LAS VEGAS – It rained, it rained, it rained, and then it stopped. Jaime Munguía pressured Canelo Álvarez early in their scheduled 12-round fight, but in a classic master-versus-student masterclass, Álvarez weathered the storm, knocked down Munguía in the fourth round and successfully defended his undisputed super middleweight title. for the fourth time. consecutive time before a lively crowd of 17,492 at the T-Mobile Arena.
The judges scored the fight 117-110, 116-111 and 115-112, all for Alvarez, who won four fights in a row following his loss to WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol in May 2022.
It was initially a demanding fight for the champion, but Álvarez silenced Munguía’s speed and typically explosive combinations with precise counterpunches. In the fourth round, Munguia was landing some solid combinations on Alvarez, driving him towards the ropes. However, as he usually does, Munguía gave up. Álvarez made him pay dearly with a thunderous counter hook that sent him crashing into his trunk.
“I take my time, that’s why I have a lot of experience,” Alvarez said after the fight. “Jaime Munguía is a great fighter. He’s strong. He’s smart, but, you know, I take my time. I have 12 rounds to win the fight and I did it. I did it very well and I feel proud of it.”
From that point on, Munguía was largely dominated by the skillful technical skills of Álvarez, who proved that even after his prime, he is still one of the best fighters in the world.
“This victory means a lot,” Alvarez said. “I’m glad to have given him this opportunity. Munguía is a great guy and a great champion. He will have a great career. I’m very proud that all the Mexicans are here watching us.”
According to CompuBox, Álvarez had absolute control. He landed 234 of 536 punches (44%) while Munguía landed 170 of 663 punches (26%).
Immediately after the fight, it wasn’t about what just happened, it was about what’s next for Alvarez? When asked by Jim Gray who he would like to face next, particularly if David Benavidez was in his sights, Alvarez did not give a definitive answer, instead saying that he just wanted to rest and spend time with his family. But he also did not close the door on the confrontation with Benavidez and went through a list of the fighters he faced and who had initially said that he did not want to fight them.
“If the money is right, I can fight right now. I don’t give a shit,” he said.
Canelo-Munguia: How it happened
When announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. introduced the fighters, there weren’t many boos, but there were plenty of applause, and Alvarez’s fans had a clear advantage. The fight began with cheering sections for each fighter taking turns chanting “Canelo!” followed by roars of “Munguía!”
Every punch he landed provoked a reaction from the heavily Mexican crowd and, with just under a minute left in the second round, Álvarez connected with a one-two combination, a left hook followed by a right that knocked Munguía’s head back. . “Oohhhhhh!” echoed throughout the arena.
Munguía’s fans chanted his name in an attempt to get their man back into the fight in the third round. He got the message and pushed Alvarez into the ropes with a combination. Although Álvarez blocked most of the shots, Munguía’s final right hand turned his head back and caused some abrasion under his left eye.
Then in the fourth round, Alvarez connected with that huge right hook that sent Munguia to the ground for the first knockdown of his career. Instantly, the crowd was on its feet with deafening roars that made the arena vibrate.
“Honestly, when he hit me with the hook, I was more surprised than hurt,” Munguía explained. “It was a good hit. That’s all.”
Between rounds, Álvarez remained in his corner, calm and collected, while Munguia seemed hesitant and wary of what might come back against him after the knockdown.
What followed for the rest of the fight was Alvarez doing what he does best: hitting without being hit. And when he was caught by one of Munguia’s punches, he showed off his granite chin, seemingly absorbing the blow and returning the favor with a strong counterattack. Munguía never stood a chance as Álvarez claimed victory number 61 of his historic career.
Despite a clear defeat, Munguía won admirers for his brave performance. He pressured and connected with Alvarez in a way not seen since the fight with Bivol. But in the end it was a school and Munguía was the student.
“I think I was winning the first few rounds until they caught me,” Munguia said. “I never got hurt, but (Alvarez) has a lot of experience. He is a very good fighter. It was a great learning experience. I will come back stronger.”
But once again, it was Alvarez, the master tactician, doing what he had to do to continue his legendary reign atop the super middleweight division as its undisputed champion and the undisputed face of the sport.