LAS VEGAS – Mexican boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez passed his latest test with flying colors. In a fight that exceeded even the wildest expectations, Alvarez retained his undisputed super middleweight championship with a gritty unanimous decision victory over his upset-minded countryman Jaime Munguia. The heated all-Mexican showdown took place Saturday night in front of a raucous pro-Hispanic crowd at T-Mobile Arena.
From the opening bell, it was evident this fight would be something special. The taller, younger, and more aggressive Munguia came out guns blazing, swarming Alvarez with furious combination punching. Using his physicality, the 27-year-old pressured the defending champ and repeatedly pinned him against the ropes.
But the cagey Canelo is no ordinary fighter. The pound-for-pound king kept his composure amid the early onslaught and began firing back with precision counter shots. Midway through the fourth round, he struck pay dirt.
A beautiful right uppercut found its mark, crashing into Munguia’s jaw and sending him crumpling to the canvas. It was the first time the previously unbeaten Tijuana native had tasted the canvas as a pro.
“I take my time because I have a lot of experience,” Alvarez said. “He’s smart but a bit slow. I can see all his punches coming.”
From that point, the dynamic of the fight shifted. Alvarez established his stinging jab and began potting Munguia at will with surgical straight right hands. The younger fighter kept pressing forward relentlessly, but could never seem to solve the timing and defensive wizardry of boxing’s elite practitioner.
CompuBox stats reflected Alvarez’s dominance. He outlanded Munguia 234 to 170 overall, and an incredible 50% of his power punches found the mark.
Still, Munguia refused to wilt. Despite falling behind big on the scorecards, the proud Mexican warrior kept winging punches in furious, desperate flurries. He had some success, briefly wobbling Alvarez on a couple occasions and winning some of the championship rounds.
“The loss hurts, it definitely hurts,” Munguia said. “I started well but had some problems down the stretch.”
When the final bell rang, both fighters raised their arms in victory. But the scorecards told the clear story – 117-110, 116-111, and 115-112, all for Alvarez. Reprisevisor outlet CBS Sports saw it even wider at 118-109.
With the win, Alvarez made the fourth defense of the undisputed 168-pound titles he unified in 2021. He has now won 10 straight dating back to his rematch victory over Gennadiy Golovkin in 2018.
It was classic Canelo performance- one filled with brilliant movement, defense, and pinpoint accurate punching. While he had to weather some genuine adversity, the Mexican icon passed the test in style.
“All the world was watching us Mexicans and I’m proud. Viva Mexico!” Alvarez said.
From the moment the opening bell rang, the electric atmosphere inside T-Mobile crackled with intensity. Deafening chants of “Ca-ne-lo!” were matched by equally raucous cheers for “Mun-gui-a!” The raucous roars continued virtually non-stop for all 12 rounds.
In the end, it was the 33-year-old veteran who left victorious. But both fighters represented their country with honor and grit in what was a can’t-miss action fight.
Alvarez vs Munguia exceeded the pre-fight hype and then some. It had everything a boxing fan could ask for – incredible two-way action, massive momentum swings, a foreboding underdog pushing the iconic champ to his limits.
At this stage, the legacy of Canelo Alvarez is already assured. He has captured world titles in four weight classes during his illustrious 17-year pro career. His record of conquering elite opponents like Golovkin, Miguel Cotto, Erislandy Lara, and Sergey Kovalev bolsters his argument as a boxing’s pound-for-pound king.
But the insatiable Mexican warrior shows no signs of slowing down. When asked about a future showdown against unbeaten two-division champ David Benavidez, who was seated ringside, Canelo offered a dismissive response that ignited boos from the crowd.
“If the money is right, I can fight him or anyone right now,” Alvarez said defiantly. “I don’t give a sh*t. At this point, everyone is asking me for fights. I’ve beaten them all – Lara, Cotto, Golovkin, Kovalev.”
The boos quickly turned to cheers as Alvarez let loose with a fiery diatribe.
“I can ask for whatever I want now,” he said, his voice rising in defiance. “I can do whatever I want…because I AM Mexican!”
Canelo’s masterclass against Munguia only adds another masterpiece to his growing body of work. Whether he pursues the Benavidez fight next, jumps up to cruiserweight to challenge the big men, or picks a different path entirely, one thing is certain:
The boxing world remains Alvarez’s to command. He is the king of the ring, and he’s not abdicating his throne anytime soon.
