Professional boxer Edgar Berlanga was arrested earlier this week in Polk County, Florida, facing serious charges of aggravated battery and battery following a heated physical altercation with the mother of his child.
Berlanga, who is signed to Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing and has established himself as a prominent name in the sport, was taken into custody and booked on Monday. According to court documents obtained by the Daily Mail, the fighter is alleged to have repeatedly slapped a woman before striking her on the head with a firearm.
The alleged victim, who shares a child with the professional athlete, detailed the harrowing sequence of events to law enforcement officers during their investigation. According to the police report, the pair had been visiting a local gun range earlier that afternoon on October 18. They left the facility together, with Berlanga operating the vehicle, when a verbal dispute erupted between them inside the car.
The situation quickly escalated from a heated argument into a physical confrontation. The victim claimed that Berlanga began repeatedly slapping her while continuing to drive. As the altercation worsened, the boxer allegedly reached into the vehicle’s cupholder, where a pistol was resting, and retrieved the firearm.
According to the official court and police documents, Berlanga then struck the woman on the forehead using the magazine well of the gun. The blow caused immediate physical pain and visible trauma. Realizing the danger of the situation, the woman attempted to escape from the moving vehicle and flee to safety, but Berlanga allegedly reached out, grabbed her arm, and forcefully pulled her back inside the car.
Despite the physical restraint, the woman persevered and eventually managed to break free, successfully exiting the vehicle. She immediately fled on foot to a nearby 7-Eleven convenience store, where she sought help and reported the incident.
Responding police officers arrived to interview the victim and documented physical evidence that corroborated her detailed account of the assault. Law enforcement officials noted visible swelling and bruising on the woman’s face, consistent with being struck. Furthermore, officers observed a significant rip in her shirt and bruising along her inner arm, which matched her claims that the boxer had forcefully grabbed her during the struggle to keep her inside the car.
During the police interview, officers questioned the victim regarding the weapon involved in the incident to determine if it was a real firearm. The woman confirmed that the gun was indeed real, adding that she had personally witnessed Berlanga fire the weapon multiple times at the gun range just twenty minutes prior to the domestic dispute.
While the police report noted that the victim expressed initial uncertainty regarding whether she wished to formally press charges, law enforcement officers proceeded with the arrest. Under standard domestic violence protocols and based on the visible injuries and witness statements, officers determined that an arrest was warranted regardless of the victim’s hesitation to move forward with prosecution.
Consequently, Berlanga was formally booked on felony charges of aggravated battery and a misdemeanor charge of battery involving touching or striking. Following his arrest, the boxer made his first appearance before a judge in a Florida courtroom on Tuesday. During the hearing, a judge set his bond at $16,000, according to official court records.
The arrest marks a troubling development in the personal life of the rising sports star, who has otherwise enjoyed significant attention and momentum inside the boxing ring. Berlanga boasts an impressive professional boxing record of 24 wins and 2 losses, with 19 of those victories coming by way of knockout. His explosive power and marketable personality have made him a prominent figure in the super middleweight division.
Among the defining moments of his professional career thus far was his high-profile championship bout against undisputed superstar Canelo Alvarez in September 2024. Berlanga challenged Alvarez for the coveted WBA, WBC, and WBO super middleweight titles. Although he fought hard through the championship rounds, Berlanga ultimately suffered his first professional defeat via a unanimous decision, though the matchup significantly elevated his global profile within the sport.
Following the bout with Alvarez, Berlanga continued to headline major fight cards. Earlier this year, the hard-hitting contender headlined a marquee boxing event at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City. In front of a passionate crowd, Berlanga delivered a dominant performance, securing a sensational seventh-round knockout victory over Steven Butler to reaffirm his status as a major contender in the division.
As the legal proceedings unfold in Florida, the future implications of the arrest on Berlanga’s boxing career and his promotional contract under Dana White’s banner remain to be seen. Local authorities and legal representatives continue to review the evidence surrounding the domestic incident as the case moves forward through the judicial system.
