For years, Álvarez refused to face Mexican rivals, claiming that he was fighting to represent his country. At 33 years old, ‘Canelo’ now breaks his norm by ensuring that Munguía earned the opportunity to challenge him for his four super middleweight belts (168 pounds-76.2 kg) in this event framed in the Mexican festivities of May 5 .
Munguía, 27, is a discreet boxer outside the ring, far from the excesses of other boxers, but with size (ten centimeters taller than ‘Canelo’) and firepower that can put the experienced champion in trouble.
“Of course he has power. He is a good boxer, I like his style“Alvarez acknowledged in the previous press conference.
Even so, the boxer from Guadalajara (west) was confident that his talent and experience will allow him to emerge victorious from a duel destined to enter the memory of Mexican boxing, where battles such as those between Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera are remembered. at the beginning of the century.
“I don’t know if (Munguía) is younger or older than me. But I’m Canelo and I don’t care“, he stressed. “We are going to win decisively, that’s what we’re here for. “Let everyone enjoy and let it be a Mexican party.”
Date, time and where to watch the fight
For ‘Canelo’, the event at the T-Mobile Arena (20 thousand seats) in Saturday, May 4 (the evening begins at 4 p.m.) It will be the fourth defense of his WBO (World Boxing Organization), WBA (World Association), WBC (World Council) and IBF (International Federation) super middleweight belts. This fight can be seen via Star Plus screen.
Álvarez became the first undisputed champion of that division by knocking out the American Caleb Plant in 2021.
A year later he sought new feats by challenging the Russian Dmitry Bivol, middle heavyweight champion (175 pounds – 79.4kg), a challenge that ended in fiasco and cost him the second defeat of his career.
Since then, ‘Canelo’ has had three victories by unanimous decision once morest his archrival Gennady Golovkin, who fought with 40 years old, John Ryder and Jermell Charlo.
The Mexican, who has eliminated 39 of his 60 victories by knockout, urgently needs to quickly put an end to Munguía’s dreams, who can be filled with belts if he is able to beat his idol.
The fighter from Tijuana (northwest), who counts his 43 fights as victories (34 of them by knockout), downplays his lesser presence on the big stages and assures that his respect for Álvarez “ends above the ring.”
“I have not had experience with big names, but what I have and where I have reached I have earned it hard.“, he stressed. “I like that he comes with the mentality of beating me and knocking me out, but I go with the same mentality.”
Clash with De la Hoya
Exploiting his devastating punch, Munguía has made a name for himself in competitive Mexican boxing and knows what it is to win a world title, the WBO super welterweight title, which he gave up defending to move up a category.
The Mexican has been training since last year under the orders of the renowned Freddie Roach, trainer of dozens of world champions, and his career is advancing under the umbrella of Golden Boy, Oscar de la Hoya’s promoter.
It is precisely the fight between De La Hoya and his former protégé ‘Canelo’ that blew up the climate of respect that surrounded the fight.
De La Hoya, a former American boxing figure with Mexican roots, opened fire on Wednesday before the press, claiming that “Golden Boy built Canelo Álvarez, period.”
Álvarez interrupted him with serious insults and stood up to face him, while several people stood between them.
“I already came to the United States as Canelo and he only profited from my name,” claimed the Mexican, who collaborated with Golden Boy for more than a decade until their notorious breakup in 2020. “The only thing he does is be a scourge on boxing, stealing from the boxers. If I hadn’t involved my lawyers, you would steal from me.”
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