The undisputed super middleweight crown is on the line when Canelo Alvarez defends his four world titles against Jaime Munguia in a Mexican-Mexican showdown early Sunday morning in Las Vegas.
Canelo remains one of boxing's biggest draws, but Munguia is a former light-middleweight world champion and the undefeated 27-year-old covets Alvarez's belt.
Chip:
- Jaime Munguia defeats Canelo Alvarez 4/1
- Let's fight not to go far @ 13/8
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Rambo is ready to take the undisputed crown
Alvarez is one of boxing's most decorated fighters, with the Guadalajara ace dominating the 168-pound division. Canelo will bring four major super middleweight belts to the ring in Las Vegas this weekend, but the 33-year-old remains a top-level fighter. However, there are signs that time is catching up with Alvarez and all good things must come to an end.
Canelo is not a veteran fighter in terms of age, but at 33 years old he is a veteran of 64 fights and has plenty of mileage.
Alvarez stepped up to light heavyweight to face Dmitri Bivol in 2022, and Canelo retained the super middleweight title after the loss, but fights against such heavy hitters left a mark on the Mexican. I might have left it behind. Bivol landed some hard blows on the 33-year-old, but those were punches from a naturally much larger man.
The Guadalajara boxer bounced back from that loss and defeated Gennady Golovkin, John Ryder, and Jermell Charlo, but his victory over GGG was far from convincing, with Ryder and Charlo putting Canelo at arm's length.
Munguia has only fought twice in the 168-pound division, but he stopped Ryder, which Canelo couldn't, and also stopped Sergiy Derevyanchenko's challenge before the final bell. These wins suggest that the former light middleweight champion has continued his power through each weight class, and it's worth remembering that Lambeau is undefeated in 43 professional fights.
Beating Canelo is obviously a big challenge for Munguia, but it might not be as difficult as the 4/1 offer suggests and the Tijuana man looks worth a punt at big odds in Las Vegas.
Munguia's aggressiveness could end the fight before the final bell rings
Munguia is an aggressive, forward-looking fighter, and the 27-year-old is likely to try to fight Canelo. The Tijuana man is a fresh, unexposed boxer and there is no doubt that Rambo will arrive in Las Vegas with ambition and belief that he will win.
That said, Alvarez is still a very dangerous counter-puncher, and Munguia's attacking approach could leave Canelo with an opening to take advantage of.
Munguia appears to have a serious claim to dethroning the undisputed super-middleweight world champion, and favoring ending the bout before the final bell means that the 27-year-old Munguia has no choice but to fight for the title. Seems like a good way to be on the winning side and give Canelo extra insurance against getting caught. A man from Tijuana moves forward.
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