NEW YORK – July 9, 2025 – Fight week continued on Wednesday for Ring Magazine III as former unified super middleweight title challenger Edgar “The Chosen One” Berlanga and former WBC middleweight title challenger Hamzah Sheeraz as well as WBC Lightweight Champion Shakur Stevenson and WBC Interim lightweight titleholder William “El Camarón” Zepeda along with other fighters on the card stepped into the ring at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square for an open workout before fight night at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York. The event will take place on Saturday, July 12, live worldwide exclusively on DAZN PPV (5 p.m. ET) and is brought to you in association with Oscar De La Hoya for Golden Boy Promotions. Tickets are still available for purchase by visiting ticketmaster.com.

In the double-main event, Berlanga (23-1, 18 KOs) and Sheeraz (21-0-1, 17 KOs) will meet in a 12-round WBC super middleweight final title eliminator and whileStevenson (23-0, 11 KOs) defends his WBC title against Zepeda (33-0, 27 KOs) over 12 rounds.

Wednesday’s workout also saw appearances by WBC Junior Welterweight Champion Alberto Puello (24-0 10 KOs), former IBF 140 lb beltholder Subriel Matias(22-2, 22 KOs), and former WBA (Regular) Light Heavyweight Champion David Morrell (11-1, 9 KOs) before their bouts on Saturday. Japanese boxing prodigy and Ring Ambassador Reito Tsutsumi (1-0, 0 KOs), showed off his hands to the fans and media in attendance as well before he steps into the ring for a six-round featherweight fight.

Below is what the fighters had to say from their workouts:

Edgar Berlanga

What are your intentions for Saturday?

“I’m just locked in, man. I’m excited. I’m back home in my city. Tomorrow’s the press conference, so every day as we get closer to the fight I’m getting more locked in mentally. I want to perform, look good, shine, superstar savage.”

Any words for Oscar de la Hoya ahead of tomorrow’s press conference?

“F*** Oscar de la Hoya. I’ll see you tomorrow…maybe I’ll smack the s*** out of you.”

Any last message for Sheeraz?

“He’s a f****** muppet.”

Hamzah Sheeraz

What did you want to show people in your open workout?

“Just a little bit of what I’ve been practicing on. This is the first time I’ve done an open workout, so it was interesting. First time in New York, why not.”

How will your new weight class and time with Andy Lee affect this fight going into Saturday?

“After the last fight I’ve identified the changes that needed to be made, the weight was one of them.”

What’d you feel in yesterday’s face-off?

“You gotta remember now, a couple nights away from fight night, tensions are high. We just want to go in there and get cracking.”

Did you take anything away from yesterday’s face-off?

“Not really, no. Energy as expected and hopefully we both bring it on fight night.”

How do you prepare mentally for whatever Berlanga brings?

“To be fair, I don’t need to, I’m a very strong man in my faith so I’ve done exactly what I need to prevail.”

What’s the message for the fans in New York and back home?

“Tune in and for all the New York fans, this is my first one [fight] here in America. I look forward to putting on a performance for you all.”

Shakur Stevenson

What emotions are you feeling right now as we get closer to fight night in your backyard? 

“I’m locked in, I’m ready, I’m focused, I can’t wait to show off. I was made for this moment, so I can’t wait to show everybody what I’m made of.”

How are you visualizing the fight going down on Saturday?

“You’ll have to wait and see. I can’t wait to touch his chin. That’s all I’m focused on, doing my thing and coming out victorious.”

What do you have to say to the fans before Saturday?

“For the fans who have supported me, I appreciate you all. You’re the ones who I do this for and the ones I make sure I get up and do eight mile runs for. The hard work gets put in because of you. Everyone stuck with me through the dark times and we’re going to have a party on Saturday.”

William Zepeda

You’ve been influenced by this Cuban school of boxing. How has that changed your style?

“That style has definitely benefited me and my career. It’s one of the reasons why my trainers have helped me get to where I’m at, the combinations make them nice and long, being able to find the distance while also letting the opponent come in short.”

How will your style neutralize Shakur’s agility and speed?

“My style will definitely be implemented. Shakur is a fighter that’s always moving, but my punch volume will put pressure on him, which will be the key to success on Saturday.”

How does Mexico’s Gold Cup win motivate you?

“This is a great motivation. My fellow Mexicans have taken a very important win against the U.S. and that will only motivate me to get a win on Saturday – Mexico against the U.S.”

Alberto Puello

How deep are you going to have to dig to face someone like your opponent [Matias]?

“I’m a student of the sweet science of hitting and not getting hit, but I think having an opponent like Subriel Matias is going to bring that real wasp from within me to take that win on Saturday.”

How important is it for you to sway the pendulum in your favor?

“It is Puerto Rican territory, but it’s also Dominican territory because there are a lot of Dominicans here. I know I’m going to have the love and support of all the Dominican people.”

What do you have to say to your supporters?

“I’m making a strong call to all the Dominican people, not only to see the fight, but because I’m going to give them a real reason to celebrate me. I’m going to retain my championship.”

Subriel Matias

How important is it to have that knockout tool in your pocket on Saturday?

“Those are just numbers. I am very anxious and anticipating the kind of show I’m going to bring on Saturday.”

Many people want to know if you can actually handle someone from a distance?

“I only have one style and all the fans know it. I am here to actually implement my style. The question is can somebody like Puello withstand the kind of power that I bring. I’m not Sandor Martín, no one like that. I’m definitely bringing some serious power, so we’ll see.”

David Morrell

You’re part of that new generation of Cuban boxers, where do you get your inspiration from?

“My inspiration comes from my family first, and God, too. My girlfriend is a big supporter of me along with my team.”

When it comes to your boxing skills, what is your biggest influence to combine those two styles: Cuban school of boxing and the more aggressive, front-foot style?

“My brother and my dad, too. They’re teaching me…always telling me that I can do it. They tell me they look good, I know my moves. It’s a combination of different boxers into one…that’s me.”

Where did you get your dance moves from?

“I got my dancing from my mom. My mom is always teaching me and I couldn’t do anything before that. My mom is always telling me, ‘you go to a party and want a girl? You need to dance.’ She’s always teaching me and we have a good relationship.”

Reito Tsutsumi

Where did you get your technique from?

“I was able to train for three weeks on the west side, and that’s where I learned the technique.”

What are your thoughts on fighting in New York for your second professional fight?

“Last time I wasn’t able to finish like I wanted to, but this time I have the experience and I look forward to getting this one done.”