IN CONVERSATION WITH EDGAR BERLANGA

interview by JANA LETONJA

Edgar Berlanga’s, known as ‘The Chosen One’, fearless energy, both inside and outside the ring, has made him a standout personality, capturing the attention of fans worldwide. Beyond boxing, he has cultivated a signature style that blends high fashion with streetwear influences, making his presence undeniable. 

Your nickname carries a lot of weight. What does it mean to you, and how do you live up to it inside and outside the ring? 

I named myself "The Chosen One" with the intention of having a biblical connection. I wanted a godly type of name. The name came about after I watched a Netflix documentary about King David and how he killed Goliath. If you understand the Bible, you know that story is one of the most powerful in it. It represents who I am in the ring, being the one, being the guy. I feel special, anointed, and different from most fighters. I don’t see myself as just another boxer. I believe I’m bigger than just boxing. My brand and my purpose go beyond the sport. 

You’re known for your explosive performances in boxing. How would you describe your fighting style, and what fuels your passion for the sport? 

I describe my fighting style as a boxer-puncher, a fighter who boxes well, has great movement, an excellent jab, and also has amazing power. I see myself as a Mike Tyson-type fighter, like Roberto Duran, a guy with power but also with skill and IQ. My passion for the sport is about becoming a legend, carving my last name into the history of boxing forever, and making it into the Hall of Fame. 

Boxing requires both mental and physical strength. What mindset do you carry into every fight, and how do you prepare for the high-pressure moments? 

My mindset for every fight is going into it with a killer mentality. You have to have a certain level of malice to be in this sport because, at the end of the day, you’re stepping into the ring fighting for your life. You have to make sure the other guy doesn’t hurt you, and you have to hurt him first. I go into every fight with the mindset that I have to take him out. It might sound crazy, but if you don’t have that mentality, you shouldn’t be boxing. You need that killer instinct, that dog mentality, because if you don’t, any fighter will eat you up with no problem. When it comes to handling high-pressure moments, I stay aligned with God. I pray a lot, and as much as I pray, I also put in the work. I train hard because I know that when I step into that ring, if I’m well-conditioned and had a strong camp, even if it wasn’t perfect but at least 90% right, I go into that fight with high confidence. 

Who were your boxing inspirations growing up, and how have they shaped your approach to the sport? 

My first inspiration in boxing, the one who made me love the sport, was Felix "Tito" Trinidad. He’s a Puerto Rican legend, and I watched him since I was a baby. When Floyd Mayweather came into the game, I grew to love him too because of his hard work. He changed the game for boxing. I feel like he’s on another level and changed the sport for all of us, showing how to make a lot of money, understand the business, and take full advantage of it. But beyond that, he showed that legacy is everything and that we can be our own bosses. Those are the two fighters who inspired me growing up in boxing. 

You’ve made a name for yourself not only in the ring but also in fashion. How did your love for style begin, and how does it connect with your identity as a fighter? 

I've always loved fashion. Since I was a kid, I’ve loved looking fly and dressing up. Growing up in New York, living in the projects, I felt like I was surrounded by hip-hop culture. The first people I saw who really stood out were the guys hustling in the streets. It might sound crazy, but the drug dealers in the hood were the ones making all the money. They pulled up with big cars, big chains, and that caught my attention. That’s what first drew me into fashion and looking good. Then, watching Fat Joe on MTV, seeing his music videos, and just being in hip-hop culture made me love fashion even more. When I got older, I wanted to be different. I didn’t want to dress like everybody else. I’ve always loved standing out, so fashion caught my attention. 

People in the fashion world don’t dress like the average person. They dress different, sometimes even weird, but they stand out, and that’s what drew me in. Fashion also connected with my identity as a fighter. You can’t fake it. You have to genuinely love it and understand what you’re doing, how to put things together. I’ve always felt like whatever I wore, I put it on the right way, and it made me stand out. 

Your fight night outfits always make a statement. How do you decide on your looks, and what inspired your recent collaboration with Kody Phillips? 

I’ve always loved making a statement with the way I dress for every fight. I’m always dressed fly outside of boxing, so it only makes sense to bring that same energy into the ring. When my creative director, Sebastian Mejia, brought me the opportunity to collaborate with Kody Phillips, it was a no brainer. Sebastian has really put me onto so much in the fashion world. He’s opened doors, introduced me to the right people, and just showed me a whole new side of things I hadn’t tapped into before. So, I knew that collaborating with Kody on an outfit for my next fight would open up even more doors for me, not just for this fight, but beyond it. I could easily collaborate with any big brand, but with Kody, it’s bigger than boxing. It’s about what comes next. After the fight, what are we going to do? I know he’ll be calling me for fashion shows, Fashion Week, and runway events, and that’s exactly the world I wanted to be in. I wanted to align myself with people like him and be part of that world. 

How would you define your personal style, and what do you think makes an outfit truly powerful? 

I feel like my personal style is something I don’t want to change too much because that would change who I am. I’d describe it as a classy look mixed with streetwear, like rocking Tims and a Yankee fitted, but still keeping it classy. I never want to stray away from that. 

As a cultural figure, how important is it for you to represent your background and community through your career and fashion choices? 

I’m from New York, born and raised, so I always want to carry that swag. I dress classy and different, but I’ve still got that New Yorker edge. It’s like, yeah, you’ve got the Tims on, but you’re still a New Yorker, just super classy with it. It’s a balance that keeps me grounded in where I came from, and I never want to lose that. I think that’s what makes my style unique. 

Many people see boxing as purely a sport, but you’re expanding its reach into entertainment and fashion. How do you hope to redefine what it means to be a boxer? 

I’m changing the game and letting these fighters know that it’s not just about boxing. It’s bigger than boxing. For me, stepping into the fashion world and shaking things up is going to be eye-opening for younger fighters. It shows them that they don’t have to be limited to just beating people up in the ring. They can take what they do in the ring and expand it outside, building partnerships, relationships, and networking with the biggest names. Even if it’s not in fashion, it’s about switching it up, networking, meeting new people, and aligning yourself with the right ones. Taking your career to the next level is what really matters. 

What’s next for you in boxing, and are there any dream fights you’d love to make happen? 

For my next fight, I want it to be the biggest fight of 2025. My dream fight is the Canelo rematch, but I know I have to earn it. He gave me the opportunity before, and although we fell short, I believe that chance is still there for us to make it happen again. I’m looking to fight guys like Jaime Munguia, Caleb Plant, Jermall Charlo, and others. These are the kinds of fighters we’re targeting, and I truly believe that whichever fight we make this year is going to shake up the boxing world. 

TEAM CREDITS:

creative direction SEBASTIAN MEJIA
photography DIANGELO EDWARDS
styling GERALDINE HENRIQUEZ