Saul “Canelo” Alvarez successfully defended his undisputed super middleweight world title with a unanimous decision victory over Jaime Munguia on Saturday (May 5 in PHL), marking Munguia’s first professional defeat.
The fight, held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, was a highlight of the Cinco de Mayo celebrations.
Alvarez, improving his record to 61-2-2, controlled the fight after dropping Munguia in the fourth round. The judges scored the bout 117-110, 116-111, and 115-112, ensuring Alvarez retained his IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO belts.
Munguia, 27, entered the ring undefeated in 44 fights, with 34 knockouts, including wins inside the distance in four of his last five bouts.
He started aggressively, pushing Alvarez back with his jab and landing a significant right to the jaw in the third round. However, Alvarez turned the tide in the fourth round with a powerful uppercut following a left hook, knocking Munguia to the canvas.
The atmosphere was electric, with chants of “Canelo!” filling the arena, which saw fans divided in their support for the two Mexican fighters.
Despite Munguia’s efforts and training under Freddie Roach, who famously coached Manny Pacquiao, his attacks rarely troubled Alvarez. Alvarez’s superior experience and tactical approach allowed him to evade Munguia’s offense and land more impactful punches.
Reflecting on his performance, Alvarez acknowledged his strategic pacing throughout the bout.
“You know, I take my time. I have a lot of experience,” Alvarez said. “Jaime Munguia is a great fighter. He’s strong. He’s smart, but I take my time. I have 12 rounds to win the fight, and I did. I did really good and I feel proud about it.”
Alvarez, who hasn’t scored a knockout since defeating Caleb Plant in 2021, noted Munguia’s strength but pointed out his slow pace, allowing him to anticipate and counter effectively.
“He’s strong, but he’s a little slow,” Alvarez observed. “I can see every punch.”
This victory solidifies Alvarez’s position as a dominant force in the super-middleweight division and leaves fans anticipating his next move in the boxing world.
