Undisputed tremendous middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez (L) and Jaime Munguia shake palms throughout their official weigh-in at Toshiba Plaza on Might 3, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Alvarez will defend his titles in opposition to Munguia at T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas on Might 4, 2024. Christian Petersen/Getty Pictures/AFP
Canelo Alvarez places his undisputed tremendous middleweight crown on the road on Saturday when he faces undefeated Mexican compatriot Jaime Munguia in Las Vegas.
Alvarez, 33, will probably be chasing the 61st victory of his dazzling profession when he takes on Munguia on the T-Cellular Area in a bout scheduled to coincide with Mexico’s “Cinco de Mayo” festivities.
The 27-year-old Munguia begins as a heavy underdog in opposition to his extra illustrious countryman regardless of compiling a powerful unbeaten 43-0 report that features 34 knockouts.
READ: Canelo Alvarez, Jaime Munguia unusually well mannered forward of battle
Promoters have hyped the encounter as a possible altering of the boxing guard, with Munguia poised to dethrone an opponent who made his skilled debut means again in 2005.
Unsurprisingly, Alvarez — and oddsmakers — see it in a different way.
“I don’t care about experiences versus youth, I’m Canelo,” Alvarez mentioned this week. “I’ve all the things I have to win and I do know precisely what I have to do.
“That is going to be an amazing Mexican struggle. Munguia and I each come to win, however I’m going to win and win decisively.”
Alvarez, who holds the IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO tremendous middleweight belts, final fought in September, comfortably defeating Jermell Charlo by unanimous resolution.
However whether or not he nonetheless has the uncooked energy to deal with Munguia inside the gap stays an open query.
Alvarez has not stopped anybody since scoring an Eleventh-round technical knockout of Caleb Plant in 2021.
Munguia, against this, has constructed a popularity as a knockout artist, profitable 4 of his previous 5 fights inside the gap.
Underneath the steerage of coach Freddie Roach, the long-time coach of Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao, Munguia has honed an explosive, aggressive type that his camp believes can hassle Alvarez.
The flip facet, nonetheless, is that Munguia’s protection has typically appeared susceptible and in opposition to a counter-puncher of Alvarez’s pedigree, that might show expensive.
“Canelo has an excessive amount of expertise and has confronted nice fighters. I’ll not have the identical resume, however I’ve youth on my facet,” Munguia mentioned.
“I’m glad that he desires to knock me out, as a result of I include the identical mentality. I’m going to knock him out.”
READ: Canelo Alvarez, De La Hoya conflict forward of Munguia showdown
Promoter Oscar De La Hoya — who was concerned in an unpleasant confrontation with Alvarez at Wednesday’s closing press convention in Las Vegas — is satisfied that an upset is within the playing cards.
“I really consider this will probably be a altering of the guard for Mexican boxing, from Canelo to Munguia,” De La Hoya mentioned.
“Jaime has at all times dared to be nice and Saturday night time he’ll fulfill his dream and change into world champion.”
De La Hoya incensed Alvarez by dredging up the Mexican champion’s two failed drug checks in 2018, which Alvarez has at all times blamed on contaminated meat.
In a tirade laced with expletives and homophobic slurs, Alvarez accused De La Hoya — his former promoter till an acrimonious 2020 cut up — of “stealing” from his fighters.
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“He tries to steal from his fighters, that’s what he does,” Alvarez mentioned. “He’s mad I left Golden Boy. I’m the diamond in Golden Boy. Golden Boy just isn’t the identical with out me.”
