Previewing Canelo Alvarez vs. Jaime Munguia

Canelo Alvarez (60-2-2) has established himself as one of boxing’s most decorated fighters. There’s nothing that the Mexican fighter hasn’t done; he’s won numerous titles and defeated incredible opponents. Whether it’s Gennady Golovkin or winning the IBF Super Middleweight Championship, Canelo has earned himself a spot as a boxing legend.

However, the 33-year-old has a challenge ahead of him this weekend. Jaime Munguia awaits the legendary boxer on May 4 at T-Mobile Arena. Does the 27-year-old stand a chance against the iconic champion? Or will this be another victory for Alvarez?

The Tape on Canelo Alvarez

What’s there to know about Canelo Alvarez that isn’t out there? The Mexican legend has everything you’d want in a boxer: Powerful punches, incredible boxing IQ, and instinct to boot. The super middleweight champion is still at the top of his game.

However, there’s one thing the champion would like to do this Saturday: Knock his opponent out. Alvarez hasn’t done this in three years, with his last KO/TKO coming on November 6, 2021, against Caleb Plant.

For the champion, it’s straightforward: Just be Canelo. Be the more powerful opponent and treat this as business as usual. If Alvarez can punish the younger Munguia with his experienced fighting, this match should be another victory for the champ.

The Tape on Jaime Munguia

On the other hand, Jaime Munguia (43-0) is looking to pull an upset against Canelo Alvarez. The upstart Mexican fighter wants to shock the world, using his grit and determination to pull out a victory. But can the 27-year-old do it?

According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the undefeated boxer is an underdog in the fight. Currently, the odds are favoring Alvarez, -525. The favorite outcome is with the champion winning via decision or technical decision.

So how can Munguia upset the champ? For one, use your durability to your advantage. The Mexican underdog took a lot of damage against an aggressive Sergiy Derevyancheko, yet he won the fight. How so? With timely counters. Every time Derevyancheko attacked, Munguia found an opening. He’s also not afraid to mix in some hooks of his own, which will come in handy on Saturday.

The Verdict

A clear pathway to victory for Munguia starts with countering. He must also keep himself in the middle of the ring, where he got steered away from quite a bit against Derevyancheko. Once the underdog goes on the offensive, he mustn’t stop.

However, this seems like a fight Canelo Alvarez will win. One problem with Munguia is he tends to leave himself open. While tanking hits sounds nice, it can wear him down quickly. For Alvarez, that will be the opening he needs to win.