It’s nonetheless Canelo Alvarez’s time.
The undisputed 168-pound champion dropped and defeated a decided, however overmatched Jaime Munguia by a unanimous choice to retain his title in an all-Mexican battle Saturday night time at T-Cell Enviornment in Las Vegas.
The official scores have been 117-110, 116-111 and 115-112. Boxing Junkie additionally had it 117-110 for Alvarez, 9 rounds to 3.
“I take my time,” stated Alvarez, 33. “… I’ve a whole lot of expertise. Jaime Munguia is a good fighter, he’s robust, he’s good. I take my time. I’ve 12 rounds to win he battle and I did.
“I did actually good, and I really feel proud about it.”
The second every part modified
@Canelo landed a devastating blow to knock @jaimemunguia15 to the canvas for the primary time ever.#CaneloMunguia pic.twitter.com/5DFOuOU9Be
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) Might 5, 2024
The battle adopted a sample from the early rounds on. Munguia (43-1, 34 KOs) threw extra punches than Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) however landed at a comparatively low proportion, a results of the champion’s very good defensive skills.
In the meantime, Alvarez, who values accuracy over quantity, persistently landed the more durable, cleaner photographs. He appeared to choose the challenger aside at instances.
Certainly one of Alvarez’s clear photographs got here in Spherical 4, leading to essentially the most dramatic second of the battle. He landed an ideal, head-snapping proper uppercut that put Munguia on the canvas for the primary time in his profession and had viewers questioning whether or not they have been about to see an early knockout.
Munguia wouldn’t enable that to be the start of the top, nevertheless. He continued to battle his coronary heart out, staying busier than Alvarez and discovering the goal on many events.
The issue for the youthful fighter was that the sample continued till the ultimate bell, Munguia connecting on one in 4 punches whereas Alvarez landed nearly certainly one of two. And the latter’s punches have been extra punishing.
In line with CompuBox, Alvarez landed 234 of 536 punches total, 43.7%. He linked on 49.7% of his energy photographs, a quantity that makes it extraordinarily troublesome for an opponent to win.
Munguia landed 177 of 663 punches, 25.6%, which isn’t disgraceful given the opponent however not excessive sufficient to win the battle.
“He’s robust, however he’s somewhat gradual,” Alvarez stated of Munguia. “I can see each punch. Generally he bought me as a result of I get so assured. However, , like I say .. I’ve this sort of expertise. That’s why I’m the perfect.”
The most effective?
“I’m the perfect fighter proper now, for positive,” he stated.
Munguia may not dispute that.
The 27-year-old from Tijuana was happy with his effort however he appeared to acknowledge that he didn’t do sufficient to have his hand raised.
“I believe firstly I used to be profitable a few of these rounds,” he stated by way of a translator.” It was going effectively. I let my arms go. However he’s a fighter with a whole lot of expertise, clearly.
“Sadly he beat me. The loss hurts.”
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 04: Canelo Alvarez knocks down Jaime Munguia of their tremendous middleweight championship title battle at T-Cell Enviornment on Might 04, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Picture by Christian Petersen/Getty Photographs)
What’s subsequent for Alvarez? The followers would counsel longtime 168-pound rival David Benavidez, who some imagine the champion is avoiding.
Benavidez is scheduled to battle Oleksandr Gvozdyk at 175 kilos on the Gervonta Davis-Frank Martin card on June 15 on the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Nevertheless, he made it clear in an interview earlier than the battle on Saturday that he’d be very happy to maneuver again all the way down to 168 to tackle the undisputed champion if issues go effectively towards Gvozdyk.
Alvarez stated it may occur if he’s paid sufficient. And, then once more, perhaps not.
“I don’t know proper now,” he stated. “I’m going to relaxation, I’m going to get pleasure from my household. … But when the cash shouldn’t be proper, I can battle proper now. I don’t give a s—t.”
It’s solely a matter of cash?
“Yeah,” he stated. “… At this level everyone is asking for every part, proper? After I fought with [Erislandy] Lara, [Austin] Trout, Miguel Angel Cotto, Mayweather, … Billy Joe Saunders. They stated I didn’t wish to battle them and I fought all of them.
“Proper now I can ask for no matter I need, and I can do no matter I need.”
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