By Miguel Maravilla
Tijuana, Mexico’s former world champion and undefeated super middleweight Jaime Munguía (43-0, 34 KOs) held a media workout Tuesday afternoon at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California in preparation for his Mexican showdown against fellow Mexican and superstar, undisputed super middleweight world champion Saul “Canelo” Álvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs) of Guadalajara. The Mexican showdown goes down next Saturday, May 4 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas live on PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video.
“I’m very happy about this opportunity. I’m excited because there’s no better way to represent the Mexican fans than fighting on Cinco de Mayo weekend. I really believe that this is going to be an exciting and memorable fight,” Jaime Munguia told reporters at the media day. “I can’t wait to get in the ring on May 4,”
The 27-year-old Munguia is coming off an impressive stoppage over John Ryder early this year in January. Disposing of Ryder in nine rounds as the Englishman had gone the distance with Canelo in his previous fight. That victory set the stage for Munguia’s showdown with Canelo.
“I felt better than ever in that fight. It was an opportunity for me to showcase what I can do. A fight that catapulted me to this opportunity,” Jaime Munguia told Fightnews.com®.
Looking to take advantage of another big opportunity, Munguia is no stranger to when opportunity knocks. It was back in 2018, the young undefeated contender Munguia stepped up as a replacement opponent in his opportunity that saw him make his splash in the boxing world when he stopped Sadam Ali to capture his first world title. Now, Munguia has a greater opportunity in fighting the Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez.
“When I first got this fight, I was excited because I know how big of an opportunity this is. I’m 100% ready for this fight,” Munguia on opportunity striking. “Without a doubt. They are both big fights (Sadam Ali & Canelo) for me. I have more experience now and I am more motivated. It will be a great fight,”
“I remember we gave him the opportunity and with his ambition, hunger, and power. He was able to take advantage of the opportunity and become world champion. Jaime is still hungry and passionate about boxing. He wants to be the next face of Mexican boxing,” The Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya told Fightnews.com®.
Taking on one Mexico’s best champions, Munguia steps in now against Canelo. Alvarez successfully defended his undisputed crown this past September in annihilating super welterweight king Jermall Charlo for twelve rounds and scoring a knockdown in route to the decision win.
“I’ve always kept an eye on Canelo. Eventually you must fight the best. He is a very experienced fighter with a lot of skills that can do a lot in the ring. I’m ready for him,” Munguia said about Canelo. “I’m expecting whatever comes in that ring. Canelo is experienced but there are a lot of advantages for me,”
“Jaime is ready for Canelo. He has advantages, height, youth, his ability to withstand punches, punch output and power. Canelo throws about 10 punches per round, Jaime throws around 60 per round. That can be the difference,” De La Hoya said.
With the team in its final phases of training camp, there’s no question that Freddie Roach has prepared Munguia to gear up for the Mexican superstar Canelo. This was his second stint under Freddie Roach as Munguia was previously trained by Hall Famer, Tijuana’s Erik Morales.
“The truth is I have been received with open arms here at Wild Card. Camp has been great the preparation with Freddie, I have learned a lot and continuing to learn. It has been a solid camp, and we are ready,”
“I see him more comfortable and happier with Freddie. That’s important and makes a difference,” De La Hoya said about Munguia’s preparation.
With the fight over a week away, Munguia’s focused on what will be the biggest fight of his career. An all-Mexican showdown against Canelo. Looking to represent the Mexican border town of Tijuana which has produced many great fighters through its history such as Erik Morales and Antonio Margarito. Not only does Munguia look to become Tijuana’s next great champion but also looks to take the throne as the next great Mexican champion.
“I feel a win here will be the biggest win of my career. The biggest win in Tijuana boxing history. There have been some great boxing moments. This will be great moment for Mexican boxing and it will also be the greatest moment in my career,” Munguia concluded.
“Jaime Munguia is the next Mexican star. I see a passing of the torch for Mexican boxing. Expect a war. The greatest fights are always between two Mexican fighters,” De La Hoya stated.
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Excited to see just what this kid has got.
hopefully, he will do well
please make it a real fight mungia and dont follow the “$cript “, like most of canelo opponents that “forget” how to fight or throw real punches once they get in the ring . dont “sell out” jaime . you will need to win about 9 rds. just to get a draw or split decision and look for the referee to “stop it” if you get “hurt ” at any point in the fight. real boxing fans cant be fooled but they are taken advantage of.
I don’t think there was a need for the first sentence.
Mungia has been one of the most protected, well matched fighters. He has improved though I don’t see him the way Oscar describes (which is ok, he’s the promoter). Mungia has developed into a good (not great) fighter and something tells me that will be enough for a changing of the guard. Big upset.
I see Canyellow getting exposed even more by munguia; however, I just don’t see munguia getting any decision win against canelo. Munguia is going to have to knock him out or thoroughly dominate to get any win. Don’t see that happening.
Probably only happens if Canelo gets old on fight night.
I am starting to really look forward to this fight. I think Munguia can run Canrelo very close. An upset is a possibility.
Is Munguia the one that can finally dethrone the king? In way that he cannot comeback and worse than Mayweather and Bivol?
I am skeptical, but I hope and wish he can do it
What are you dumb? Dethrone the king? Bivol destroyed Canelo easy and chicken canelo certainly is not a king LOL #milennials
Destroyed? You’re kidding right.? Bivol did okay, Canelo gased out at the end but not destroyed, it was not a blow out.
Easy fight for Bivol who never stepped on the gas or got out of sirst gear. Canelo did not press it either because when he did he was getting lit up. Way too small for Bivol.
He throws LOTS of punches, he’s going to be open to be countered all night long. As long as it lasts.
He has a very good chin, but I don’t see this going to the cards.
For all the Canelo haters, he is bigger & younger than Canelo. I doubt that will be good enough though. And he has the albatross hanging on his neck, of that HUGE douchebag promoter
Canelo gonna kick some butt.
That’s why he picked this fight cause Canelo terrified of Benavidez, or should we call Canelo Canelita? LOL
so you’re a hater? no matter who canelo fights you’re gonna bitch and whine. we know your kind.
If it’s scripted it’ll be a glorified sparring session like when Canelo fought Chavez Jr. #CaneloDucksBenavidez
and kovalev, and charlo, and ggg-3, and jacobs, and smith, and gildirin, etc, etc, all sparring sessions, where they could not “hit” the “bo$$”. hopefully mungia doesnt follow the “$cript ” like bivol . he will be on the “wbc cancelled list “for some time like bivol was.
Canelo by decision. Munguia isn’t good enough to pass the torch to. The Boxing world wont allow it. And if Bivol coudn’t get him out of there we know Munguia wont. Canelo gets the nod and the Boxing world praying for the Benevidez fight. Its a carrot Canelo can dangle to ensure he secures a victory with the judges.
Maybe Munguia could follow the Ryan Garcia script and fail to make weight and come in at 171 lbs to bully Canelo and pay a cool 1.5 mil for the priveledge…only way I see him winning as his defense is open to being countered by Canelo…but I’ve been wrong a few times before on this site. You can throw all the punches you want, but you leave yourself susceptible to counters.
Canelo “broke” Ryder ,,you fought the shell
Canelo punch this boy out of the ring if munguias defense any better than derveychenko fight. Canelo rips his head off.
Munguia has the youth and the legs to move and give Canelo fits mid exchange, neutralizing his counters. If he can get past the 7th round without getting hurt and add continual pressure, he can pull away down the stretch as Canelo usually slows down.
Canelo has to get Munguias respect early. He doesn’t have to knock him out, but just enough to make Munguia hesitate before firing. If he can keep the fight at his slower pace, he should pull away with the victory. Canelo’s uppercut will be an important tool as Munguia gets sloppy-footed after exchanges as he goes forward. If there’s a stoppage in this fight, it’s Canelo with a TKO win around the 6th round.
I see a surprise performance by Munguia. I don’t think he has a high ring IQ, but if Roach can get home to follow the game plan and put steady pressure on Canelo’s older legs, it will be a nail biter to the end, raising his stock even further.
Another PPV for Canelo now on Prime. This is why Boxing is losing fans. I used to love watching fights on Espn, HBO, Showtime and going further bsck to Tuesday Night Fights on USA Network. Before that Wide World of Sports on ABC had fights on Saturday afternoons. CBS also had fights on Saturday. You could watch Ray Mancini, Sugar Ray Leonard, Hearns, Camacho, Duran, Holmes, Hagler, Ali, Maywesther for free. You got invested in their back story. Why they fought and who their toughest opponent was. Now you are asked to spend $69 for a PPV to watch an champ take on an average fighter. PPV has its place but not for this type of fight.
Very true statement. The only thing I disagree with is watching Mayweather for free. There is nothing free with that man. He charges people just to take a picture with him. Otherwise, you hit the nail on the head, Don.
Canelo is a great fighter. Smart, powerful, humble, hard to beat. I haven’t seen anything in Munguia to feel that he can overcome that. I don’t care what De La Hoya says, since his duty is to hype the fight. Unless there are loopholes that allow Munguia to enter the ring weighing 15-20 lbs more than Canelo, I don’t think Munguia stands a chance.