- Canelo Álvarez dominated Jaime Munguía in a Cinco de Mayo showdown
- A mariachi band performed The Star-Spangled Banner before the fight in Las Vegas.
- DailyMail.com provides the latest international sports news.
A Mariachi rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner had fans divided ahead of Canelo Alvarez’s Cinco de Mayo eve showdown with Jaime Munguía on Saturday night.
Before the undisputed middleweight title fight between two of Mexico’s best in Las Vegas, organizers stayed true to their country’s heritage by having a Mariachi perform the United States national anthem.
The trio formed by Brenden Pérez, Ramiro Oseguera and Daniel Ochoa performed the anthem without vocals. A bass and a guitar accompanied while a violin played the melody.
The interpretation had fans divided, and most of the X users who joined the discussion seemed excited about the unique version.
‘Did a mariachi just play the best US national anthem I’ve ever heard at a sporting event?’ wrote one user.
A Mariachi rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner was performed before Canelo Alvarez’s Cinco de Mayo Eve showdown with Jaime Munguía on Saturday night.
Some social media users criticized the version, calling it “pure mockery.”
“I don’t know, but that mariachi performance of the US national anthem was great,” added another.
However, others, while apparently fans of the performance, seemed to suggest that some Americans would not be very impressed to hear their national anthem performed in that style.
“We’re getting a mariachi version of the United States National Anthem,” another added. “Here he is getting a roar of approval. I get it, but it might trigger some LOLs.’
“Somewhere a proud MAGA guy is losing his mind to the mariachi national anthem at the Canelo fight, I love it,” a third chimed in.
‘Someone control the white people, they just performed the national anthem of the United States using a mariachi, by the way, it was fire. #CaneloMunguia”, another intervened.
Meanwhile, another posted: ‘Watching #CaneloMungia’s intro and out of nowhere they played me the American national anthem Mexican Mariachi… and that shit slaaaaaapppedd. Keep an eye on all your local white friends.
However, others proved to be fans of the version, while some remained divided.
Conversely, others were unimpressed, with one fan writing: “Yeah lol WTF was this.”
‘Fuck that Star Spangled Banner mariachi,’ raged one social media user. ‘I love Mexico and Mexicans, but that interpretation was pure mockery.
“You would never hear something like Charlie Daniels playing the Mexican National Anthem with a violin or something like that. #CaneloMunguía.’
‘What the hell was that mariachi-style US national anthem?’ another disagreed.
Many were unimpressed, and others were apparently surprised or shocked.
Álvarez continued to hold off his challenging fighter, proving to be the strongest and most effective boxer to retain his undisputed super middleweight championship, winning by unanimous decision and handing Munguía his first loss.
Tim Cheatham scored the fight 117-110, David Sutherland had it 116-111 and Steve Weisfeld 115-112.
Alvarez (61-2-2) overcame a slow start to dominate Munguia (43-1) before a crowd of 17,492. The champion took full control after knocking down Munguía in the fourth round.
The run-up to the fight was unusually civil, with both fighters saying they were proud to represent Mexico on Cinco de Mayo weekend.