The most current winner of the Canelo Alvarez sweepstakes is Jaime Munguia, who vanquished Jermall Charlo and Edgar Berlanga to land a May 4 fight in Las Vegas against boxing’s leading star. With that fight comes a possibility at boxing champion splendor, and naturally, the most significant payday of Munguia’s profession.
Munguia (43-0, 34 KOs) goes into the indisputable incredibly middleweight champion bout on the heels of a career-best efficiency, a ninth-round TKO triumph over John Ryder in January. Munguia has actually enhanced considerably under the assistance of Hall of Fame fitness instructor Freddie Roach.
And now he’ll satisfy his compatriot on Cinco de Mayo weekend. Canelo-Munguia is the very first all-Mexican face-off for a title above 160 pounds.
How did Canelo (60-2-2, 39 KOs) choose Munguia? What lies ahead for Canelo now that he’s back in the fold with PBC for a minimum of one fight? Let’s dive into it:
Does Munguia have any reasonable shot of whipping Canelo?
Munguia is a deserving challenger and perhaps made his shot after the method he beat Ryder. In contrast, Canelo wasn’t able to end up Ryder last May and went the range, though he did break the Englishman’s nose and handed him a thorough 12-round whipping.
And there’s little doubt that Canelo softened up Ryder for Munguia. Nonetheless, Munguia capitalized. His defense was his most significant defect as he developed his record, a flat-footed pressure fighter who depend on power shots. But against Ryder, Munguia was even more defensively accountable.
He held his guard up tight and utilized his jab a lot more efficiently because fight in January. Munguia boxed on his toes more, too. He’s come a long method given that his days as a 154-pound titleholder and seems gradually enhancing with each bout.
Naturally, it’s one matter to box with discipline against a fighter like Ryder, a first-rate fighter who retired later. It’s rather another to do so with success against among the sport’s elite.
While Munguia’s defense is much enhanced at age 27, it’s still a weak point. He’s typically large open for countershots, which must make him a simple target for Canelo’s power punches.
Canelo’s hand and foot speed will be diverse, too, as is experience. Canelo has actually shared the ring with all-time greats such as Floyd Mayweather, Gennadiy Golovkin (36 rounds) and Miguel Cotto. Sixty rounds with those fighters alone.
Munguia’s most difficult challenger, on the other hand, was Ryder.
Munguia might discover success early in the fight; he has the appropriate size and strength to take on Canelo. But when Canelo discovers his timing against the slow-footed Munguia, he must have the ability to land his vaunted power-punch mixes at will, when Munguia’s chin will be really evaluated for the very first time.
At 33, Canelo stays boxing’s leading star and is ranked the No. 4 pound-for-pound fighter by ESPN. He opened as a -650 preferred, per ESPN BET.
Wait, didn’t Canelo state weeks ago that he was going to fight an American?
Yes, the strategy was for Canelo to fight Jermall Charlo on May 4. Actually, the initial vision when he signed a 3-fight handle PBC in June was a bout with Jermall Charlo in September followed by a bout in May with twin sibling Jermell Charlo.
Jermall withdrew from the task due to individual matters before the fight was formally revealed, with the understanding he would fight Canelo in May. That was Canelo’s understanding, too, sources stated.
Canelo went on to control Jermell, scoring a knockdown in an uneven choice triumph in September. Jermell never ever took any possibilities in the bout and seemed content to go the range in a fight that was considerably frustrating through no fault of Canelo’s.
Jermall stayed among the preapproved names for Canelo’s last 2 battles, however it rapidly ended up being clear the match would be a hard cost May. It’s a huge occasion whenever Canelo battles, however there was little industrial need for a match with another Charlo after Jermell’s listless efficiency.
Any brotherly vengeance angle was dismissed, too, when Jermell didn’t appear to support Jermall because bout. His stock fell even more in November, when he stopped working to impress in a choice win against Jose Benavidez Jr. The bout was Charlo’s initially in 29 months.
Errol Spence Jr. was another preapproved name (by Canelo and PBC), however that was before he was TKO’d by Terence Crawford in a one-sided beatdown in July. Then, in January, Spence went through cataract surgical treatment, which left Jermall Charlo as the primary target for Canelo.
When Canelo and PBC could not accept terms for the Charlo match, Canelo was contractually enabled to check out other alternatives.
He talked about a return to DAZN for bouts with Munguia and Berlanga this year, however when those talks stalled, the champ went back to the table with PBC.
And now, Canelo stays in the fold with Al Haymon and against a much more interested challenger on Cinco de Mayo weekend.
What about his next bout in September? Is David Benavidez a practical choice for Canelo?
The most significant fight for Canelo stays against Benavidez, a volume-punching fighter who apparently has the most significant hazard to Canelo.
“The reason this fight is not taking place is since Canelo does not desire it to occur, plain and basic,” Benavidez informed ESPN last month. “I suggest, the cash exists, the anticipation from the fight fans exists. It would be a fantastic occasion.”
Canelo has actually revealed little interest in the match, however that does not suggest the fight will not occur. He will when again be a network and advertising totally free representative following the Munguia bout. Though he’s back with PBC, it’s a one-fight offer, sources stated.
Benavidez battles under the PBC banner, so Canelo’s continuing collaboration is excellent news for “The Mexican Monster.” Regardless of which network Canelo battles on, who he deals with is constantly completely as much as him. He calls the shots.
In the past, he’s revealed a desire to handle high-risk, low-reward fighters such as Austin Trout and Erislandy Lara. Now that he’s at a various phase of his profession, possibly Canelo sees things in a different way. But there was likewise chatter years ago he would never ever deal with GGG. Canelo went on to fight him 3 times.
If it’s not Benavidez in September, Crawford would represent another marquee choice. ESPN’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter is wanting to go up in weight for his summer season return and the welterweight champ has actually openly lobbied for a match with Canelo.
Canelo hasn’t revealed much interest in battling Crawford, commenting that he’s too little. But if Crawford can show himself at a greater weight against a powerful fighter, that might alter things.
More most likely for September are some less appealing alternatives Canelo is currently considering: Berlanga, Charlo and perhaps even Spence, presuming the fighter is healthy and prepared.
But very first thing’s very first: Canelo need to reverse Munguia in the 4th defense of his indisputable crown.
