By Miguel Maravilla
In what would be the largest combat of his profession, the combat former world champion Jaime Munguía (43-0, 34 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico has dreamed of his complete boxing life. Munguia will face fellow Mexican and celebrity, undisputed tremendous middleweight world champion Saul “Canelo” Álvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs) of Guadalajara. The Mexican showdown goes down Saturday, Could 4 on the T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas stay on PBC Pay-Per-View occasion on Prime Video.
“That is clearly going to be an important combat and a Mexican warfare. I’m proud to be headlining this occasion,” Jaime Munguia mentioned. “I’m prepared for this stage. We’re prepared for every part and we’re going to have an important combat that evening. “We’re very assured,” Munguia added.
Standing head to head, Munguia confronted off with Canelo Tuesday afternoon to formally announce their showdown. No have to hype issues up by way of social media or try and promote the combat by pushing or shoving and trash speaking, the 2 Mexican fighters displayed respect for each other.
Munguia scored a powerful stoppage over John Ryder early this yr. Disposing of Ryder in 9 rounds because the Englishman went the gap with Canelo in his earlier combat, setting the stage for Canelo Munguia.
“We all know each combat is totally different, so we received’t take an excessive amount of from Canelo’s combat in opposition to Ryder.” Munguia acknowledged. “We simply took benefit of the chance we noticed,” Munguia added.
Making his splash again in 2018, Munguia scored a fourth-round knockout over Sadam Ali to win his first world title in capturing the WBO tremendous welterweight title. Making 5 profitable defenses of the title, Munguia then campaigned at middleweight.
“It’s been nice. I’ve defeated everybody I’ve confronted and brought on all challenges and have developed as a fighter,” Munguia mentioned.
Criticism started to construct as Munguia’s opponents had been in query, with unfavourable social media rumblings and fixed bashing, nevertheless most followers don’t appear to know the matchmaking course of.
“I’ve taken benefit of many alternatives. Handed many checks, labored onerous, constant, sacrificed, and right here we’re,” Munguia acknowledged. “I’m prepared for this stage. We’re prepared for every part and we’re going to have an important combat that evening. “We’re very assured,” Munguia added.
Final yr, Munguia needed to dig deep and rally in a treacherous battle with Ukraine’s Sergiy Dereveyanchenko. Scoring a late knockdown within the twelfth and ultimate spherical, Munguia pulled off a cut up resolution.
“I handed an enormous take a look at. He was a really powerful opponent however my will to win and maintain pushing is what made the distinction,” Munguia on his victory over Dereveyanchenko.
Following that combat just a few weeks later, Munguia parted methods along with his coach former world champion and Corridor of Famer Erik Morales, additionally from Tijuana. Munguia felt it was time for a change as soon as once more. Changing Morales, Corridor of Fame Coach Freddy Roach as the 2 had their first camp collectively for the Ryder preparation.
“Not solely is Freddie Roach an important coach, however he’s an important particular person and he’s a motivator. He’s all the time motivating us to maintain going ahead and maintain coaching onerous,” Munguia on coaching with Freddy Roach.
The outcome noticed a extra offensive Jaime Munguia as he scored the TKO over John Ryder and scored a number of knockdowns within the combat in path to the ninth-round stoppage in his first combat below Freddy Roach.
“I felt nice within the ring, and it was a very good win. Each our fights with John Ryder are two fully totally different fights however we did our job,” Munguia mentioned.
The Tijuana fighter will quickly reside in Southern California throughout camp. Preparations are actually underway as Munguia and Roach maintain coaching camp at Roach’s famed Wild Card Boxing Gymnasium in Hollywood, California to gear up for the Mexican celebrity Canelo.
“It’s time to start our work and are available in sharp for Could 4th. I’m assured we may have a very good preparation and shock everybody,” Munguia on his camp. “Now we have to be one hundred pc for Canelo,”
Canelo efficiently defended his undisputed crown this previous September in annihilating tremendous welterweight king Jermall Charlo for twelve rounds and scoring a knockdown in path to the choice win.
“Canelo is an entire fighter with energy, nice mixtures, and is aware of the way to work the physique,” Munguia on Canelo. “Canelo has all the time been a supply of satisfaction and motivation for me. I used to say once I was arising within the sport that I wished to be like him, and now we get an opportunity to face him and hopefully be the place he’s quickly,” Munguia added.
A four-division world champion having captured titles at tremendous welterweight, middleweight, tremendous middleweight, and light-weight heavyweight. Canelo’s resume consists of wins over Gennadiy Golovkin, Caleb Plant, Billy Joe Saunders, Sergey Kovalev, Danny Jacobs, Miguel Cotto, and Shane Mosley. Alvarez’s solely defeats got here by the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr. again in September 2013 and Dmitry Bivol in Could 2022.
“Canelo has numerous accomplishments and expertise. That is my first time headlining a pay per view. The hot button is to work onerous in camp and in truth, I’m prepared for this,” Munguia acknowledged.
When requested about his plan for combat evening, Munguia concluded.
“Within the ring issues change. I’m combating a sensible combat in that ring but when issues start to get tough. I’m able to go all out,”
Comply with Miguel on Twitter @MigMaravilla
