There is still a long way to go, but hard-punching super middleweight contender Edgar Berlanga (16-0, 16 KOs) believes that a showdown with Saul "Canelo" Alvarez will come together at some point in the future.

Berlanaga is growing his brand in rapid fashion - after picking up all of his victories by way of knockout in the very first round.

On Saturday night in Florida, Berlanga will return to the ring against Demond Nicholson.

There are many observers of the sport who wonder if Berlanga is capable of having the stamina to go the distance. There are obvious questions about his chin. Nobody knows just how good the 23-year-old Berlanga really is.

"Right now, I feel like a lot of the critics are possibly doubting me. But I get it," Berlanga told Metro.co.uk.

"They haven’t seen me go past the first round so obviously there is a question mark over my head with a lot of things. If I can go the rounds. If I can dig deep if someone takes me to those deep waters and I can’t swim.

"There are a lot of things, but I know and my team knows, I’ve been boxing for 16 years and they know I’m capable of doing everything. Some of these guys [I fought] had never been knocked out before and I did it in one round. For me man, Saturday I am going to be 100 percent ready for whatever comes. We have worked extremely hard in camp for this fight and I’m ready for everything. I don’t have no fear in my heart. I will do what I do best."

Berlanga's promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, says a showdown with Canelo is the mega-fight of the future, the next great fight between Mexico and Puerto Rico. 

Canelo, who holds the WBC and WBA titles at 168-pounds, will face WBO champion Billy Joe Saunders in a high stakes unification on May 8th from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

"The puzzle is connected together perfectly," Berlanga said of the Canelo fight. "I just have to continue to win in a remarkable fashion and it is going to come.

"He’s a star, I’m a future superstar. For me, I’ve just got to continue to win, continue to grow my brand and build the image and continue to win, that’s the most important thing. Everything there cannot happen unless I keep winning. But if I keep winning, keep looking good and keep performing, man, that fight is there."