Canelo Alvarez vs. Jaime Munguia: 5 questions (and solutions) earlier than boxing showdown

Wonderful. The identical pundits who as soon as elevated the Mexican celebrity to the highest of pound-for-pound lists started to quote his decline after his unanimous choice loss to 175-pound titleholder Dmitry Bivol in 2022 and flat performances in opposition to rival Gennadiy Golovkin and John Ryder in his subsequent two fights. It was cheap to wonder if greater than 60 skilled fights had worn him down. Nevertheless, after his surgically repaired left wrist had healed, he regarded extra just like the Alvarez of outdated in his unanimous choice victory over 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo final September. Sure, Charlo moved up two weight lessons for the struggle, which limits the load of the victory. On the similar time, Alvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs) isn’t a giant 168-pounder and Charlo was a pound-for-pounder in his prime on the time they met. It’s protected to say that Alvarez’s victory was a step in the correct route. And, assuming he stays wholesome, there’s no motive to consider he gained’t be sharp in opposition to Munguia even when he isn’t fairly the identical fighter he as soon as was. Alvarez, top-of-the-line fighters of his technology, stays harmful.

Loads good. The jury remained out on Munguia (43-0, 34 KOs) as just lately as early final 12 months. The 27-year-old resident of Tijuana had a gaudy file and had gained a 154-pound title – which he gained by stopping Sadam Ali in 2018 – however he hadn’t confronted the sort of checks required to find out his means with readability. That arguably modified in his final two fights, a hard-fought unanimous choice over intelligent, skilled Sergey Derevyanchenko final June and a ninth-round knockout of Ryder seven months later. He nonetheless hadn’t confronted a pound-for-pounder however he made sturdy statements in these fights. He stays a fiery, highly effective fighter and has improved as boxer, though he can nonetheless be hit. And he appears to be thriving underneath new coach Freddie Roach, who made his debut in Munguia’s nook within the Ryder struggle. Certainly, Munguia appears to be peaking each bodily and mentally. Is he adequate to beat top-of-the-line fighters of the technology? In all probability not. The oddsmakers have made Alvarez a couple of 5-1 favourite. He’s a reside underdog, nonetheless. Keep in mind: We’ve virtually definitely seen the perfect of Alvarez whereas Munguia is on the rise. Keep tuned.

Completely. If Alvarez collects his 61^st victory, as anticipated, it gained’t make important waves. Observers will say he was the beneficiary of one other poor matchup due to Munguia’s perceived limitations. If Munguia wins? That will flip the boxing world the other way up, particularly if the underdog claims a one-sided choice or does the unthinkable by stopping the longer term Corridor of Famer. Alvarez has been on pound-for-pound lists for greater than a decade. A loss can be conclusive proof that he has begun to fade. He has dominated Mexican boxing for a similar period of time. The struggle on Saturday may very well be seen as a passing of the torch, maybe akin to the transition from Julio Cesar Chavez to the nice trio of Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez and Erik Morales.  And, in fact, Alvarez might now not be thought of the face of boxing. That distinction would shift to a younger, recent fighter, maybe Gervonta Davis or Shakur Stevenson and even Ryan Garcia. Sure, if Munguia finds a method to win on Saturday, the game gained’t be fairly the identical because it has been over the previous decade.

Good query. If Alvarez emerges victorious, passionate requires him to lastly face David Benavidez will probably be heard instantly. Nevertheless, for no matter motive, he doesn’t appear to need what’s arguably the most important potential struggle for him. Plus, Benavidez has moved as much as 175 kilos, at which he’ll struggle Oleksandr Gvozdyk on June 15. Alvarez may need to face him at 175 or a catch weight if he surprises us and pursues that struggle at this level. If not Benavidez? Maybe Jemall Charlo will reemerge as a viable candidate to face Alvarez. David Morrell and Edgar Berlanga are additionally potential foes, though it will be troublesome to get excited in regards to the latter. And Alvarez might pursue the winner of Bivol-Artur Beterbiev on June 1. He’ll all the time have choices so long as he retains profitable. If Munguia has his hand raised? A rematch can be probably, assuming it’s not a blowout. And Alvarez would deserve a second likelihood. Or, if that doesn’t occur, Munguia would have the leverage that comes with being an undisputed champion. He might struggle Benavidez or Charlo or anybody else talked about above, whomever he and his crew would deem the perfect opponent. That comes with taking down a longtime star.

Alvarez. I consider that an Alvarez at 85-90% will probably be an excessive amount of for Munguia, who, once more, is an efficient boxer however not one whose ability set or expertise rivals that of Alvarez. Perhaps Munguia may have continued to enhance sufficient in one other coaching camp with Roach that he’ll have the ability to outwork the one-punch-at-time champion, someway keep away from his largest photographs and sneak away with a detailed choice. Perhaps he’ll damage Alvarez, though not even a giant puncher like Triple-G might try this in three fights. Or perhaps Alvarez is really in decline and Munguia is catching him on the proper time, which might open the door to an upset. These are all prospects. Nevertheless, we’re speaking chances right here. Alvarez will more than likely do what he has completed in opposition to so many different succesful opponents, begin slowly, step by step shut the gap on Munguia, land an increasing number of laborious punches because the struggle progresses, put on Munguia down and both win a one-sided choice over rating a late knockout. That will in all probability be my prediction in opposition to any opponent besides Benavidez, Bivol or Beterbiev. I believe Alvarez goes to cease Munguia within the late rounds.