Now is still Canelo Alvarez’s time.
The undisputed 168-pound champion took down and defeated a determined opponent but edged out Jaime Munguia by unanimous decision to retain his title in an all-Mexican battle on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The official scores are 117-110, 116-111 and 115-112. Boxing Junkie also leads 117-110 for Alvarez, nine rounds to three.
“I take my time,” Alvarez, 33, said. “… I have a lot of experience. Jaime Munguia is a great warrior, he is strong and intelligent. I take my time. I had 12 rounds to win the fight and I did it.
“I did very well and I feel proud of that.”
Canelo Álvarez made the fourth defense of his undisputed super middleweight title against Jaime Munguia, winning by unanimous decision (117-110, 116-111, 115-112) scoring a knockout in 4th inning on the road.
pic.twitter.com/e8mvSVxdVt— 𝒟𝒾𝒶𝓇𝒾𝑜𝓈 (@DiariosJournals) May 5, 2024
The fight followed a pattern from the first rounds onwards. Munguia (43-1, 34 KOs) threw more punches than Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) but landed them at a relatively low rate, thanks to the champion’s excellent defense.
Meanwhile, Alvarez, who values precision over volume, consistently lands harder, cleaner shots. At times he seemed to separate the challenger.
One of Alvarez’s cleanest shots came in Round 4, leading to the most dramatic moment of the fight. He landed a beautiful, perfect right uppercut that put Munguia on the canvas for the first time in his career and left viewers wondering if they were about to witness a knockout. early or not.
However, Munguia will not allow that to be the beginning of the end. He continued to fight hard, was busier than Alvarez and found his target multiple times.
The problem for the younger fighter was that this pattern continued until the final bell, Munguia connecting with one of four punches while Alvarez landed almost one of two. And the latter’s punches were even more punishing.
According to CompuBox, Alvarez landed a total of 234 of 536 punches, a rate of 43.7%. He connected on 49.7% of his power shots, a number that made it extremely difficult for opponents to win.
Munguia landed 177 of 663 punches, a rate of 25.6%, not embarrassing for his opponent but not high enough to win the fight.
“He’s strong but a little slow,” Alvarez said of Munguia. “I could see every punch. Sometimes he understands me because I’m too confident. But, you know, like I said.. I have this kind of experience. That’s why I’m the best.”
The best?
“For sure I am the best fighter today,” he said.
Munguia can’t argue with that.
The 27-year-old from Tijuana is proud of his efforts but seems to realize he hasn’t done enough to raise his hand.
“I think I won some of those rounds at first,” he said through an interpreter.” Everything went well. I let go. But he’s clearly an experienced fighter.
“Unfortunately he hit me. The loss is painful.”
What’s next for Alvarez? Fans would suggest longtime 168-pound contender David Benavidez, who some believe the champion is avoiding.
Benavidez is scheduled to fight Oleksandr Gvozdyk at 175 pounds on the Gervonta Davis-Frank Martin card on June 15 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
However, he made it clear in a pre-fight interview on Saturday that he would be happy to move down to 168 to face the undisputed champion if things go well first. Gvozdyk.
Alvarez said that could happen if he was paid enough. And again, maybe not.
“I don’t know now,” he said. “I will rest, I will enjoy myself with my family. … But if the money isn’t right, I can fight right now. I don’t suppose—t.”
Is it just a matter of money?
“Yes,” he said. “…At this point everyone is asking for everything, right? When I fight with [Erislandy] Lara, [Austin] Trout, Miguel Angel Cotto, Mayweather,… Billy Joe Saunders. They said I didn’t want to fight them and I fought them all.
“Right now I can ask for anything I want and I can do anything I want.”
