Claressa Shields loves using her words to get under the skin of her opponents. Edgar Berlanga seemingly feels the same. The difference, however, is that Shields has no problem backing up every word she utters.

For the better part of two months, Berlanga clowned Hamzah Sheeraz. He called the lanky super middleweight contender chinny, a giraffe, and even claimed he was a lower-level fighter who stood no chance against him.

The trash-talking was good for the cameras but once the bright lights turned on and it was go time, Sheeraz made him eat every single word.

It was a bad night at the office for Berlanga at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York, this past Saturday. After a few successful rounds, Berlanga (23-2, 18 KOs) was clipped in the fourth and finished in the fifth.

Considering how he was bulldozed, Berlanga’s critics have come out of the woodwork. Shields though, wants everyone to get off his back.

“Edgar is a talented fighter,” Shields told The Ring recently. “Some may feel otherwise but he’s really talented.”

Berlanga, 28, will have a few months to plan his next move. The Puerto Rican ticket seller is an unsigned free agent and is coming off a damaging loss. His persona also took a hit.

By and large, Berlanga’s words and threats provided empty results. Shields, having known Berlanga for years now, wishes he did a little less talking and more action. Still, she knows it’s a part of his DNA. Next time, she hopes her good friend can go out there and take care of business.

“When you talk a certain way, you gotta back it up. He didn’t back it up this time but maybe next time he can do a little less of that and back it up.”