Zuffa Boxing 09: Berlanga vs. Butler Brings the Promotion to New York

Zuffa Boxing 09 takes place on Sunday, 26th July 2026, at the Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, with Edgar Berlanga vs. Steven Butler headlining the promotion’s New York debut. The card is built around name recognition, local interest, and a strong eight-fight lineup that gives the event real depth beyond the main attraction.

Main Event

Edgar Berlanga enters the ring in his Zuffa debut looking to reset his career and get back on track after a two-fight skid, including a knockout loss to Hamzah Sheeraz last summer. Fighting in New York makes the bout feel especially important, since Berlanga is a Brooklyn native and one of the card’s biggest local draws.

Steven Butler brings momentum into the matchup after winning four straight fights and carrying a proven knockout reputation into the 10-round super middleweight contest. That contrast makes the fight interesting: Berlanga needs a statement win, while Butler arrives with enough confidence and power to make the night uncomfortable for the hometown favourite.

Co-Main And Support

Richardson Hitchins vs. Ricardo Salas adds another major bout to the top of the card, with Hitchins moving into a 12-round welterweight fight in front of a New York crowd. Jalil Hackett vs. Sergiy Derevyanchenko gives the main card a strong middleweight matchup that pairs a rising prospect with a seasoned veteran.

The prelims also bring serious intrigue. Otto Wallin vs. Vladyslav Sirenko stands out at heavyweight, while Kashaun Davis vs. Mihai Nistor adds another hard-hitting heavyweight contest to the undercard. Arnold Gonzalez vs. Emiliano Moreno and the featherweight and super-featherweight bouts help round out a card that looks balanced from top to bottom.

Why It Matters

This is an important night for Zuffa Boxing because it is the promotion’s New York debut. A successful launch would help establish credibility quickly, especially with a recognizable headliner and a card that mixes prospects, veterans, and marketable names.

For Berlanga, the stakes are personal as well as promotional. He needs a strong performance to halt the slide and reintroduce himself as a serious force at super middleweight, while Butler has the chance to spoil the homecoming and turn his own winning streak into something bigger.

Final Outlook

Zuffa Boxing 09 has the ingredients of a high-profile launch card: a hometown headliner, a solid co-feature, and enough competitive supporting bouts to keep the night from feeling top-heavy. If Berlanga delivers in front of the New York crowd, the event can start the promotion’s MSG chapter on a strong note.