Jaime Munguia admitted he was outsmarted by Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in a fight that resulted in his first loss.
After an encouraging start in their undisputed super middleweight title fight at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the 27-year-old Munguia was knocked down in the fourth round, the first of his career. Victory when he stands up.
Alvarez started clearly targeting Munguia's body in an attempt to slow him down, but the right uppercut that forced the knockdown signaled that he was starting to pursue the knockout more consistently, and the final Gradually, he began to win with the precision and quality of his punches. .
If Munguia emerged with a rise to fame, Alvarez, 33, proved he's still one of the best fighters in the world. According to Alvarez, the challenger's most high-profile bout, which will take place in front of a mostly Mexican crowd of 17,492 over Cinco de Mayo weekend, will give him an even more challenging opportunity and a chance to step into the ring. It is certain that it will continue to grow.
“It's a great experience. I got off to a really good start,” Munguia said. “Very good. I was feeling very good, but then he used his experience and started hitting me. But I got off to a very good start.
“When he hit the uppercut, I was more surprised than hurt. I was surprised, but I wasn't hurt. It was a good punch, that's all.
“His condition was great. I was winning in the first round, but after the knockdown I started to get into his game and he started beating me with experience.
“I don't think he's invincible. He's already had two losses. [to Floyd Mayweather and Dmitrii Bivol]. He's a very good fighter, but I don't think he's invincible.
“I started changing my game in a desperate attempt to get that knockdown back.I think with his experience, he started to bring me into his game with counterpunches.
“I think it was a great experience. I was always trying to put on a great show for everyone and I was looking for a fight. It was a great fight.
“I believe I caught him with some good punches and I really think I hurt him a little bit in some rounds. I think he was concerned about my punches to the body.”
Saturday's fight was Munguia's last with co-promoter Golden Boy Promotions (also represented by Zanfer Promotions), but the deal is expected to be extended.
Oscar De La Hoya, who previously promoted Alvarez and discussed him at Wednesday's press conference, said Munguia can grow through defeat, just like Alvarez did after his loss to Floyd Mayweather in 2013.
“Jaime had a great performance against the current face of boxing,” De La Hoya said. “I have nothing to gain from 'Canelo'. I've always said he's a good fighter in the ring.
“It's like Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo. Canelo went through his education and then became the face of boxing. But this experience is going to take Jamie to a new level.
“It's like Mayweather and Canelo, the same thing. Canelo went to school and then became the face of boxing. A good fighter.
“Same with Munguia, he has no schooling but he will gain experience and become a better fighter, so this is just the beginning for Jaime.”