LAS VEGAS — The energetic, unexpected assistance for Jaime Munguia was promptly snuffed out with a trademarked Canelo Alvarez mix on Saturday, a left hook followed by an ideal uppercut that planted the opposition on the canvas for the very first knockdown of his 44-fight profession.
Alvarez, boxing’s leading star, continued to develop momentum after that fourth-round knockdown and won the fight with his cleaner, sharper, harder shots to keep his indisputable very middleweight champion in an all-Mexican fight on Cinco de Mayo weekend before 17,492 at T-Mobile Arena.
Alvarez’s 4th effective defense of his 4 168-pound titles was made main through ratings of 115-113, 117-110 and 116-111. ESPN scored it 118-109. This was the 3rd successive fight that Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) scored a knockdown. He likewise dropped Jermell Charlo and John Ryder in choice wins in 2015.
“I’m really happy that all the Mexicans are here viewing us,” Alvarez, ESPN’s No. 4 pound-for-pound fighter, stated. “… He’s a terrific fighter. He’s strong, he’s clever. … But he’s a little sluggish. I can see every punch. Sometimes he got me due to the fact that I get so positive. … I did truly excellent and I feel happy about it. … I’m the very best fighter today for sure.”
Munguia, the previous junior middleweight titleholder, was contending on the elite level of the sport for the very first time. And he no doubt acquitted himself well. The 27-year-old from Tijuana battled with enthusiasm and revealed an enhanced jab in his 2nd fight with Hall of Fame fitness instructor Freddie Roach.
The pressure and hostility of Munguia worked over the very first 2 rounds, however Alvarez ultimately timed his challenger, as he typically does. “I take my time,” Alvarez stated. “That’s why I have a great deal of experience. … I have 12 rounds to win the fight and I did.”
Munguia (43-1, 34 KOs) won 3 rounds all: the opening frame together with Rounds 3 and 9. He boxed well, however his punches never ever appeared to have adequate pop to acquire Alvarez’s regard.
Even when Munguia would pin Alvarez on the ropes and dump, Alvarez had the ability to avert the majority of those punches and after that return a single shot that backed the opposition up. Then came the knockdown in Round 4, and Munguia’s legs never ever appeared to recuperate. The experience variation was clear, too, with Alvarez a first-ballot Hall of Famer who has actually shared the ring with virtually all the leading names around his weight throughout his run.
“I came out strong and was winning the early rounds,” Munguia stated through an interpreter. “I let my hands go, however he’s a fighter with a great deal of experience. The loss injures due to the fact that it’s my very first loss and I felt strong. There’s no doubt I would have beaten anybody else this evening. … He’s a fighter who produces a great deal of issues.”
Down the stretch, Alvarez had the ability to stun Munguia on a number of celebrations, turning his hostility against him. Alvarez’s elite counterpunching capability, more effective punches and capability to avert were all excessive to conquer for Munguia. But all is not lost.
Alvarez, 33, credits the very first loss of his profession, a 2013 defeat to Floyd Mayweather as a 20-year-old, as the efficiency that assisted develop him into an all-time terrific.
Munguia, ESPN’s No. 4 very middleweight, went into the ring on the heels of his career-best success, a ninth-round TKO of Ryder in January. Munguia’s previous trip was called ESPN’s 2023 Fight of the Year, a bout vs. Sergiy Derevyanchenko where a final-round knockdown made Munguia the choice.
Alvarez hasn’t completed a fighter inside the range because he beat Caleb Plant in November 2021 to end up being indisputable very middleweight champ.
“I’m thankful that I offered him this chance,” stated Guadalajara’s Alvarez, who closed as a minus-550 favorite on ESPN BET. “Munguia is a terrific guy and a terrific champ. He’s going to have a terrific profession.”
The promo was eclipsed by the restored fight in between Alvarez and his previous longtime promoter, Hall of Fame fighter Oscar De La Hoya. For the very first time because November 2019, Alvarez and De La Hoya, Munguia’s co-promoter, shared a phase throughout fight week, and Wednesday’s press conference appeared as time did little to relieve old injuries.
De La Hoya took goal at Alvarez and discussed his unsuccessful doping test ahead of his 2018 rematch with Gennadiy Golovkin. Alvarez reacted that De La Hoya takes from fighters and referenced GGG, who took legal action against Oscar’s Golden Boy Promotions in 2022 looking for up of $3 million he thought was owed from that rematch.
De La Hoya informed ESPN that GGG was paid every dollar due to him and the following day sent out Alvarez a cease-and-desist letter requiring that he withdraw his “defamatory accusations.”
Alvarez’s lawyer, Gregory M. Smith, informed ESPN that Alvarez “stated what he stated.”
Alvarez acknowledged that he was more identified to win following the procedures, and while he didn’t end up Munguia inside the range, he undoubtedly won as soon as again in dominant style.
“I’ve constantly stated [Canelo is] a great fighter in the ring, however this experience for Jaime will simply take him to another level,” De La Hoya stated. “It’s similar to Mayweather and Canelo. … Canelo got schooled and after that he ended up being the face of boxing.”
Now, the weeps for Alvarez to fight David Benavidez will return once again as Alvarez gets ready for his anticipated return on Mexican Independence Day weekend in September.
“If the cash’s right … I can fight [Benavidez] today,” Alvarez stated. “I do not provide a s—. It’s just a matter of cash at this moment. Everybody is requesting whatever.
“When I battled [Erislandy] Lara, Austin Trout, Miguel Angel Cotto, [Floyd] Mayweather, Billy Joe Saunders, GGG, everyone stated I do not wish to fight them, and I battled all of them. So today … I can do whatever I desire.”
This was Alvarez’s initially fight against a fellow Mexican because he beat Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., in May 2017, and his seventh heading bout on Cinco de Mayo Weekend. Canelo has actually won 4 successive battles because he went up to 175 pounds for a choice loss to Dmitry Bivol in May 2022.
