If there were an unexpected opponent for Edgar Berlanga’s return after a loss, it would be Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz. Not because of style, but because Gonzalez’s peak years were from 2010 to 2014.

Back then, he fought Ukrainian champion Serhiy Dzinziruk, who was at the end of his career and had moved up in weight after losing to Sergio Martinez. Gonzalez proved to be physically strong, effective at targeting the body, and defensively responsible, forcing a draw against Dzinziruk.

That was the last truly relevant fight of Gonzalez’s career. Since then, he fought only three more times, winning all of them, but then disappeared from the ring until 2024.

Despite being out of the spotlight for a decade, Gonzalez is still only 35 years old. However, Berlanga is younger at 27, and the age difference isn’t the most significant factor—experience is.

Berlanga’s last fight was against Canelo Alvarez. Before that, he fought Jason Quigley and Steve Rolls.

Gonzalez’s biggest opponent was Serhiy Dzinziruk, who was moving up in weight.

Both fighters tend to throw a lot of punches.

Both use their reach to control distance and mix in body and head shots. Both try to wear opponents down over time rather than rely on single-shot power.

Gonzalez has fought twice since returning, scoring two knockout victories, but the level of opposition was very low:

One opponent had a 5-23 record. The other had a 14-5 record.

Meanwhile, Berlanga just went the full distance with Canelo Alvarez—the difference in level is enormous.

This is where things get interesting.

Gonzalez was never a true power puncher, but he troubled Dzinziruk with well-placed body shots. His recent KO wins don’t tell us much, as the opposition was weak.

Berlanga isn’t a one-punch KO artist either, but he relies on physical strength and a high punch volume to break opponents down.

Berlanga was knocked down by Canelo, but so would almost anyone else. He has been shaken before, and his chin is not perfect, but he recovers well.

Gonzalez had good durability before his long layoff—but how well can he take shots now, especially against someone as physically strong as Berlanga?

Berlanga is comfortable fighting in Orlando, where he has already had two knockout wins—one in Round 1, another in Round 6.

Gonzalez, meanwhile, fought his last fight at this same venue, scoring a 7th-round knockout.

Gonzalez is motivated—he wants to shock Berlanga, make a statement, and revive his career.

At 35, he still has time to land a couple of big paydays—but his true level is unknown after such a long break.

Berlanga hurt his reputation after losing to Canelo. Fans were puzzled when he went to Puerto Rico and acted as if he were celebrating his loss. Berlanga needs more than just a win—he needs to dominate and do it fast. Anything else won’t be seen as a true comeback statement.

This fight is all about whether Gonzalez can turn back the clock or if Berlanga will prove he’s still a contender. If Berlanga doesn’t win convincingly, doubts about his future will only grow.