NEW YORK — Hamzah Sheeraz saw a vastly different fight between Canelo Alvarez and Edgar Berlanga than the one Berlanga remembers.

Whereas Berlanga boasts about a competitive contest in which he busted up Alvarez’s face, Sheeraz recalls a reluctant challenger who approached pretty cautiously after getting knocked him down during the third round. Mexico’s Alvarez beat Brooklyn’s Berlanga by big margins on all three scorecards Sept. 14 and retained his Ring, WBA, WBC and WBO super middleweight titles at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

England’s Sheeraz (21-0-1, 17 KOs), who will box Berlanga on July 12, belittled his recollection of the biggest fight of the super middleweight contender’s career eight months ago.

“He respected Canelo too much,” Sheeraz told The Ring. “That is the truth. He used his arm as an excuse. But the bottom line is he respected Canelo too much. When he dropped him, I think he felt the power. And people like him … you’ve heard the quote empty cans make the most noise — and that’s what he is, he’s an empty can.

“Because if there was any substance and true warrior in him, he woulda got up and had it out with Canelo and not tried to box. And that’s what he done. And a lotta people do that with Canelo. I think it’s definitely easier said than done because when you’re in there it’s a different story. But when you’re fighting someone like Canelo, even if you go out on your shield you’ve given it your all.”

A left hook by Alvarez knocked Berlanga to the canvas 1:04 into the third round. Berlanga reached his feet before referee Harvey Dock counted to five.

Alvarez attempted to finish Berlanga (23-1, 18 KOs), who wasn’t badly hurt by that left hook. Berlanga then traded with him to let the undisputed super middleweight champion know he wouldn’t go away easily.

Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) still won 10 rounds apiece according to judges Max De Luca and Steve Weisfeld, both of whom scored him a 118-109 winner. Judge David Sutherland scored three rounds for Berlanga, who lost 117-110 on his card.

“He reckons he stood there and had a war with him,” Sheeraz said. “But the evidence is there. I watched it on YouTube and there was no war happening there. He caught Canelo with a good, few shots, but that’s boxing for you. But listen, not to take it away from the guy, I think he’s a good fighter. He’s a good fighter. But when it comes to him and Canelo, he’s definitely delusional about that.”

Berlanga, 27, is listed by DraftKings as a slight favorite to beat Sheeraz in their 12-round, 168-pound bout on The Ring’s pay-per-view card, “Ring III,” on July 12 at Louis Armstrong Stadium, a tennis venue in Queens. Sheeraz, 25, will make his debut in the super middleweight division, in which The Ring ranks Berlanga as its No. 9 contender.