Professional boxer Edgar Berlanga has been arrested in Florida on suspicion of aggravated battery after police alleged that he struck the mother of his child with a pistol during an argument.
The incident is said to have happened on 18 October in Polk County, where Berlanga was driving with the woman. According to court documents, the argument escalated and police allege that he slapped her before hitting her on the head with a firearm.
The woman reportedly tried to leave the vehicle, but officers said Berlanga grabbed her arm to stop her. She eventually broke free and ran to a 7-Eleven, where bystanders contacted police.
Officers said they saw swelling and bruising on her forehead which appeared consistent with her account. She also told them the pistol was real, saying the pair had been at a gun range about 20 minutes earlier.
The woman did not want to press charges, according to the report, but police proceeded with an arrest because the case involved alleged domestic violence.
Berlanga was booked into Pasco County Jail on charges of felony aggravated battery and misdemeanor battery involving touching or striking. He appeared in court for the first time on Tuesday, when bond was set at 16,000 dollars.
The 29-year-old boxer has a professional record of 24 wins and two defeats, including 19 victories by knockout. He lost a unanimous decision to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in September 2024 in a bout for the WBA, WBC and WBO super-middleweight titles.
Berlanga is signed to Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing. In July, he headlined an event at Madison Square Garden, where he stopped Steven Butler in the seventh round.
