Eddie Hearn might have had a working relationship with Edgar Berlanga once upon a time, but he isn't so sure of the Brooklynite's chances against his Ring III opponent Hamzah Sheeraz on Saturday night.

Berlanga (23-1, 18 KOs) and Sheeraz (21-0-1, 17 KOs) will square off in a 12-round main event at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York, and it'll be streamed live on DAZN PPV. The build-up has been fraught with unsavoury antics and verbal sparring, much of it coming from the side of Berlanga.

At Thursday's press conference in the Big Apple, Berlanga spent the majority of it clashing with Golden Boy's Oscar De La Hoya and even resorted to brandishing a wig, lingerie and high heels in front of those present before throwing the clothing in the promoter's direction.

Hearn, who is a promoter of the event and in the corner of Shakur Stevenson for his WBC lightweight title defence against William Zepeda, has warned that Berlanga needs to be careful he doesn't take his eye off the ball.

"Edgar's actually a good guy, I think he's got a good heart," Hearn told The Ring's Louis Hart. "Has the money gone to his head? I still think he works hard and he's a good fighter.

"He's got to be careful that he's still focussed for this fight, the [presser antics] were obviously very premeditated and you can get caught up with all the [expletive] surrounding it."

Sheeraz will be making his 168-pound debut against Berlanga after a disappointing split draw with Carlos Adames for the Dominican's WBC middleweight title in February.

Before that, Sheeraz captained Team Queensberry in their 5v5 matchup with Matchroon last summer, knocking out Austin "Ammo" Williams in the 11th round on the Saudi bill.

Though Hearn has worked with Berlanga, guiding the 28-year-old to a money-spinning fight with Canelo Alvarez, the Matchroom chief likes the way Sheeraz has carried himself and thinks the Ilford man has a real chance of picking up an away win.

"I've got to be honest with you," Hearn added. "I loved what I saw from Hamzah Sheeraz, I think he looks razor-focused. Frank Warren and Spencer Brown, they were giving it to Edgar in the head-to-head.

"And now there's a real solidarity in that team that's like ... 'Let's do this'. If Edgar isn't switched on he'll come unstuck against Sheeraz.

"It's difficult because I worked with Edgar, I do like the guy. I do really like and respect Hamzah as well, I think he's a fine young man and he's an Essex boy. I think he's got a great shot here, I really do."