(June 10th) A tiger in New York! Two-time world title challenger Steven Butler will once again get a chance to shine on the big stage, as he will face the American puncher Edgar Berlanga on June 26 in the main event of a Zuffa Boxing card at the Infosys Theater of the Madison Square Garden, broadcast throughout North America on Paramount+.

“I can’t compare Berlanga to Janibek and Murata, but I can assure you that the Steven Butler who will fight in New York has nothing in common with the boxer he was five years ago. The power has always been there, but with the maturity he now possesses and the physical strength he has developed at super middleweight, I would even go so far as to say that a Steven who sticks to his game plan is the favorite against Berlanga,” said EOTTM President Camille Estephan.

The numbers speak for themselves since Steven Butler (38-5-1, 32 KOs) moved up to the super middleweight division: four fights, four wins, four knockouts. He first destroyed Argentine brawler Fernando Farias in the opening round, then avenged his loss to surprising Mexican Jose Macias in five rounds. Last November, in a local showdown, he became the first man to stop Montreal’s Stephane Fondjo, this time in the ninth round. Finally, in his most recent bout in March 2026, the fighter nicknamed “Bang Bang” made his DAZN debut in style by crushing the upset-artist from Switzeland Ramadan Hiseni in just two rounds.

“I’ve proven that I’m ready to return to the international stage. I’ve fought in Japan, so New York doesn’t intimidate me. In fact, it’s perfect because it’s not too far from my training camp in Connecticut. As for the rest, I’m working hard, and I plan to seize my opportunity in New York. You’ll see. This is my moment,” added the powerful Montreal puncher, Steven Butler.

Meanwhile, Edgar Berlanga (23-2, 18 KOs) captured the imagination of boxing fans a few years ago by scoring his first 18 professional victories by knockout, all in the opening round. After winning his first 22 fights, the self-proclaimed “King of New York” challenged Saul "Canelo" Alvarez for the undisputed world championship in September 2024, ultimately losing by unanimous decision. He then returned to the win column against Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz, the Olympian who is set to face Moreno Fendero next, before suffering another defeat in his most recent outing last July, when he was knocked out in the fifth round by current WBO super middleweight world champion Hamzah Sheeraz.

Also on the card, former junior welterweight world champion Richardson Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs) will make his welterweight debut against Mexican contender Ricardo “Magic Man” Salas (24-2-2, 18 KOs).

Tickets for the event, presented by Zuffa Boxing and broadcast on Paramount+, will go on sale July 19th through Ticketmaster

Zuffa Boxing, the joint venture between Dana White, TKO Group and Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, is making major waves in the professional boxing industry yet again.

Officially launched in January 2026, the new promotion seeks to introduce a centralized, UFC-style league model featuring a single world title and unified internal rankings. Their partnership with Turki Alalshikh, along with a distribution deal with Paramount+, is shifting the sport’s power dynamic.

The company is headquartered in Las Vegas and aspires to revolutionize the boxing landscape by applying a centralized, promoter-driven model similar to the UFC’s approach, including single belts and unified matchmaking for major titles. White first floated the Zuffa Boxing idea following the 2017 Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather crossover event, citing the need to modernize and streamline boxing promotions, but it wasn’t until June 2025 that the brand was officially launched through high-profile partnerships and funding from Saudi Arabia.

The inaugural Zuffa Boxing event is the blockbuster September 13, 2025, Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford super-fight, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, and streaming globally on Netflix—marking a first for a major boxing match of this scale. The promotion is expected to stage 12 events annually for five years, totaling 60 shows, with four of these billed as “mega-fights” similar to the Canelo-Crawford clash.

Zuffa Boxing's first numbered event was Zuffa Boxing 01, held on January 23, 2026, at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The inaugural show was headlined by Irish middleweight prospect Callum Walsh against Carlos Ocampo, with Walsh winning by unanimous decision.

Media rights negotiations are ongoing, with Paramount Plus as the leading contender for a broadcast deal in the U.S., while select events may continue behind pay-per-view, but the majority could stream widely and even air on CBS. Zuffa Boxing has already organized a prospect-filled card before its first main event, showcasing its commitment to developing new talent alongside marquee matchups.

Through its social media presence and engagement, Zuffa Boxing has signaled a fully modern approach to promotion, with global streaming, high-profile partnerships, and a strong connection to UFC infrastructure and talent. This new venture represents one of the most ambitious attempts yet to reshape professional boxing, bringing together some of combat sports’ biggest players and promising regular major events, innovative matchmaking, and a unified promotional vision.