LAS VEGAS – Edgar Berlanga is still undefeated in 22 professional fights (17 by knockout) and he said he not only plans to keep his undefeated record intact, but also to win in six rounds on Saturday night.

But if he was forced to play the entire match, Berlanga was fine with that too.

Canelo Alvarez doesn’t believe it.

“It’s easy to say you’re going to knock me out, but it’s much harder to do it,” Alvarez said. “Saturday night is definitely going to be very difficult for him. I’ve been preparing for the knockout. I like the feeling of a knockout and I’m going to do my best to make it happen.”

Bookmakers share Alvarez’s skepticism, making him the 25-1 favorite at BetMGM Sportsbook.

Alvarez, the WBC and WBO super middleweight champion who also holds a 61-2-2 record with 39 knockouts, headlines a card that also features two other title fights. WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara takes on Danny Garcia, and Caleb Plant fights Trevor McCumby for the interim WBA super middleweight belt.

This is one of two major combat sports events that will compete during the Mexican Independence Day weekend, both of which are trying to appeal to fans from that country.

The 34-year-old Alvarez from Guadalajara tops the T-Mobile Arena. Just three miles away, the UFC makes its debut at the Sphere with seven Mexican fighters on the lineup.

Alvarez expects to win over the crowd again as Las Vegas becomes his second home to his native Mexico.

“It’s an honor to fight on this date,” Alvarez said. “Mexican Independence Day is very important to us. It’s very special and I’m very proud to fight for the Mexican people.”

He will face Berlanga, a New York native whose parents are from Puerto Rico.

“I could be the face of Puerto Rican boxing after Saturday night,” Berlanga said. “I’ve wanted to do that for years and now it’s my turn to do it.”

It will certainly be a big challenge for the 27-year-old Berlanga, who is taking on a legendary boxer, even though Alvarez is long past his prime.

He hasn’t stopped a fight since technically knocking out Plant to become the undisputed champion nearly three years ago. The IBF stripped Alvarez of his title after he decided to fight Berlanga instead of their No. 1 contender, William Scull.

However, Alvarez’s last three title defenses have not been particularly exciting, even though they were all in the hands of the judges.

“We trained very hard because we know this fight is not about physicality or size,” said Mark Farrait, Berlanga’s trainer. “It’s about experience and intelligence, which Canelo thinks Edgar doesn’t have. We’re here to make a statement and show the world our patience and execution.

“I know Canelo is going to be smart. He’s not going to fight Edgar right away, because if he does, it’s going to be fireworks. This is our chance to dethrone the king.”

Alvarez doesn’t believe it.

Bookmakers are neither.

And the expected pro-Canelo crowd probably doesn’t see that happening either.

“We trained hard because we know we are facing a young fighter who wants to take our place,” said Eddy Reynoso, Alvarez’s manager and trainer. “Berlanga is strong and he wants to prove himself against Canelo.

“We trained very thoroughly for his fight. We have everything we need for Berlanga and we are coming to make history.”

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