million, 5 million go? You know how fast that shit go, bro? Y'all know, you know what I'm saying? Y'all got money. Nah, we don't know. I don't know either. But you know how fast money go, right? I heard, I don't know.

$10 go pretty fast. 5 million, 10 million. We don't know how much that go, how fast that go. But nah, nah, it's true, you know what I'm saying? Money goes. Money goes, bro. So it's like, for me, it's true, you know what I'm saying? Money goes. Money goes, bro. So it's like, for me it's like, yeah, Ty, you gotta pay your trainer, you gotta pay your manager.

Yeah, you know what I'm saying? So that's. You gotta pay your father. So does a fighter go, normally go home with like half his purse when it's all said and done? Yeah, probably like 60%. Like 60%. Yeah, 60%.

Cause like boxing, remember like baseball, you get a $100 million contract. That's your bro, you feel me? With boxing, you get a $100 million. You got to pay taxes. You got to pay your trainers.

You got to pay management. You got to pay your staff. Promoters get a cut. Yeah, promoters get a cut. You got to pay your assistant. If you have an assistant, you got to pay your strength and conditioning coach.

You got to pay your nutritionist. And all your family members asking for money. Yeah, all your family, you know. But you know, I take care of my mom and stuff. So,

you know, that's another stop, you know what I'm saying, right there. Plus, you know, I got to take care of wife. Yeah, you know, but you know, I take care of my mom and stuff. So, you know, that's another stop, you know what I'm saying, right there. Plus, you know, I got to take care of wifey too, you know. She got to get the bags,

the jewels. Yeah, so. And pops. And pops. I don't even mention pops because like pops is like my, you know what I'm saying, it's like my shadow.

So, you know, as long as I'm good, he going to be good. That's right. What have you worked on to improve your fighting since the last few fights? Because it's Canelo, it's a different beast. Yeah, it's different. I don't worked on to improve your fighting since the last few fights? Because this is Canelo, it's a different beast.

Yeah, it's different. I don't really want to talk about it, you know what I'm saying? You don't want to do what you gave up. Yeah, that's why I haven't really been posting nothing up, like on Instagram, training and stuff, because we want to shock the world on the 14th. I got so much hate, I got so much haters, I got so much people to prove wrong,

and this is my opportunity. God presented an opportunity for us, bro. Like I I said before I'm not supposed to be here you know so I gotta take this opportunity and just fly with it man and really stamp my name in this sport and make history so shock the world will be in your in your eyes ideally knocking Canelo out whatever comes you know I don't really like um and I never did that you know I'm saying like coming and you know I probably said it you know know, to people, like, I'm going to knock this nigga the fuck out. But, you know, it's different. It's different, you know what I'm saying?

And it's always been different. I never going in there predicting a knockout. You feel me? I like it to come, you know? And if it does come, it come. If not, then, you know, we ready to box 12 rounds. I heard you earlier when you was talking about when you and Plant was having a conversation. And he kept asking you to fight.

And you was like, nah, I got a plan A, I'm not thinking about plan B. So even with this fight going against Canelo, do you even write down or even consider what happens if I do lose? No, that's not on my mind. Like, at all. I know, yo bro, after this fight, listen, September 14th, right, I fight, and my coach told me,

who do you want to be September 15th when you wake up in that morning? After that fight, September 15th, when you're in your hotel room and you wake up in the morning, 10 in the morning after your fight, who are you going to be? Who do you want to be? You want to be a superstar, a megastar in the sport? Because you beat this guy it's over like that bag is 40 m's you know i'm saying sponsorships that's it private everything like your lifestyle your family's going to be set up for the rest of your

life or you want to be a guy like yeah i just went in there i fought kind of low you know i got paid you know i got paid a couple m's and you know, I got paid, you know, I got paid a couple M's, and you know, so we took a L, you feel me? And with that, that shit just scares me, think about that, you know what I'm saying? Like, that's my, that's what keeps me going, you feel me, like, I know we gotta go. What about legacy, like, Canelo outside of the money, Canelo, does he still, I heard he was getting stripped

of one of the belts, or is he still undisputed at 168? Does he still hold all the belts? Yeah, he got stripped got stripped, IBF. So if you were to beat Canelo, I mean, you'll be fighting for three straps that he has. Do you wanna be undisputed? Like, is legacy important to you, like winning titles in different divisions?

Oh, of course. You know, at the end of the day, that's why I've been boxing for 20 years, right? Like, the money's gonna come. You know, as long as I long as you know i'm doing the right thing and i'm disciplined in the sport and i'm doing what i have to do in the sport the money gonna come like sponsorships gonna come endorsement all that's gonna come you we just gotta focus on the main prize and that's boxing you know i'm saying and winning as long as we're

doing that everything gonna come you know i'm saying and the legacy you know i'm saying you focus on legacy when you focus on legacy, you stamping your last name into that history books of boxing. And you know with me, I got a big island, you know, it's small but it's big, and there's a lot of boxing fans out there, probably three million people on the island, out of three million, it's probably like

900,000 boxing fans, you know, so, you know, I gotta go out there and I gotta put my name, I've been in the sport for 20 years, so I wanna go out there and put my name with the greats. You know, when they mention Trinidad, when they mention Macho Camacho or Fidel Benitez, Miguel Cota, they're going to mention my last name. They're going to mention me.

All right. Well, the fight is September 14th at the T-Mobile Arena in Vegas. Good luck. Canelo Alvarez versus Edgar Belonga, and we appreciate you for joining us, brother. Had enough of this country? Ever dreamt about starting your own? I planted the flag. This is mine. I own this. We appreciate you for joining us, brother. to Escape from Zaka-stan. We need help! That's Escape from Z-A-Q-a-stan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. As a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you. Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love. I forgive myself. It's okay. Have grace for yourself. Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love. I forgive myself. It's okay. Have grace for yourself. You're trying your best and you're going to figure out

the rhythm of this thing. Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post Run High, is all about.

It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hello, my undeadly darlings. It's Teresa, your resident ghost host. And do I have a treat for you. Haunting is crawling out from the shadows, and it's going to be devilishly good.

We've got chills, thrills, and stories that'll make you wish the lights stayed on. So join me, won't you? Let's dive into the eerie unknown together. Sleep tight, if you can. Listen to Haunting on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, everyone.

This is Courtney Thorne-Smith, Laura Layton, and Daphne Zuniga. On July 8th, 1992, apartment buildings with pools were never quite the same as Melrose Place was introduced to the world. We are going to be reliving every hookup, every scandal, and every single wig removal together. So listen to Still the Place on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.