Jaime Munguia believes he will shock the world by upsetting Canelo Alvarez on May 4, taking his fourth super middleweight title and potentially knocking him out.
Fans and oddsmakers aren't giving the undefeated 27-year-old Munguia (43-0, 34 KOs) much of a chance to beat superstar Canelo (60-2-2, 39 KOs), but he thinks they're doing it all wrong. I intend to prove that I did. To win.
Must win for Canelo
Munguia's promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, believes he can do Canelo's job and take the torch from him to become the next big star in the 168-pound division.
It is unclear whether Canelo will retire if he loses to Munguia. Because if you can't beat this guy, it will be a signal that he doesn't have the power anymore. There are probably better fighters than him in the super middleweight division, such as David Benavidez and David Morrell.
That's why this fight is so important for Canelo. This is a test for him to see if he still figures it out after 19 years in the pro ranks. It's been a few years since Canelo fought anyone, losing to Dmitry Bivol in 2022.
Munguia will be a good barometer for whether it's time for Alvarez to hang up his gloves, or if he should hang on a little longer. With a net worth of over $200 million, Canelo has enough money to live 10 lives, so he won't have to worry about finances when this comes to an end.
dangerous weakling
“We have to be very careful and very smart because we know he has a really good punch and he has good defense. But before As I said, I believe it will be a great fight,'' Jaime Munguia told the media about his May 4 title challenge against undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez.
Canelo's legacy is at stake in this fight. Canelo has shown signs of decline in recent fights against Jermell Charlo, John Ryder, Gennady Golovkin, and Bivol.
If Canelo struggles or loses against Munguia, it may be time for him to retire and escape the heartbreak of being bitten by David Morel or Benavidez. He cannot avoid these two fighters for the rest of his life.
“This is not something that was given to me, it was earned with a lot of effort. That's something that not many fighters have done, and I want you to respect that work,” Munguia said of his decision to fight Canelo. David Benavidez said, reacting to being told that some believe he should have fought.
knockout of the heart
“I believe I'm pushing and I promise you I'm going to do everything I can to get him to fight with me. I don't know at the moment, but a knockout is a possibility. In the ring. If it goes up, anything can happen at any time,” Munguia said.
It would be surprising if Munguia knocked out Canelo, but it's possible. He has a high-volume attacking style to get the job done and is more motivated to go for the finish than Bivol when he traps Canelo on the ropes.
Bivol pounded Canelo with a five-punch combination, and the referee looked on as if trying to shake him off. Munguia won't back down even if he injures Canelo on May 4th. It will be interesting to see Canelo's reaction after the knockout loss. Will they admit defeat or come up with excuses to muddy the waters and try to get away?
“We're looking at people with different styles. Someone who's fast, someone who defends well. We're still looking for someone in the group, not just one person,” Munguia said of Canelo. When asked if he was looking for a sparring partner who could emulate his fighting style, he replied:
