Canelo fighting Munguia

The latest winner of the Canelo Alvarez sweepstakes is Jaime Munguia, who beat out Jermall Charlo and Edgar Berlanga to land a May 4 fight in Las Vegas versus boxing’s top star. With that fight comes a chance at boxing championship glory, and of course, the biggest payday of Munguia’s career.

Munguia (43-0, 34 KOs) enters the undisputed super middleweight championship fight on the heels of a career-best performance, a ninth-round TKO victory over John Ryder in January. Munguia has improved greatly under the guidance of Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach.

And now he’ll meet his countryman on Cinco de Mayo weekend. Canelo-Munguia is the first all-Mexican showdown for a title above 160 pounds.

Munguia is a worthy adversary and arguably earned his shot after the way he defeated Ryder. In comparison, Canelo wasn’t able to finish Ryder last May and went the distance, though he did break the Englishman’s nose and handed him a comprehensive 12-round beating.

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And there’s little doubt that Canelo softened up Ryder for Munguia.

Nonetheless, Munguia capitalized. His defense was his biggest flaw as he built up his record, a flat-footed pressure fighter who relied on power shots. But versus Ryder, Munguia was far more defensively responsible.

He held his guard up tight and used his jab much more effectively in that fight in January. Munguia boxed on his toes more, too. He’s come a long way since his days as a 154-pound titleholder and appears to be steadily improving with each bout.

Naturally, it’s one matter to box with discipline against a fighter like Ryder, a world-class boxer who retired afterward. It’s quite another to do so with success against one of the sport’s elite.

While Munguia’s defense is much improved at age 27, it’s still a weakness. He’s often wide open for countershots, which should make him an easy target for Canelo’s power punches.

Canelo’s hand and foot speed will be disparate, too, as is experience. Canelo has shared the ring with all-time greats such as Floyd Mayweather, Gennadiy Golovkin (36 rounds) and Miguel Cotto. Sixty rounds with those boxers alone.

Munguia’s toughest adversary, meanwhile, was Ryder.

Munguia could find success early in the fight; he has the adequate size and strength to compete with Canelo. But once Canelo finds his timing against the slow-footed Munguia, he should be able to land his vaunted power-punch combinations at will, when Munguia’s chin will be truly tested for the first time.

At 33, Canelo stays boxing’s top star and is rated the No. 4 pound-for-pound fighter by ESPN. He opened up as a -650 favorite, per ESPN BET.

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