Kody Phillips Edgar Berlanga Custom Boxing Outfit First L…

This weekend, professional boxing’s fashion show continues. Brooklyn native Edgar Berlanga has tapped New York-based menswear designer Kody Phillips to design the ring gear for his March 15 bout in Orlando against Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz. 

Berlanga certainly enjoys his fair share of flashy outfits. A peek at his Instagram will reveal him in items like Pelle Pelle leather jackets, Louis Vuitton shades with monogram lenses, and Chrome Hearts jerseys. In the ring, he has worn trunks to resemble the Puerto Rican flag and custom shorts that featured Who Decides War’s signature stained glass window motifs. His fight attire by Phillips is more subdued than his usual looks, but it is a great step in expanding his scope in the fashion world.

“I wanted to make sure I looked fly, but that I was still trying out different things,” Berlanga tells Complex. “This one is much more classy and high fashion, so it’s different for me.”

The black satin ensemble has been adorned with Phillips’ signature design elements. Red and black rope trim nods to the designer’s popular Lasso Shirts, and the shorts are an updated version of his high-waisted Fancy Boxer Shorts. The flap pockets on each leg are also commonly used across the designer’s regular-collection hoodies and cargo pants. Overall, Phillips’ goal was to design items that were functional in the ring without cutting any corners or compromising the quality he’s become known for.

Instead of a traditional robe, Phillips made a first-of-its-kind Lasso Jacket for Berlanga to wear on his walk to the ring. “The Lasso Jacket has been one of our most anticipated pieces, so it was cool to make the first custom one for something like this,” says Phillips. Details include bedazzled cuffs, “EB” and “KP” on the lapels to represent Berlanga’s and Phillips’ initials, and “Chosen One”—Berlanga’s nickname—spelled out across the back of the jacket and front of the shorts. All of it is accentuated by 5,000 hand-placed crystals that will shimmer under the bright lights on fight night. The intricate making process had Phillips and his team working down to the wire to complete the look in time. 

“I really like a challenge,” says Phillips. “Being able to intersect fashion and sports to create something that is luxurious but also functional was really cool.”

Berlanga’s special gear is the latest example of fashion’s evolution within the world of boxing that we have seen throughout the 2020s. Fighters aren’t just seeking out custom attire from big fashion houses; they’re taking things one step further. By tapping into up-and-coming designers, they can flex that their fashion knowledge goes beyond historic luxury brands and buzzy streetwear labels. 

“I think it’s good for the culture of boxing,” says Berlanga. “We’re showing people that you can be into high fashion as a boxer. And that’s dope.”