Rising boxing star Edgar Berlanga is taking his style aspirations into the ring.
For his March 15 match against Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz in Orlando, the 27-year-old professional fighter wanted to make a statement with his look. So, his creative director Sebastian Mejia put him in touch with fashion designer Kody Phillips — and the rest is history.
“The attention to detail he gives to his craft reminds me of myself, especially when I’m in the ring or in the gym,” Berlanga tells PEOPLE of Phillips. “I feel the same way he does. He’s very detailed with what he does, and he’s someone who builds his brand.”
“I have a lot of respect for him, and I feel like we mesh really well together,” he adds.
In the ring — where he defeated Gonzalez-Ortiz in the opening round — Berlanga wore a black jacket with an embellished collar and sleeves, as well as the embellished words of his moniker (“Chosen One”) emblazoned across the back. The boxer also wore a matching pair of black shorts.
Diangelo Edwards
Edgar Berlana.
Phillips knew he wanted the ensemble to be “black, sleek and designed for mobility,” but the project came with its challenges.
The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!
“It was really difficult at first trying to blend Edgar’s style with mine,” he tells PEOPLE. “The pieces he liked didn’t quite align with what I originally envisioned, so I was definitely struggling a bit in the beginning.”
Diangelo Edwards
Edgar Berlanga.
He continues, “But once we landed on some fancy welted pockets, a few rhinestones, and a touch of lasso trim, everything came together effortlessly.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Diangelo Edwards
Edgar Berlanga.
For Berlanga, the final result perfectly captured his essence.
“It’s something I could go outside in,” he explains. “Especially the jacket. I could wear it to the club, out to eat, or just to run errands. That’s the vibe and look I wanted to give, a calm dope outfit that would grab a lot of people’s attention.”
Following a successful collaboration with Phillips, Berlanga is “diving into fashion” head-first.
“I’ve always felt like I’m someone who can do different things and stand out,” he says. “I just didn’t have the right people guiding me until now… I’m excited to keep working with designers and fashion brands, build my brand, and get more involved in the fashion world.”
He continues, “I love looking different and trying new things, and fashion fits me perfectly. I can wear anything and make it my own. I’ve got the look, the height, and the charisma for it. I’m looking forward to seeing what the future holds and I’m ready for it all.”
As for Phillips, he says he really loved this collab and he’s down for more of this in the future. “It turned out to be really fun and something I’d love to do again. So, athletes, please hit me up — I want to make you something!”
Read the original article on People
