By ISABEL BALDWIN, US ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Published: 17:13 EST, 28 October 2026 | Updated: 17:14 EST, 28 October 2026
Professional boxer Edgar Berlanga was arrested earlier this week in Polk County, Florida, facing serious criminal charges including aggravated battery following an alleged physical altercation with the mother of his child.
Berlanga, a prominent rising figure in the professional boxing world who is signed to Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing, was taken into custody and booked on Monday on one count of misdemeanor battery and one count of felony aggravated battery. The arrest stems from a violent dispute that allegedly broke out inside a moving vehicle as the couple was returning from a local shooting range.
According to court documents and police reports obtained by the Daily Mail, the alleged victim, who shares a son with the boxer, detailed a frightening sequence of events that began during a heated argument while Berlanga was behind the wheel. The woman told law enforcement officers that the verbal altercation escalated quickly into physical violence while they were traveling away from the firearms range on October 18.
The situation reportedly deteriorated when Berlanga began repeatedly slapping her face while driving. The victim claimed that during the course of the dispute, the boxer reached over into the vehicle’s center console cupholder and retrieved a handgun. Police documents state that Berlanga then struck the woman on the forehead using the magazine well of the pistol.
The woman told investigators that she immediately attempted to escape from the moving vehicle to flee her attacker. However, she alleged that Berlanga grabbed her by the arm and physically pulled her back inside the car against her will. Despite the attempt to detain her, she ultimately managed to break free, exit the vehicle, and run for safety to a nearby 7-Eleven convenience store.
Responding law enforcement officers met with the victim and observed physical injuries that reportedly corroborated her account of the assault. According to the police report, officers noted visible swelling and bruising on the woman’s face. In addition, they observed a noticeable rip in her shirt and bruising on her inner arm, which matched her claims that Berlanga had forcefully grabbed her during the struggle inside and outside the vehicle.
During questioning, officers asked the woman whether the firearm used in the assault was a real weapon. She confirmed that it was authentic, noting that she had personally witnessed Berlanga fire the weapon multiple times at the gun range approximately twenty minutes before the domestic dispute erupted in the car.
Although the police report indicated that the victim was initially unsure whether she wanted to formally press charges against the professional athlete, law enforcement proceeded with the arrest regardless. Under standard legal protocols surrounding domestic violence incidents, officers determined that an arrest was warranted based on the physical evidence and the circumstances of the allegations.
Following his booking on felony aggravated battery and misdemeanor battery touch/strike charges, Berlanga made his initial appearance before a judge on Tuesday. During the court hearing, a bond was formally established at $16,000, per official court records.
The arrest marks a troubling development in the career of the 29-year-old athlete, who has established himself as a notable name in the super middleweight division. Berlanga boasts an impressive professional boxing record of 24 wins and 2 losses, with 19 of those victories coming by way of knockout.
His rising profile in the sport reached a significant milestone in September 2024, when he secured a high-profile bout against pound-for-pound star Canelo Alvarez. In that championship clash, Berlanga challenged Alvarez for the prestigious WBA, WBC, and WBO super middleweight titles. Although he ultimately suffered a defeat by way of a unanimous decision, the fight thrust him firmly into the international spotlight and established him as a premier contender in the weight class.
More recently, Berlanga continued to headline major boxing cards, showcasing his punching power on the sport’s biggest stages. Earlier this year, he headlined a high-stakes event at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City, where he delivered a decisive seventh-round knockout victory over Steven Butler, further cementing his reputation as a dangerous puncher inside the squared circle.
The ongoing legal proceedings in Polk County now cast a shadow over his athletic career as the case moves forward through the Florida court system.
