Oscar de la Hoya is determined to add Edgar Berlanga to the Golden Boy Promotions roster.

The unbeaten super middleweight hit the free agent market earlier this month after nearly four years spent under the Top Rank banner. The two sides parted ways on amicable terms, just one month after Berlanga completed a six-month suspension following a June 11 win over Alexis Angulo where he was caught attempting to bite his opponent in the ninth-round of an eventual unanimous decision victory.

Not soon after Berlanga announced that he was free of any promotional restrictions, De La Hoya has name-dropped the Nuyorican during interviews and on social media. The Hall of Fame former six-division champ continued his aggressive run even while on site for an open media workout ahead of a Golden Boy show due to air on DAZN this Saturday from YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California.

“I want to give a shoutout to Berlanga,” De La Hoya told host Beto Duran, completely changing the subject after discussing this weekend’s show and other upcoming Golden Boy events. “Come talk to us, or we’ll fly to you.”

Berlanga (20-0, 16KOs) signed with Top Rank in March 2019, one month prior to his tenth pro fight. His Top Rank debut came on an April 2019 card at Madison Square Garden in New York City, barely 30 minutes from his Brooklyn home base. Berlanga fought eleven times under the Top Rank banner, a run which included the extension of his streak of sixteen consecutive first-round knockouts to begin his career.

The explosive run came to an end in April 2021, when Berlanga dropped Demond Nicholson four times but was forced to settle for an eight-round, unanimous decision victory. The 25-year-old Boricua has been extended the full distance in each of his last four starts, though while remaining a popular gate attraction both in New York and Central Florida.

Berlanga suffered an injury and a knockdown in an October 2021 points win over former title challenger Marcelo Coceres in Las Vegas. Wins over Steve Rolls and then Angulo—both at MSG’s Hulu Theater in 2022—failed to resonate beyond his hardcore fan base, even some of whom began to turn on the unbeaten boxer.

There existed curiosity of when he would return to the ring upon the end of his suspension last December. However, the absence of his name from several rolled out Top Rank dates in the first part of 2023 caused speculation that the two sides were no longer on the same page, with confirmation of an agreed-upon split revealed in mid-January.

Berlanga is managed by Keith Connolly, the 2019 Boxing Writers Association Manager of the Year who enjoys strong relationships with several promoters including Golden Boy.

“He’s an exciting fighter who has had an exciting career with Top Rank. I respect Bob Arum for what he’s done for his career,” noted De La Hoya, who spent much of his Hall of Fame career with Top Rank before forming his own company in 2002. “For some reason, they parted ways. It’s now time, to move on.

“Hey, shoutout to Berlanga.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox